Viewings

Unfortunately, for the past few weeks, there have been two deaths.  First was a teacher's father, who had been ill for some time. However, he passed rather quickly.  Since they are Muslim, the body needs to buried within 24 hours.  The family then had a few days (all day) that people would come to the house and pay respect.  We sat around while the wife (mother of the teacher) talked about her husband at length.  This socializing is believed to help ease suffering.

Just this past Thursday, a former student's dad died from pancreatic cancer.  I have fond memories of the student and his parents, who were always very gracious with me.  They are Buddhist so the viewing was different.  It was held in a new funeral home "The Golden Gate" and the closed casket  had an altar  placed at the head of the casket. It  featured images of the deceased, other gods, and reincarnations of the Buddha. Additionally, the altar held candles, incense, flowers, and fruits and beer. 

After paying respects the the family we sat at tables in the room and were provided with seeds, fruit and water to have while we talked.  The mourning colors for Buddhist is white, which is what the son and mother wore. 

Buddhist beliefs about life and death state that when an individual dies, unless they have achieved nirvana during their life, they will be reborn over and over again. To help ease their journey into the next life, personal possessions, food and money are burned at the funeral. Burning these items transfers them into the spiritual world where the deceased can use them until they are reincarnated.

Here is a paper construct of a home that they will burn.  They had many other such items.