The land of Tibet is full of mysteries, and the practice of sky burial is considered one of the enigmas within the local customs and culture.
Valuing Rituals
In the long-standing tradition and culture of Tibet, the people place great importance on funeral rituals. There is meticulous care given to the deceased.
The traditions surrounding death in Tibet reflect a convergence of indigenous beliefs and practices intertwined with Buddhism over more than a millennium. Numerous rituals take place to ensure that the departed have a smooth journey into their new existence.
Tibetans place great importance on funeral rituals. (Photo: BBC)
A Tibetan proverb states: “Those who are aware of life will also be aware of death.” The question arises: how can one be aware of life? Tibetans answer this question through the saying: “Knowing how to be aware of life is a practice, and if it is a practice, one can train in it.”
Tibetans highly value traditional rituals. (Photo: Tibetanreview)
Many traditional Tibetan texts discuss this practice. While many believe that the realms of living and dead are far apart, Tibetans see these two realms as closely connected, as if one could reach out and grasp the other.
Tibetans believe that the most effective method to guide a person’s journey at the moment of death is through the practice of phowa (tib. འཕོ་བ་; sa. saṃkrānti), which translates in Vietnamese as “the transference of consciousness.” This method helps the consciousness of the dying person to exit the body through the crown point located at the top of the head.
According to Vajrayana Buddhism, at the time of death, consciousness will exit through one of the ten “openings” of the body (the anus, genitalia, mouth, two nostrils, two ears, two eyes, and the crown point at the top of the head).
If the consciousness of the deceased exits through the openings at the upper part of the body, such as the crown point, it will facilitate rebirth into a higher realm.
Strange Regulations
In traditional Tibetan culture, when a family member is on the verge of death, no one is allowed to touch the body until the phowa ritual has been performed.
A Lama skilled in phowa will be invited to perform this ritual for the dying person. Through specific guidance and a special method of massage, the Lama will assist the consciousness of the dying person to gradually move upward toward the crown of the head.
Once the consciousness has fully risen to the head, the Lama will concentrate and emit the sound “Hik-Phat” to open the crown point for the consciousness to exit. Only after several hours can anyone touch the corpse, and the first person permitted will touch the crown, signaling the departure of the consciousness due to phowa.
Subsequently, the corpse will be bathed in fragrant water, wrapped in clean cloth, and ghee will be placed in the mouth. The body is also secured with cords made from plant fibers to prevent it from moving, in case it were to become a living corpse (zombie).
Decoding the Mystery of Sky Burial
During the final journey, the corpse is taken out of the house before dawn. Besides the common burial methods of earth burial or water burial, the preferred methods in Tibet are cremation and sky burial.
Sky burial (tib. jhator བྱ་གཏོར་, eng. sky burial) is a funeral practice in Tibet where the deceased is taken to a mountain to decompose in nature or be consumed by scavenger birds like vultures, hence it is also known as “bird burial.”
In Tibetan Buddhism, sky burial is seen as a representation of their desire to ascend to paradise. This is the most common way the people bury their dead.
Sky burial is regarded as one of the most bizarre and mysterious burial practices in the world.
Sky burial is an ancient burial practice in Tibet. (Photo: Rex Features)
There are two forms of sky burial: basic and ceremonial. Nomads and villagers in remote areas typically use the basic sky burial. The deceased is simply taken to the mountain to allow the vultures to find them. The second method is more complex and ritualized.
As mentioned, the Lama will pray for the deceased to be seated for 24 hours. The body is prayed over, washed clean, and wrapped in white cloth. The knees are bent upward, and the head is bowed down to the chest, then placed into a cloth bag.
Tibetans often take their deceased to a wide mound or remote area for burial. (Photo: Flickr)
Once prepared, they tie it to a carrying pole and place it in the front room of the house; on the day of the burial, they carry the deceased to a wide mound or a wild area on a high mountain for burial. The journey to the burial site begins at dawn.
Family members accompany the body to chant prayers and play funeral music but must maintain a certain distance from the deceased.
The corpse is laid face down on a rocky surface, and the “rogyapa” (those who handle the body) will burn juniper to create an aroma that attracts vultures and begin their work with a sharp knife.
From hair to internal organs, and finally the limbs of the deceased are separated and thrown to the waiting vultures. The rogyapa continues to crush the remaining skeleton, then mixes it with barley flour to make it easier for the birds to “consume.”
After the burial, the Lama will continue to pray and perform rituals for seven consecutive weeks (49 days). A straw or wooden effigy is brought in to symbolize the deceased. The Lama will take a piece of paper with the deceased’s face drawn on it and attach it to the effigy and then sit there to continue guiding.
After 49 days, the Lama burns the paper covering the effigy’s face as a way of indicating that the deceased has severed all ties with the living. In this final ritual, family members gather around and recite prepared phrases that might seem strange to Europeans, such as:
“Hey you, you are dead, you have gone far away. You are no longer connected to this house. Hurry and eat your last meal and move on, do not return here anymore…”
The 49 days align with customs observed in many other Eastern traditions, such as those in Vietnam.
The body is seen as a vehicle to carry the soul in Tibetan belief. (Photo: Everplans)
Sky burial may appear to be a “barbaric” custom. However, Tibetans view the human body merely as a vehicle, like a car that transports the soul.
Once that vehicle has deteriorated and the soul has left it, it holds no value anymore and should be disposed of in the most generous way: as food for other sentient beings.
Why Do Tibetans Choose Sky Burial for the Deceased?
In reality, Tibetans regard sky burial as a highly solemn ritual, the final and ultimate offering one can make: sacrificing one’s own flesh and bone to the hungry beings, who will carry the deceased to pure realms.
From a geological historical perspective, the Tibetan Plateau is the highest ecosystem on Earth. The ground here is hard and cold. Tibetans cannot perform burials beneath the hard rock or ice, while land is expensive. Cremation is also very challenging due to the scarcity of firewood and fuel.
Meanwhile, hungry vultures circle the skies, and wolves roam the area. With these geographical characteristics, sky burial seems to be the most reasonable option for them.
Although some might view the mystical practice of sky burial as somewhat “barbaric,” it remains one of the deeply ingrained cultural traditions in the lives of the Tibetan people.
Why is the Sky Burial Practice Observed in Tibetan Buddhism?
The practice of sky burial is closely tied to the philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans believe that if vultures come and consume the body, it signifies that the deceased has no sins and their soul has peacefully ascended to Heaven. The vultures on the mountains surrounding the sky burial site are considered “sacred birds” and only consume human remains without attacking any nearby small animals. Any bones left by these sacred birds must be collected and cremated while Lamas chant prayers to atone for the deceased, as bones would bind the souls to this life.
What Are the Taboos Associated with Sky Burial in Tibet?
In addition, there are many taboos during the sky burial process in Tibet. Strangers are not allowed to attend the ceremony because Tibetans believe this will bring negativity to the soul’s ascension. Therefore, visitors should respect this custom and avoid such occasions. Family members are also not permitted to be present at the burial site.
This article is excerpted from the book “Mystical Tibet and the Art of Dying” by author Dang Hoang Xa.
