From: jrtrint@srv.pacbell.com (John Trinterud)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Subject: Re: Baha'i Burial
Date: 28 Aug 92 16:04:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: qiclab.1992Aug30.070704.9629
Organization: Pacific * Bell

In article <1992Aug25.063836.4554@u.washington.edu>,
trhan@milton.u.washington.edu (Teri Rhan) writes:

> My very good friend and mother-in-law has been battling cancer for
> very long time.  She is weeks if not days away from passing into the
> Abha Kingdom.  I am a Baha'i and I understand that these burial laws
> are binding for Baha'is only. She is not a Baha'i and has expressed
> the desire to be cremated.  I want to respect her wishes yet in
> light of this previous paragraph, I have difficulty within myself
> not wanting to following thru with her request.  There really is no
> one else she can turn to and now she is on so much pain medication,
> I fear I waited too long to discuss this with her.
> 
> Can anyone recommend something from the Baha'i writings that may
> provide some guidance?
> 
> -Teri Rhan

Teri,

My wife Colene and I went through this very issue two years ago with
the death of her beloved mother Verda'Stelle.  Colene has been a Bahai
for 25 years, and frequently (and gently) tried to dissuade her mother
from her cremation plans, but to no avail.  When Verda'Stelle was
still rational, she told Colene that she understood the Bahai reasons
for specifying burial versus cremation, she understood Colene's loving
feelings and concern for the repose of her soul, but she did not
choose to believe in these concepts.

After a sad slide into dementia, Verda'Stelle passed away August 21,
1990.  She was cremated and buried next to her husband in accordance
with her wishes, and Colene continues to pray daily for the repose and
progress of her soul.

As to advice for you, I personally can only provide a non-Bahai
opinion.  Your love and caring for your mother-in-law at this time,
your concern that her earthly shell is treated with respect and
dignity, and the concept of preserving family unity in the face of
this issue are, in my view, the very essence of being a Bahai.

At Colene's suggestion, I'll end this with three quoted passages from
"The Open Door."

".. To consider that after the death of the body the spirit perishes,
is like imagining that a bird in a cage will be destroyed if the cage
is broken, though the bird has nothing to fear from the destruction of
the cage.  Our body is like the cage, and the spirit is like the
bird.... if the cage becomes broken, the bird will continue and exist:
its feelings will be even more powerful, its perceptions greater, and
its happiness increased."

"Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things
contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for
days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for
you.  Worlds, holy and spiritually glorious, will be unveiled to your
eyes.  You are destined by Him, in this world and hereafter, to
partake of their benefits, to share in their joys, and to obtain a
portion of their sustaining grace."

"Death proffereth every confident believer the cup that is life
indeed.  It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness.  It
conferreth the gift of everlasting life."

Teri, our thoughts are with you and your mother-in-law.

John & Colene Trinterud
-- 
jrtrint@srv.PacBell.COM            "If you want to feel really kneaded, and
                                    love to roll in the dough, make bread !"
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai