Cultural Diversity issues assignment
This link will take you to an article about cultural assessment. Follow this link:
to an external site. and read about cultural issues about groups of persons and then some evaluation methods (eg. Kleinman & Campbell and Geiger & Davidheizer assessment techniques, etc.) The reason I am having you look at these and think about this subject is that you will have to be thinking about this subject when you do your paper and eventually the presentation near the end of the course. This is a major consideration when evaluating a group’s feelings and expectations about end-of-life issues.
Assignment: Consider the group you will be doing your paper about and their end-of-life beliefs. Discuss what assessment method you might utilize to assess the group’s beliefs about end-of-life issues. You can include the reasons why you chose this method and what results will tell you about the group and why this matters.
Your paper should have at least 250-300 words to it and be APA compliant including the references. Answer the issue(s) brought up in the questions thoroughly and include examples.
To answer above use the already completed paper below:
End of Life
The Hindu society is one of the oldest and most broadly celebrated cultures of the global society, with one of the most spiritual and religious backgrounds in the world (Ranganathan, 2022). The belief in karma and samsara, or the theories of causation and rebirth, gives life and death an endless cycle. This aspect of worldview regards death as another level or stage in life. As per the Hindu religion, the human soul (atman) is, therefore, eternal, exists beyond the human body, and strives to attain the ultimate freedom from the birth and death process (moksha). They are the foundation of death rituals in Hindu practices, which pay tribute to the departed, console the grieving family, and guide the grieving family and the soul of the dead. Informing the current understanding of Hindu practices and beliefs about death is essential because it reveals the depth of spiritual beliefs of Hindu culture and the ways it responds to individual and collective grief. The Hindu funerals also bear the elements of spiritualism, familyism, and ritualism. Purification, cremation, and offering are performed to pay homage to the ancestors and assist the bereaved in mourning. This paper aims to discuss Hindu last rites and generate an understanding of their principles, details, and symbolism. Studying these practices allows us to comprehend by which means the given practices let the deceased bid farewell and assist in gathering populations.
Historical and Philosophical Origins
Hindu philosophy is based on karma and samsara, which govern life, death, and rebirth. Karma actually means actions that are done by an individual in this and past lives, which decide their fate and life thereafter. A distinguishing feature of Hinduism is the belief in Samsara, the cycle of reincarnation or birth, death, and rebirth of the soul or atman to attain moksha. This cycle view death as transformation of the soul, or the spiritual aspect of a man. This outlook gives Hindu life purpose and cohesiveness and understanding of morality and spirituality as a way to gain freedom from cycles of reincarnation.
The Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads are the source of defining Hindu perception about death (Havelka, 2020). The concept of the eternal soul is well articulated in one of the central tenets of Hindu scripture- Bhagavad Gita, which is a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. It educates that the soul is an eternal thing that passes through bodies as through their garments. This teaching consoled Hindus as it explained death in a manner that made it seem a natural part of life. Among the ancient writings and texts, the Upanishads are the devotional-discourse tracts that discuss the nature of the soul and its identity with Brahman. These texts preach nonengagement with the material world and the process of accepting death as a way of achieving divinity. Images from these scriptures allow the Hindus to meet death with confidence and without fear.
Cremation is one of the key rituals pivotal to Hindu funerals; it has historical and philosophical connotations (Laungani, 2021). Traditional Indian cremation has always been practiced for thousands of years based on the belief that fire or Agni, which is a form of energy, will cleanse the soul to usher it to the other world. Fire is one of the main forms, and it is considered one of the four templates of the cosmos as well as between the worlds and the divine. The cremated provides the soul liberty to begin further reincarnation or attain moksha. Cremation liberates the soul, and it can pursue the samsara process or gain moksha. This practice is rooted in the Vedic religion, where fire was considered sacred in many rituals related to the gods. Cremation thus emerged as an important feature of Hindu funerals, this form of burial being a reflection of Hinduism’s ideas of change, purification, and the soul. These themes illustrate the process of Hindu death practice as rich and representative of their folk and religious beliefs.
Customs and Traditions Surrounding Death
The Hindu approach to funerals and funerals is highly ritualist, and each movement made is with a view of respecting the dead and helping out his or her spirit. People wash their bodies as a sign of respecting the vehicle that the soul used to live in. After death, the dead body is washed with water from a holy river like the Ganges, which signifies purity. The corpse is then dressed in simple and generic traditional clothing, often white for adults, to represent purity. Sandalwood paste or turmeric is rubbed on the body to invoke luck and protection. The body is placed on a bamboo stretcher and covered with flowers, especially marigolds since they are believed to cleanse the soul. These rites are performed by family members and close relatives to give the deceased a deserved respect and honor.
The process of cremation, an integral part of funeral rights in Hindus, is carried out to liberate the soul from the restrictions of the body. The corpse is cremated on a wooden structure while prayers, as well as mantras, are being chanted. Fire is a purifier and aids in the process of changing the spirit of the dead by transforming it into the other world. Some of the activities done during cremation include the final feeding known as Pind Daan, where the dead are offered rice or barley flour balls. These contributions are filled with love and duty, which aid the souls in the recurring cycle after dying. In terms of culture, this action is done by the eldest son or the next male relative because it is believed that this brings the soul to the correct place in accordance with what the Hindu religion prescribes for the attainment of moksha. This rite is the last phase or act of the Hindu funeral ceremony and signifies acceptance by the family of the deceased and a vow to honor them.
Burying customs are part of Hindu rites of passage, ensuring the provision of an orderly time for grieving and remembering. The 13 days after the cremation is known as Shraddha, during which the entire family grieves. The family stays away from festivals, any colorful clothing, or celebrations during this time. Simple ceremonies like lighting a lamp and praying are conducted to help the soul travel to its next stage, and the rituals also help grieving families. On the last day of the mourning period, a very important ritual known as Tarpan is conducted, which involves offering water and food in a bid to seek blessings for the deceased and the family in question. Funeral makers have deemed relatives and friends as offering consolation and preparing burial services, which are critical communal resources. These practices not only pay respect to the deceased but also help to comfort the family so as to maintain harmony and unity in society.
Stories or Stories That People Share
In a conversation with her Hindu co-worker, she explained what she saw in India when she went to her grandmother’s funeral. The family was very concerned with traditional practices, and as such, they engaged in the purification of the body. Her grandma was bathed and dressed in a white saree, which symbolized cleanliness and peace. The whole family adorned the stretcher with Marigold flowers and sandalwood paste. The funeral pyre was erected with much attention paid to detail, and lighting the fire was the task of the eldest son – in this case, her father – she said was both sorrowful and sacred. Recitation of prayers helped promote deep thinking and strengthened the family’s faith in the continuity of the soul’s existence. It was also very touching that her family performed the Pind Daan, where foods offered the souls of their ancestors.
Reflecting on this experience, my colleague emphasized how these practices brought the family closer together during their time of loss. The ceremonies helped them grieve and commemorate their grandmother. These practices reinforced the family’s spirituality and gave them a sense of continuity and belonging by highlighting their cultural roots. Structured mourning allowed the family to support each other and find closure. This story shows how Hindu funerals strengthen family relationships and provide spiritual comfort during a difficult period. It shows how cultural traditions help people through life’s worst changes.
Significance of These Practices
Hindu burials exemplify concepts of moksha and saṃsāra, where each death is a liberation from the body and the beginning of a new cycle of reincarnation (Hans, 2024). These activities help to focus on such values as the immortality of the soul and the temporary nature of the body. The cremation and the Pind Daan free the soul and free it from the cycle of regeneration. The change-making process, therefore, employs objects of spirituality such as fire and water in order to transcend Brahman. These traditions enable Hindus to embrace the concept of karma and other related beliefs and issues of existence and existence with reference to cosmic and spiritual principles of life and death.
The Hindu funeral rites also have a strong function in comforting grieving families and giving significance to the dead. These customs present a special and efficient way to mourn, remember the dead, and find reconciliation. The ‘mourning period’ (Shraddha) and the offerings made during Pind Daan make the bereaved family members feel that they are actually helping the ‘souls’ of their loved ones, and thus, they impart a feeling of ‘purpose (Panda et al., 2024). These rituals are significant since they draw support from the community to prevent families from mourning in isolation, an aspect of Hinduism. Such an organization establishes ways of moving families from mourning to acceptance in a manner that they do not lose the memories of the departed but instead uphold their dignity, hence balancing the aspects of religious obligations and grief.
Conclusion
Hindu rituals of dying are built into the framework of religious beliefs and the culture’s philosophy. These rituals and practices, like toilet training, preparing the body for burial, cremation, and other related burial practices, reflect the Hindu belief in karma, samsara, and moksha. They pay respect to the ones who are no longer with us while offering the grieving families a method of consolation and spiritual interaction. Studying these practices allows us to comprehend how highly the Hindus regard the meaning of the cycle of life and its interaction with death. Acknowledging such customs and traditions is crucial in the modern, globalized world, which is all about acknowledging and embracing differences. Death is a human constant; however, the manner in which cultures greet it is capable of shedding light on numerous aspects within cultures. Understanding the Hindu approach to death helps to notice just how much these last rites bond people with their families, communities, and beliefs. Last, it enhances the knowledge base pertaining to the grieving experience of all members of society.
References
Hans, V. B. (2024). Hinduism: An Exploration of its Legacy, Customs, and Practices.
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Havelka, J. (2020). The Problem of Death and Dying in Major Eastern Traditions*.
Readings in Thanatology, 495–509.
Laungani, P. (2021).
Hindu Spirituality in Life, Death, and Bereavement.
Panda, T., Mishra, N., Rahimuddin, S., Pradhan, B. K., Nayak, B. P., & Sahu, S. K. (2024). Nurturing Tradition and Nature through Odisha’s Shraddha Rituals.
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2(1), 1–18.
Ranganathan, S. (2022). Hinduism, Belief and the Colonial Invention of Religion: A before and after Comparison.
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