By: Britney Faulkner

 Interview with a 26 year old girl who is from the Indian Culture group and the Hindu religion.

 Discussion of life in America compared to extended family living in India.

 Discussion of some basics of the Hindu faith

 Thoughts on illness  Medical Care and acceptance  Treatment  Denial  Thoughts on terminal illness

 Differing viewpoints on Euthanasia   Doing a good deed, fulfilling moral obligation Disturbing the time cycle of death, affected by Karma  Prayopavesa-fasting  Thoughts on killing (euthanasia, murder, suicide)

 Death rites and rituals  Teravih-ceremony  Place of Death  Cremation

 Death is not an end  Reincarnations  Moksha  Travel to the next level of existence

          Vigil as death approaches Mantra is chanted, no embalmment or organ donation Homa fire ritual Preparing the body Cremation Ritual impurity Bone-gathering ceremony First memorial 31 st -day memorial One year memorial   Funeral rites can be simple or complex depending on the customs, means, and ability of the family.

Rites will vary in the Western countries

 It is not a “norm” to have extensive grieving  What this does to the body or soul  It is the “norm” to be prepared for death and not to fear death

 Hinduism in the Western cultural

 Journal articles  Internet resources

Educational Broadcasting Corporation. (2007). Hindu healing. Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, retrieved April 12 /week1125/feature.html

Pain, 8(8), 607-613.

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th , 2011 from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics Laugani, P. (2006). Religious rites and rituals in death and bereavement: An Indian experience. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 44(1), 7-13.

Whitman, S.M. (2007). Pain and suffering as viewed by the Hindu religion. The journal of