Part of the cycle of human life

As I already mentioned, I am engaged in a lot of researches based on history and culture of various nations. I have to travel a lot because my assignments and research differ. For example, recently, my employer - funeral home directory asked me to find out more about Sikh funeral traditions. Here is what I found in brief.

In Sikhism death is considered to be a natural process. An event that only happens as a direct result of God’s will. To a Sikh, birth and death are closely associated, because they are both part of the cycle of human life which is seen as transient stage towards Liberation, complete unity with God. Sikhs also believe in reincarnation. The soul itself is not subject to the cycle of birth and death. Death is only the progression of the soul on its journey from God, through the created universe and back to God again.

The public display of grief at the funeral, such as wailing or crying out loud is discouraged and should be kept to a minimum. Cremation is the preferred funeral method of, although if this is not possible any other methods such as burial at sea are acceptable. Worship of the dead with gravestones, etc. is discouraged, because the body is considered to be only the shell and the person’s soul is their real essence.

On the day of the cremation, the body is taken to the home where hymns, the Sikh Scriptures are recited by the congregation, which induce feeling of consolation and courage. The relatives of the deceased recite sitting near the coffin. At the conclusion of the service, the coffin is taken to the cremation site. The ashes are later collected and spread in the nearest river. Sikhs do not erect monuments over the remains of the dead.