If I Should Die Before I Wake?:
How Different Cultures Mourn the Dead
Written by: Slangston Hughes
The inevitable, passing on, a dirt nap, the big sleep, making the transition, disembodiment or simply death… No matter what term you apply to it the inescapable axiom of the matter is that sooner or latter we all, no matter who you are, regardless of race, creed, financial status or otherwise, eventually you must face the grim reaper and your time on this earth will eventually come to an end. Many cultures and religions have distinct traditional rituals which help them deal with death. Mourning traditions often include common themes like observing a certain period of mourning before entering society, wearing modest or dark clothing, and saying prayers for the dead. If you are visiting a family in mourning who is from a different culture, you may want to look up their specific mourning rituals so that you do not inadvertently cause offense during a difficult time.
Death, in fact, does not exist as something that is a finite force. For there is no such thing as death as an end or final destination because death is not an ending, but simply a beginning or transitional process into the next phase, because life and death are no more than a corresponding process in the cycle that repeat themselves time and time again.
The first set of mourning rituals in many societies involves dealing with the body of the deceased. Many cultures encourage family members to wash the body and dress or shroud it for burial, although, in most western cultures, this task is delegated to a funeral director. For people who do deal with their dead directly, the act of bathing and dressing the body can be a very important act of mourning. Depending on cultural values, the body may be buried or cremated immediately after it is prepared, or the deceased may be put on display so that visitors can say their goodbyes. In some cultures, the deceased must be buried before sundown on the day that he or she died, and, ideally the deceased should be buried close to home. Many cultures also prescribe simple coffins and shrouds for their dead. Mourners who attend the burial typically wear dark, somber clothing, and they may bring gifts for the dead like flowers, artwork, letters, and so forth. Prayers for the dead are usually said while he or she is buried or cremated.
A set period of mourning is common to many mourning rituals. For example, people of the Jewish faith sit for a week as part of their mourning process, and they traditionally tear or rip their clothing to symbolize their grief. People who do not sit in vigils may still observe a period of mourning in which they wear dark clothing or perform specific prayers for the dead; Buddhists, for example, have a set of prayers for the dead which are said at varying intervals after the deceased is cremated.
If you are visiting a family in mourning who is from a different culture, you may want to look up their specific mourning rituals so that you do not inadvertently cause offense during a difficult time.
Now, some have said that the only reason why we die is because we accept it as an inevitability. Now, in a sense, this is true in the regards that death, in fact, does not exist as something that is a finite force. For there is no such thing as death as an end or final destination because death is not an ending, but simply a beginning or transitional process into the next phase, because life and death are no more than a corresponding process in the cycle that repeat themselves time and time again. This process repeats for each spirit or soul until that individual gains enough from that process in order to evolve and master themselves so that they can move on to a higher plane of existence within the universe where the laws of life in the physical realm and disembodiment into the spirit world followed by re-entry again no longer apply. We reincarnate into multiple forms and situations because one lifetime is in no way sufficient time, nor does it offer sufficient exposures to enough diverse situations to give the spirit the understandings necessary. Therefore, nothing ever dies because the universe is made up of various frequencies of vibrating spirit and energy including that which takes up a conscience form within a body. But, the body is just a vessel or case for the soul. The energy inside of it lives before it enters and after it departs from the body. Energy can never actually die or come to an end. However, the truth of the matter is that, regardless of the fact that energy lives on infinitely, your time here in your current physical form is indeed limited and each time you return it is for a profound and divine purpose. Realization of this should allow each individual to over-stand the nature of their existence and how precious and truly what a blessing their current opportunity to be here is. At the end of the day it is not about merely the individual, but those along with them on this current incarnation and journey, because it is truly through the process of giving that we gain the most. Therefore, I say to you, “Live long and prosper, my friend.” May your journey be an enlightening one!
