mymasteryourkim

Hello!! I was wondering if someone might know of any Writings that talk about the link between our souls and the physical body after death... Why is there a limit to how far you can take a body after its physical death? Is there a remnant of the connection we have to our bodies in life after death? Why is there a special significance in visiting burial sites if we are just as connected to the souls in the next world wherever we are on the material plane? Why aren't we allowed to cremate the body? Are these all just forms of respect for the temple of being? These were some of the questions that came up while my Ruhi group was going over life and death and no one seemed to know (; I've read plenty about what happens to the soul and I suppose it doesn't really matter (??) what happens to our bodies, but it'd be better to know than just assume! Thanks so much for your help in advance!!

Pollwr

As regards cremation, here is a relevant quotation from Abdú'l-Bahá

"HE IS GOD

The handmaid of God, Miss Barney, had asked a question as to the wisdom of burying the dead in the earth. She said too that scientists in Europe and America, after prolonged and wide-ranging research and debate on this subject, have concluded that according to the dictates of reason, the benefits of cremation have been fully established and wherein, then, lies the wisdom of the Holy Religion requiring burial in the earth?

As thou art aware, this servant doth not have the time for a detailed explanation, and therefore can write only a brief reply. Where universal phenomena are concerned, no matter how long and hard the human intellect may struggle to find the right procedures or the perfect system, it can never discover the like of the divine creation and its order of transferences and journeyings within the chain of life. For the transferences, the compositions, the gatherings and scatterings of elements, and of constituent parts and substances, proceed in a chain that is mighty and without flaw. Observe the effective universal laws and see to what a degree they are solidly established, secure and strong.

And just as the composition, the formation, and growth and development of the physical body have come about by degrees, so too must its decomposition and dispersal be gradual. If the disintegration be rapid, this will cause an overlapping and a slackening in the chain of transferences,and this discontinuity will impair the universal relationships within the chain of created things.

For example, this elemental human body hath come forth from the mineral, the vegetable and the animal worlds, and after its death will be entirely changed into microscopic animal organisms; and according to the divine order and the driving forces of nature, these minute creatures will have an effect on the life of the universe, and will pass into other forms.

Now, if you consign this body to the flames, it will pass immediately into the mineral kingdom and will be kept back from its natural journey through the chain of all created things.

The elemental body, following death, and its release from its composite life, will be transformed into separate components and minuscule animals; and even though it will now be deprived of its composite life in human form, still the animal life is in it, and it is not entirely bereft of life. If, however, it be burned, it will turn into ashes and minerals, and once it has become mineral, it must inexorably journey onward to the vegetable kingdom, so that it may rise to the animal world. That is what is described as an overleap.

In short, the composition and decomposition, the gathering and scattering and journeying of all creatures must proceed according to the natural order, divine rule and the most great law of God, so that no marring nor impairment may affect the essential relationships which arise out of the inner realities of created things. This is why,according to the law of God, we are bidden to bury the dead.

The peoples of ancient Persia believed that earth-burial was not even permissible; that such burial, to a certain degree, would block the coursings and journeyings required by nature. For this reason they built Towers of Silence open to the sky, on the mountain tops, and lay the dead therein on the surface of the ground. But they failed to observe that burial in the earth doth not prevent the natural travellings and coursings which are an exigency of creation -- that rather, earth-burial, besides permitting the natural march of phenomena, offereth other benefits as well.

And briefly stated, beyond this, although the human soul hath severed its connection with the body, friends and lovers are still vehemently attached to what remaineth, and they cannot bear to have it instantly destroyed. They cannot, for example, see the pictured face of the departed blotted out and scattered, although a photograph is only his shadow and in the end it too must fade away. So far as they are able, they protect whatever remainder they have of him,be it only a fragment of clay, a tree, or a stone. Then how much more do they treasure his earthly form! Never can the heart agree to look on the cherished body of a friend, a father, a mother, a brother, a child, and see it instantly fall to nothing -- and this is an exigency of love.

Thus the ancient Egyptians mummified the body that it might remain intact to the end of time, their belief being that the longer the dead endured, the nearer they would draw to the mercy of their gods. Yet the Hindus of India cremate the body without any concern, and indeed the burning is a solace to their hearts. This lack of concern, however, is fortuitous: it deriveth from religious beliefs and is not a natural thing. For they suppose that the more rapidly the body is destroyed, the nearer it will come to divine compassion. This is the opposite of what the ancient Egyptians believed. The Hindus are even persuaded that, as soon as the body is with great rapidity disintegrated,forgiveness will be assured, and the dead will be blessed forever more. It is this belief which reconcileth them to the cremation.

Greetings be unto thee, and praise. I did not have the time to write even a line, but out of regard for Miss Barney, this has been set down.

(signed) 'Ayn-'Ayn

=====================

HE IS GOD!

Another point remains, and it is this: that in case of contagious diseases, such as the plague and cholera, whether cremation of bodies with lime or other chemicals is allowable or not? In such cases, hygiene and preservation is necessarily more important; for according to the clear Divine texts, medical commands are lawful, and 'necessities make forbidden things lawful' is one of the certain rules.

Upon thee be the glory of the All-Glorious!

(signed) 'Ayn-'Ayn

(Abdu'l-Baha, Wisdom of Burying the Dead)

BruceDLimber

After death there is really no link to worry about between the soul and the physical body because beyond that point the physical is no longer connected to the soul.

As to visiting graves, the Baha'i scriptures make clear that significant expenditure for this purpose is inappropriate.

I would say that in general, the stress is to be on life and the living rather than on the dead; hence, for example, the one-hour restriction on relocating the dead body.

Peace, :-)

Bruce

arthra

Why is there a special significance in visiting burial sites if we are just as connected to the souls in the next world wherever we are on the material plane?

I think a burial site say of someone who has been made a great contribution to the spiritual life of the planet is a focal point for people. Abdul-Baha suggested that the friends visit the site of Thorton Chase at Inglewood cemetary..not because there is anymore significance in his physical remains but as a focal point to remember the first American Baha'i.

Why aren't we allowed to cremate the body?

Abdul-Baha has stated as above:



In short, the composition and decomposition, the gathering and scattering and journeying of all creatures must proceed according to the natural order, divine rule and the most great law of God, so that no marring nor impairment may affect the essential relationships which arise out of the inner realities of created things. This is why,according to the law of God, we are bidden to bury the dead.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Wisdom of Burying the Dead

For me personally and aside from simply saying cremation is not our way ..When members of my family have been buried I have a focal point and a place to go to remember them and pray for them.

Again Abdul-Baha:

And briefly stated, beyond this, although the human soul hath severed its connection with the body, friends and lovers are still vehemently attached to what remaineth, and they cannot bear to have it instantly destroyed. They cannot, for example, see the pictured face of the departed blotted out and scattered, although a photograph is only his shadow and in the end it too must fade away. So far as they are able, they protect whatever remainder they have of him,be it only a fragment of clay, a tree, or a stone. Then how much more do they treasure his earthly form! Never can the heart agree to look on the cherished body of a friend, a father, a mother, a brother, a child, and see it instantly fall to nothing -- and this is an exigency of love.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Wisdom of Burying the Dead

You've also probably read that the other Baha'i laws concerning burial of our loved ones remains...

Burial within an hour's journey from place of death..

No embalming of the body.

Hope you enjoy your Ruhi!

arthra

I was going to add that I've had even close members of my family have been cremated and I was later told about it.. There is a feeling I had .. Where are "they"? .. One had their ashes scattered in the mountains..and one well we don't know. There's an unsettling feeling I have about that.

Cremation is certainly cheaper and people do opt for that.. but it does leave their loved ones sometimes with that empty feeling. So for myself and my immediate family who are Baha'is we've arranged to have our physical remains interred. The only problem is that we don't always know of course if we will pass within an hours journey ... but the cemetary company has sites all over the country.

Yeshua

I agree with Abdu'l-Baha. The Catholic Church does not traditionally allow cremation, and even though it does now, it still "encourages" burial.

My great-grandmother was cremated last year. We kept her ashes and had them buried in a Catholic cemetary, where we erected a beautiful, miniature little black stone with her picture upon it and golden lettering.

I wished that she had got buried, as did my mother. However, we did not allow her ashes to be "scattered" since I find that highly disrespectful. My faith does not allow scattering of ashes, since it teaches that even ashes must be accorded the same respect as a complete body.

Ultimately even though she was cremated, I felt content in having a "focal point" to visit and remember her and all the good times we shared.

I do not think I would have been able to ever accept it if her ashes had been scattered.

Even with cremation, there was something altogether too "sudden" about how it was conducted. One minute her body was there, and the next she was gone - incinerated. It gave me very little time too properly reflect and grieve, like a burial ceremony would have. Rather we were all ushered out of the crematorium as quickly as a flash, because the next "body" had to be cremated. I found the whole experience very disturbing and I left feeling quite "angry", as if my grandmother's body had not been accorded the proper respect. Thankfully though, the previous funeral ceremony had been beautiful, respectful and offered much opportunity to pray and reflect. Nonetheless, I do not like the idea of cremation very much now.