Alex Wilding

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.

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.

Details I don't remember, but somehow it turns out that the alien had found this a very unpleasant thing to do, but had felt obliged to do it in order to properly honour the pilot who had died in some kind of accident, rather than leaving the body to low-grade lifeforms such as bacteria.

Details I don't remember, but somehow it turns out that the alien had found this a very unpleasant thing to do, but had felt obliged to do it in order to properly honour the pilot who had died in some kind of accident, rather than leaving the body to low-grade lifeforms such as bacteria.

Offering to the birds, while it may be shocking to some of our eyes, is in fact a respectful and ecologically sound method. It's just a pity that it is, like so many other interesting things on this planet, becoming just a tourist attraction.

Offering to the birds, while it may be shocking to some of our eyes, is in fact a respectful and ecologically sound method. It's just a pity that it is, like so many other interesting things on this planet, becoming just a tourist attraction.