Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
3 different types of funeral rituals of 3 cultures
Concept of Good Death
3 different types of funeral rituals of 3 cultures
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: 3 different types of funeral rituals of 3 cultures
Although people in general may have different views and/or ideas on death and dying, is it possible to come to some kind of consensus on its definition? In this essay paper titled, “What Is the Meaning of a Good Death?” I will focus on its definition; discuss where this idea came from and its relation to a traditional Buddhist death. Based on class lecture readings from RLCT 2066 (Death, Dying & Spirituality) and research completed on the subject I will offer the reader a good understanding of the titles meaning through discussions and conclude with my interpretation of what preparations are made for death in relation to a traditional Buddhist death. In Gielen’s (2006) article he speaks of the traditional Tibetan monks and lay people of Ladakh, India whom are firm believers of the Buddhist beliefs, the traditional practices and the teachings which give an exceptional understanding of their death dying practices. It is their belief that they strive continually throughout life preparing for death or for the best possible death at the end of their lives.
INTRODUCTION
For most people, from a young age talking about one’s own mortality and death is an uncomfortable subject and still is commonly suggested to be a taboo subject. Talking about this taboo subject prior to ones demise will definitely make it easier for the transition from life to death and on grieving family members. Whatever one believes about death, reincarnation, religion, spirituality, SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious) and the non-believers it is certain that death will come to each one of us. What does a good death consist of or what types of things does one consider before being imposed by the inability to speak for it to be appropriate way to die a good de...
... middle of paper ...
...w.jstor.org/stable/1519809 (20/02/2014 10:37).
Despelder Lynne Anne, Strickland Albert Lee, The Last Dance, Fourth Edition, Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View (CA), 1996, p 607-610.
Gielen P Uwe, Death and dying in Buddhist Ladakh, International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, January 2006, Volume 44 (Issue 1) p 24-28. ACCESSED ONLINE AT: http://dx.doi.org.roxy.nipissingu.ca/10.1080/14635240.2006.10708061
National Film Board of Canada, The Tibetan Book of the Dead A Way of Life, Narrated by Leonard Cohen, Accessed online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gloEua0RSs
Stewart William C., Adams Michelle P., Stewart Jeanette A., and Nelson Lindsay A., Review of Clinical Medicine and Religious Practice, Springer, J Relig Health (2013) 52:91-106. DOI 10.1007/s10943-012-9578-9
World Health Organization, Newsbreak, January 2011, Issue 7, Page 3.
Mortality, the subject of death, has been a curious topic to scholars, writers, and the common man. Each with their own opinion and beliefs. My personal belief is that one should accept mortality for what it is and not go against it.
Tibetan views on death are focused on nirvana and spiritual perfection. These practices are spiritually meaningful for both the living survivors and the dead. Works Cited 1 Geoff Childs Tibetan Diary From Birth to Death and Beyond in the Himalayan Valley of Nepal (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004) 41. 2 Ibid., 54. 3Ibid., 54.
According to a study, many difficult cultures have the tendency to establish their methods of coping, whether it is through religion, culture, or/and personal ideologies (Chen, 2012). Mourning and burial ceremonies play a pivotal role for Lossography due to individuals having the ability and liberty to express melancholy and sometimes jubilation during the times they once had with their loved one. These types of beliefs and practices used as coping mechanisms can be very meaningful and profound for the comfort of the individual who’s going through a mournful experience (Chen, 2012). These types of coping mechanisms is important for Lossography, due to the fact that individuals are able to convey emotions through traditional practices, archaic arts and crafts, and spiritual rituals to fully find meaning with the death of their loved one. In addition, having established beliefs can definitely change the perception of what death signifies based upon religious and cultural expectations of the afterlife. However, not all cultures and religions put much emphasis into the afterlife. For instance, the monotheistic religion Judaism does not contain any interpretation of what happens after someone dies. Judaists believe that nothing happens after death, death is considered a taboo and not something that is commonly talked about for these religious individuals. Lossography, in religion may take on many forms for how death is perceived and for what actions can people take to ensure that their death will bring them to a place of peace, joy, and everlasting life. Lossography regarding religion, gives individuals hope that death is not the end, it gives them hope that knowing that person may not be here with us in the flesh, but that person is somewhere smiling down. Lossography in religion,
Although only a small percentage of children are dying from faith-healing practices, the awareness needs to be brought to the public. Faith in a religion has many benefits but the idea of abandoning medicine is bad for ones wellbeing. Precautionary signs of illness in infants must be treated immediately. Medicine alongside faith is the ideal situation in which many lives will be saved. Holding faith has proven to be positive for many people but one must take cautionary action when treating illnesses with faith healing as their only medicine. Faith healing and medicine collectively used with one another can yield the highest rates of recovery and general wellbeing, through reducing stress, relieving pain and anxiety, and increasing the desire to live. When the human body is able to release these stressors, one’s health has an increased rate of being cured.
The five Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto have some similarities when it comes to the their beliefs on death. Hinduism and Buddhism both believe in karma and reincarnation, while Daoism and Shintoism revolve their beliefs around nature. Confucianism chooses not to focus on things we do not know, so their beliefs on death are limited. In deciphering the different beliefs on death associated with each religion, it is important to understand the different belief systems and their origins. While some religions merged the views of the other religions, some came from the views of an originating founder. Each religion has their own view on life after death and whether or not their followers should be concerned
John L McIntosh. (2003) . Handbook of Death and Dying. Volume 1: The Presence of Death. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference.
Johnson, Christopher Jay., and Marsha G. McGee. How Different Religions View Death & Afterlife. Vol. 2. Philadelphia, PA: Charles, 1998. Print.
Spiro, Howard M., Mary G. McCrea. Curnen, and Lee Palmer. Wandel. Facing Death: Where Culture, Religion, and Medicine Meet. New Haven: Yale UP, 1996. Print.
To conclude, difference and diversity in relation to a ‘good death’ are important to forming guidance to fully understanding what is defined in creating a good death. A method in which can be taken and used for gaining equality for all, regardless of age, sex or religious beliefs or financial status. Furthermore, what everyone will perceive as a ‘good death’ will differ, with no definition as to which is right or wrong. everyone has the right to die with dignity and respect, peacefully with minimal suffering surrounded by people they
When preparing for death Buddhist generally agree a person’s state of mind while dying is of great importance. While dying the person can be surrounded by friends, family and monks who recite Buddhists scriptures and mantras to help the person achieve a peaceful state of mind. Buddhism asserts that all being live beyond the various fluctuations of this life. Death is merely a passage to rebirth in another realm such as the human world, a pure land or the flowering of the ultimate nature of the mind.
The concept of human mortality and how it is dealt with is dependent upon one’s society or culture. For it is the society that has great impact on the individual’s beliefs. Hence, it is also possible for other cultures to influence the people of a different culture on such comprehensions. The primary and traditional way men and women have made dying a less depressing and disturbing idea is though religion. Various religions offer the comforting conception of death as a begining for another life or perhaps a continuation for the former.
Rinpoche, Sogyal. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. New York, NY, USA: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 1993
In healthcare organizations, medical staff must conform to their hospital and their country’s code of conduct. Not only do they have to meet set standards, they must also take their patient into consideration. When making a decision upon a patient, medical staff must recognize religious backgrounds and spiritual beliefs. By understanding a patients’ beliefs and their belief system, a medical worker can give the patient their deserved medical assistance without overstepping boundaries or coming off as offensive. The practices and beliefs of four religions will be articulated throughout this essay to fully understand how religion can either help or hinder the healing process.
Death is the one great certainty in life. Some of us will die in ways out of our control, and most of us will be unaware of the moment of death itself. Still, death and dying well can be approached in a healthy way. Understanding that people differ in how they think about death and dying, and respecting those differences, can promote a peaceful death and a healthy manner of dying.
I was very excited to take Death and Dying as a college level course. Firstly, because I have always had a huge interest in death, but it coincides with a fear surrounding it. I love the opportunity to write this paper because I can delve into my own experiences and beliefs around death and dying and perhaps really establish a clear personal perspective and how I can relate to others in a professional setting.