Alex Wilding

Sickness and death are quite simply out there on the street for all to see. Typically at such a cremation the body would indeed be wrapped up in a funeral shroud of some sort, but the observer can very easily see what it is and watch the process of it being consumed by the flames. Burning ghats, that's G-H-A-T-S, are to be found on the banks of important rivers in the Indian subcontinent.

In Kathmandu, perhaps the main site is Pashupatinath, where bodies are cremated along the banks of the river, and where many people try to come to spend the last days of their life before being cremated there. Generally speaking, Hindus do have a high awareness of what we might call the cycle of life and death.

In Kathmandu, perhaps the main site is Pashupatinath, where bodies are cremated along the banks of the river, and where many people try to come to spend the last days of their life before being cremated there. Generally speaking, Hindus do have a high awareness of what we might call the cycle of life and death.

So, just as Pashupatinath is associated with death and cremation, it is also associated, particularly on the opposite bank, with betrothal. It is essentially a Hindu site and people who are not Hindu cannot enter the main temple. And that, by the way, includes the Hare Krishna lot. Nevertheless, it's a special site for Buddhists as well.

So, just as Pashupatinath is associated with death and cremation, it is also associated, particularly on the opposite bank, with betrothal. It is essentially a Hindu site and people who are not Hindu cannot enter the main temple. And that, by the way, includes the Hare Krishna lot. Nevertheless, it's a special site for Buddhists as well.

On one side of the river, there are two tiny caves very close to one another. The Naropa Cave and the Tilopa Cave. Naropa and Tilopa, important figures in particularly the Kaju lineage, are believed to have meditated in these caves, and they are said to be the place where Tilopa gave teachings to Naropa, who had a vision there of Vajrayogini.

On one side of the river, there are two tiny caves very close to one another. The Naropa Cave and the Tilopa Cave. Naropa and Tilopa, important figures in particularly the Kaju lineage, are believed to have meditated in these caves, and they are said to be the place where Tilopa gave teachings to Naropa, who had a vision there of Vajrayogini.

As a general rule, they're locked, but it is possible we'd like to spend a little time in them. I don't honestly know whether I was particularly fortunate to get that chance, which I did, or whether it is in fact quite easy to get access. If there's a listener out there who knows, please add a comment.

As a general rule, they're locked, but it is possible we'd like to spend a little time in them. I don't honestly know whether I was particularly fortunate to get that chance, which I did, or whether it is in fact quite easy to get access. If there's a listener out there who knows, please add a comment.

Pashupatinath is also a highly appropriate place for the practice of Chö, although that's not something that I got a chance to do. In short, cremation is quite a common way in which Buddhists dispose of dead bodies. However, a funeral pyre that will burn hot enough to reduce the human body to ashes does take quite a lot of wood.

Pashupatinath is also a highly appropriate place for the practice of Chö, although that's not something that I got a chance to do. In short, cremation is quite a common way in which Buddhists dispose of dead bodies. However, a funeral pyre that will burn hot enough to reduce the human body to ashes does take quite a lot of wood.

This is one reason why half-burned bodies are so often cast into some rivers in India, which, amongst other things, is very obviously a serious health hazard. In Tibet, the fuel situation is even more acute. The country is arid, and many people would probably never ever have wood to just burn, even for a funeral. The main fuel for domestic use would be dried animal dung.

This is one reason why half-burned bodies are so often cast into some rivers in India, which, amongst other things, is very obviously a serious health hazard. In Tibet, the fuel situation is even more acute. The country is arid, and many people would probably never ever have wood to just burn, even for a funeral. The main fuel for domestic use would be dried animal dung.

In Tibet, of course, the animals might well be yaks. In Nepal, more likely ordinary cattle. Now, this fuel, which is used in many parts of the world, may well burn and give heat, but not ferocious heat, and that's therefore not enough for a serious cremation. Another technique, known as sky burial, is therefore not uncommon. This involves the body being cut up and fed to vultures.

In Tibet, of course, the animals might well be yaks. In Nepal, more likely ordinary cattle. Now, this fuel, which is used in many parts of the world, may well burn and give heat, but not ferocious heat, and that's therefore not enough for a serious cremation. Another technique, known as sky burial, is therefore not uncommon. This involves the body being cut up and fed to vultures.

Even the bones are crushed, and there are some species of vulture who live on little else. To western eyes, this is a gruesome sight. But realistically, what is the alternative? Feeding the vultures is an honourable way to deal with the body. Ecologically, it's probably much more sound than cremation.

Even the bones are crushed, and there are some species of vulture who live on little else. To western eyes, this is a gruesome sight. But realistically, what is the alternative? Feeding the vultures is an honourable way to deal with the body. Ecologically, it's probably much more sound than cremation.

I remember in my late teens and early twenties, which, yes, I know, that was back in history, but then I was a keen reader of science fiction. And I remember one story, which could in fact be quite a well-known one, because mostly I read paperbacks from famous writers.

I remember in my late teens and early twenties, which, yes, I know, that was back in history, but then I was a keen reader of science fiction. And I remember one story, which could in fact be quite a well-known one, because mostly I read paperbacks from famous writers.

In this story, a space-travelling human enters a lost spacecraft to find that an alien, who is still there, has eaten the original human pilot.