"Death belongs to life as birth does. The walk is in the raising of the foot as in the laying of its down." - Tagore

When studying older cultures and people, we are impressed that death has always been distasteful and will probably continue to be so. Earthquakes, wildfires, floods, drought, tornadoes are all incorporated into the equation. In all those things lies the "FEAR", a much known fear, the fear of death. "Who will die first?" (White Noise, 15) This question in Jack's life comes up from time to time. " I stared into the dark, realizing I'd experienced the more or less normal muscular contraction known as the myoclonic jerk. Is this what it is like, abrupt, peremptory? Shouldn't death, I thought, be a swan dive, graceful, white-winged and smooth, leaving the surface undisturbed?" (White Noise, 18)

Death is a subject that is shunned and denied by our hi-tech, commercial society. We prefer, rather, to do all we can to sustain life even if that

The family, all of whom participate, including the children, who need not be shielded from the death, fulfills most rites. Traditionally, a Hindu dies at home. The person is placed in his/her room or in the entryway of the house, with the head facing south on a cot or the ground - reflecting a return to the lap of Mother Earth. The lamp is kept lit near the head and incense burned. A cloth is tied under the chin and over the top of the head. The thumbs are tied together, as are the big toes. Relatives are called to bid farewell and sing sacred songs at the side of the body. The chief mourner performs arati, passing an oil lamp over the remains, then offering flowers. The relatives prepare the body by applying sesame oil to the head, and the body is bathed with water, dressed, placed in a coffin (or on a palanquin) and carried to the homa shelter. In Hindus, only men go the cremation site. The body is carried three times counterclockwise around the pyre, then placed upon it the cover the body with wood and incense are offered with ghee (butter). Then the chief mourner circles the pyre while holding a firebrand behind his back. After the three circles, without turning to face the body, the chief mourner lights the pyre and leaves the cremation grounds. About 12 hours after cremation, family men return to collect the remains. Water is sprinkled on the ash; the remains are collected on a large tray. At crematoriums, the family can arrange to personally gather the remains: ashes and small pieces of white bone called "flowers". In crematoriums, these are ground to dust, and arrangements must be made to preserve them. Ashes are carried or sent to India if you live outside of your homeland, for deposition in the Ganges or placed them in an auspicious river or the ocean, along with garlands and flowers.

Other sages speak of death joyously as release from bondage, as return to our Sources. The soul, the Vedas (sacred texts of earliest phase of Indian religion, 3000 years ago) declare, is immortal. Still we are attached and must cope, find understanding that will make death acceptable. As Hinduism has always taught, that death is a blissful, light-filled transition from one state to another, as simple and natural as changing clothes.

In Jewish culture, a newborn is named after a recently deceased relative, not a living relative. This practice of naming the newborn after the dead reconfirms the core belief of Judaism.

1. Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth, M.D. Death: The Final Stage of Growth, Simon and Schuster New York, 1975.

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Approximate Word count = 1748
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)