Question

how does Asian heritage deal with death : 1-who attends the dying 2- what happens to the body.3- what survivors thing happened to the person that died?

Answer 1

Death

Death is the cessation of life and all associated processes.

Heritage

Heritage means the inheritance or a tradition( a practice or a set of values that is passed down from preceding generations through families.

Dealing of death by Asian culture

Asian culture consists of a vast variety of diverse culture, customs, architecture, lifestyle, music, arts and religion. Mainly found Asians in United States are Asian Indians, Chinese and Filipinos. Dealing of death and traditions following the death are different in each ethnic group and religion.

1. Who attends dying?

In Indian culture especially in Hinduism, all relatves will come to see the dying person as last time visit. Holy ash is placed on the forehead of the dying person. Giving water or milk by dripping it into the mouth of dying person is considered as a ' punya karma' ( good work). After death, chanting of mantras by elderly person or a priest will be there. Body will prepare for giving back to earth or for cremation. For cremation rituals only men attend the rituals.

In Chinese culture, both in Christians and Buddhist , all family members come for the last visit. Chinese Buddhists invite monks for chanting mantras.

Filipinos culture believe in visiting the dying person or dead body is an important thing to do. They come and grieve in groups. Rosary prayers are offered for many days in front of the dead body to make the person go heaven.

2. What happens to body ?

Most of the Hindus go for crematio( burning into ash) so that the body may dissolve into ' Pancha Bhutha' ( five elements: earth, water, fire, air and sky).The ash after the burial may disperse into some rivers. Othes, Christians and Muslims do the burial of the body.

Chinese Christians keep the dead body in a casket with flower decorations and wait for all the relatives to come and see the body. Prayers , songs and incense burning will be there. Burial of dead body will be done. The eldest son in the family will be there with the body to cemetery. Other family members follow the vehicle. Burial will be followed by a100 days of mourning.

Chinese Buddhists do cremation of the dead body. They may keep the dead body of some significant persons in certain temples for 7 days ( some time for a year). They are doing cremation to make soul free from body and ash may collect and keep in a certain vessel.

Filipinos do not believe in cremation, only burial of dead body without any organ extraction.  

3. What survivors think, that happened to the person died?

According to Hinduism either the person may reborn as human or animal or the soul will be liberated from cycle of rebirths. This liberation is called ' moksha'.According to some of Hindu scriptures, those who committed certain crimes will go to hell ( naraka loka) those who done good works may go to heaven ( swarga loka).

Chinese Buddhists has no particular opinion about after death life. Some of them believes that the dead person wil again born as another human being. life cycle continues for them.

The traditional Chinese people think that a person life and his identity and soul are end by death. He is done and he is no more existing.

Filipinos are believing in life after death. They will not do cremation or any organ extraction. Burial of dead body will be only after all the relatives visit .