Life in the Garden

Matters of Life and Death

funeral service

Friend, Freedom Fighter and a High Lama

Wheel of Life
Wheel of Life

Bloomington, IN.

Thubten J. Norbu, a former Indiana University professor and the oldest brother of the Dalai Lama, died Sept. 9, 2008 in Bloomington, Indiana.

Norbu was regarded as a reincarnated saint. As mourners filed into his room dropping blue,yellow, and white silk blessing scarves at his feet, Norbu was positioned upright in his bed, seated in the lotus position and adorned with an ornate Buddhist head dress. Amid a fog of incense, eight robed monks sat along a wall chanting Tibetan prayers, clanging cymbals and ringing bells — all aimed at helping him along his journey to rebirth.

Thubten J. Norbu’s cremation Thursday, Sept. 11 was the first of its kind in the state of Indiana after getting approval from Gov. Mitch Daniels. Indiana Law requires that cremation be preformed by a licensed crematory, but Gov. Mitch Daniels gave the family authorization to build a funeral pyre to perform this traditional ceremony.

Workers in Bloomington prepared the pyre for Norbu’s cremation
Workers in Bloomington prepared the pyre for Norbu’s cremation

Norbu’s passing has prompted prayer vigils in Tibet, India, Russia, Mongolia and Europe, among other places. In Dharamsala, India, the Tibetan government-in-exile shut down the day the news of his death was announced.

The family plans to use the ashes of Thubten J. Norbu to create statues the family can use as remembrance.

Source and images via

Consumer Corner

Missouri Official State Bird: Native Blue Bird
Official Missouri State Bird: Native Blue Bird

A new Missouri law gives you more control over what is done with your body after your death. Do you want to be buried, cremated, body donated to science? The authority to make this decision is known in legalese as “right of sepulcher.”

A DPA, or agent, is someone you name in a legal document to make medical decisions for you if can’t speak for yourself. Under this new state law, the DPA has one additional power: right of sepulcher.

In the past, next-of-kin had the final say on this issue. Previously, if you chose cremation, your family could overrule you AND your DPA and choose something else. But now your DPA will have the final say – so be sure to specify your final wishes to your DPA.

Continue reading about End of Life Choices for Missouri Residents.

Do Not Disturb

vintage postcard

In our culture we honor the dead by carving their names in stone, staging celebrations of life, and personalizing any and all funeral accessories from the casket to the urn.

In contrast, here in the Bible Belt, I’ve attended a few services that where the body is on display (usually in a church) but the ceremony itself is actually an altar call for the “lost”.

In talking with Native Americans I’ve learned that in their culture, it is forbidden to mention the name of the deceased for fear of disturbing and disrupting the journey of the spirit.

Recently, a friend in Texas attended her neighbor’s funeral and was saddened that the minister never mentioned the deceased, only HIS relationship with God.

We never learned anything about his mother. We didn’t learn where she was born and grew up, who she married, or the names of her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We didn’t learn if she had any hobbies, or if she had ever belonged to any church or community organization.

I’d like to think this was a culture clash and not a minister with a captive audience. We just have to hope the family was satisfied with the service.

The message here is, depending on your beliefs and desires for the funeral service DON’T ASSUME that your pastor or family member will know what you want for your loved ones. Write it down, ask questions, or communicate your wishes to the funeral director handling the service.

Today’s Tip: Celebrate Life