Understanding Death

ANGELA SUMEGI is Associate Professor (ret.) in Religion at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. She is the author of Dreamworlds of Shamanism and Tibetan Buddhism: The Third Place and a Senior Editor with the International Network for Training, Education, and Research on Culture, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of Indigenous communities around the world.

• Preface to the Second Edition xiiiAcknowledgments xvii1 Understanding Death 1Debates and Definitions 4Death and the Self 9Religion, Ritual, and Transformation 14Notes 18References and Further Reading 192 Death in the Ancient World 21Egypt 23Bodies and Souls 24Transforming the Body 26Going Forth by Day 28The Story of Osiris 30Mesopotamia 33Gilgamesh and the Search for Immortality 34Bones and Ghost 36Iran 38Zoroaster and the Evil of Death 38Salvation for All 39Notes 42References and Further Reading 433 Jewish Perspectives 45Creation, Disobedience, and Death 48The Soul and Sheol 51Resurrection and the World to Come 55The Journey of the Soul 59Rituals of Departure 65A Conversation on Understanding Death with Estel Lita and Marsel Russo 70Notes 72References and Further Reading 734 Christian Perspectives 75The Death of Jesus 77Developments in Christian Thought on the Soul 80Resurrection and Eternal Life 84Heaven and Hell 87Rituals of Departure 95A Conversation on Understanding Death with Trevor and Marjorie Myers 98Notes 100References and Further Reading 1015 Muslim Perspectives 103The Names of God 107Ruh and Nafs 110The Trial of the Grave 113The Garden (Janna) and the Fire (Jahannam) 116Modern Islamic Views on Heaven and Hell 120Rituals of Departure 122A Conversation on Understanding Death with Mine Khan 125Notes 127References and Further Reading 1286 Perspectives of Indigenous Peoples 129Soul Theories 133The Destiny of Souls 137Afterlife Among the Warao 138Rituals of Departure 142A Conversation on Understanding Death withAlbert Dumont 148Notes 150References and Further Reading 1517 Hindu Perspectives 153Feeding the Ancestors 154The First Sacrifice 156Death, the Immortal 160The Inner Controller 161In the House of Death 166Paths to Liberation 169Rituals of Departure 172A Conversation on Understanding Death with Sudha and Harsha Dehejia 178Notes 179References and Further Reading 1808 Sikh Perspectives 183Guru Nanak 183Sri Guru Granth Sahib: The Book that Embodies the "Imperishable Light" 185"There Is No Hindu and No Muslim" 186Liberation of the Soul and the Guru’s Grace 191Hukam and Death 193Re-definingRitual 196Rituals of Departure 198A Conversation on Understanding Death with Gurcharan Singh 203Notes 205References and Further Reading 2079 The Shramana Movement: Jain Perspectives 209Abandoning the Householder Life 209Jain Perspectives: The Concept of Soul (Jiva) 213Non-violence (Ahimsa) and Asceticism: The Path to Liberation 214Sallekhana: The Heroic Death 218Rituals of Departure 220Mantras and Prayers That May Be Recited at a Jain Funeral 223A Conversation on Understanding Death with Yash and Jagmohan Humar 225Notes 227References and Further Reading 22810 The Shramana Movement: Buddhist Perspectives 231The Life and Death of the Buddha 232Foundations of the Buddha’s Dharma 234The Process of Becoming a Self 237Nirvana: The Deathless 243Mahayana and the Bodhisattva Ideal 246Rituals of Departure 248A Conversation on Understanding Death with Ton Nu' Nguyen Phu'o'c Thuy Lan 256Notes 258References and Further Reading 25811 Religion in Chinese Culture and Daoist Perspectives 261Ancestors and Other Spirits of the Dead 263Soul Theories 269Daoist Perspectives: The Nameless Way 270Transformations of the Self 272The Search for Immortality 274Rituals of Departure 277A Conversation on Understanding Death with Wei-ting Liu 283Notes 286References and Further Reading 28712 New Ways of Accommodating Death 289Keeping the Faith: Religious Accommodation 290Conquering Fear: Death Positive and Beyond 294Life Beyond Death: The Near-Death Experience 299Notes 304References and Further Reading 305Index 307