San Francisco Public Library

Sky burial, [produced and directed by] Ellen Bruno

tib

videorecording

Sky burial

videorecording

62413242

[produced and directed by] Ellen Bruno

12

"Sky Burial follows the ritual of 'jha-tor', the giving of alms to birds in a northern Tibetan monastery--where the bodies of the dead are offered to the vultures as a final act of kindness to living beings. At the Drigung Monastery lamas chant to call the consciousness from the body. Juniper incense is burned to summon the vultures. Special body breakers, or 'rogyapas', unwrap the bodies and cut away the flesh. The bones are crushed and mixed with tsampa, a roasted barley flour. The entire body is consumed by the birds, assuring the ascent of the soul."--Container

live action