GROUP 3 - Activity 2 Cultural Diversity

Summary

The video script delves into the Sagada Igorot people's ancient burial tradition in the Philippines, where hanging coffins are used to maintain a spiritual connection with the deceased. It also explores the agori, a Hindu tantric cult in India, known for their postmortem rituals, including meditating on corpses to transcend fear and illusion, seeking spiritual liberation and recognizing the divine in all things.

Takeaways

• ⏳ Hanging coffins is a 400 to 500-year-old tradition in Sagada, Philippines, where the Igorot people believe the spirits of the dead still commune with the living.
• 🏔 Sagada's unique burial ritual is no longer practiced elsewhere and the last burial at the town's cliffs was in 2010.
• 🧍‍♂️ The body is carried from the house to the burial site by relatives, who pass it along, believing that any liquid that drips on them brings good luck.
• 🙏 Prayers are offered for the deceased to continue guiding and protecting the living from danger and to help them have a better life.
• 👩‍🎨 The script also mentions the Sirak po 6, M Chas, a weaving tradition primarily done by women in the family.
• 🧘‍♂️ Mani Kundan Baba is introduced as an Agori, a Hindu aesthetic known for postmortem rituals with human bodies, including meditating on corpses.
• 🕉 The Agori philosophy involves transcending fear and disgust through practices like covering themselves in cremated human ash and meditating on dead bodies.
• 🔮 Agoris believe in maintaining awareness of absolute truth, seeing everything as Shiva or God, and recognizing this in oneself.
• 🧘‍♀️ Mani Kundan Baba's meditation on his mother's freshly dead body is seen as helping her move on and reach spiritual liberation.
• 🌏 The Agori path is not solely about death; it's about seeing God in everything and recognizing divine power within oneself.

Q & A

What is the traditional burial practice in Sagada, Philippines?

In Sagada, the traditional burial practice involves hanging coffins in caves, a tradition that has been carried out for approximately 400 to 500 years.

Why do the elders of Sagada prefer the hanging coffins method?

The elders believe that the spirits of the dead remain in communion with the living villagers, hence the preference for hanging coffins in caves.

Is the hanging coffins burial practice still common in other places?

No, the custom is now unique to Sagada as other places have stopped practicing this ritual.

When was the last burial at one of the town's cliffs in Sagada?

The last burial at one of the town's cliffs in Sagada was in 2010.

How is the body carried from the house to the burial site in Sagada?

The body is carried wrapped in a blanket and in a fetal position. It is first carried by relatives and then passed along like a ball from the house to the burial site.

What do the people of Sagada believe about the liquid from the body during the burial process?

They believe that if the liquid from the body drips on someone, it brings good luck.

What do the villagers of Sagada pray for during the week following the burial?

They pray for the dead to continue guiding and protecting them from any danger, and to help them have a better life.

What is the significance of the agori in the context of the script?

The agori are a tantric cult from India known for postmortem rituals with human bodies, which include covering themselves in recently cremated human ash, meditating on corpses, and in some cases, eating the flesh of the dead.

What is the philosophical belief of the agori regarding their practices?

The agori believe that their practices help maintain an awareness of absolute truth and transcend the natural inclination to be afraid or disgusted by things, ultimately breaking the cycle and eternally resting with God.

How does Mani Kundan Baba, an agori, view his practice of meditating on dead bodies?

Mani Kundan Baba believes that by meditating on dead bodies, he is helping the deceased move on and reach spiritual liberation.

What is the broader meaning of being an agori according to the script?

Being an agori means seeing God in everything and recognizing it within oneself, which goes beyond the practices related to death and the taboo.