Sky Funeral, Drigung. Tibet.
Our bodies are what we are most attached to,Ósays one of the monks.ÓThatÕs why offering oneÕs body carries the greatest merit..Õ Tibetans believe that one should benefit other beings at every stage of oneÕs life. After completion of the powa ceremony, the corpse is traditionally offered to the great vultures and lammergeiers that frequent the charnel grounds..

Vultures descend on the flayed corpse. ÔOffering bodies to the birds is the same as reciting mantras. It brings merit and benefit to the dead person as well as to the family and friends who bring him here. While cutting up the corpse I try to keep a pure and compassionate mind. How would you feel if someone felt repulsed cutting up your body/Ó
-Tomdenla

Sky Funeral, Drigung. Tibet.
Our bodies are what we are most attached to,Ósays one of the monks.ÓThatÕs why offering oneÕs body carries the greatest merit..Õ Tibetans believe that one should benefit other beings at every stage of oneÕs life. After completion of the powa ceremony, the corpse is traditionally offered to the great vultures and lammergeiers that frequent the charnel grounds..

Vultures descend on the flayed corpse. ÔOffering bodies to the birds is the same as reciting mantras. It brings merit and benefit to the dead person as well as to the family and friends who bring him here. While cutting up the corpse I try to keep a pure and compassionate mind. How would you feel if someone felt repulsed cutting up your body/Ó
-Tomdenla