Thank you, Sheila! I also missed my mother’s funeral, but I made it back to the US in time to attend my father’s and meet my new stepmother. It was not a long event. I remember a gun salute at Arlington Cemetery and placing a flower on his coffin for my sister who did not attend.

I appreciate how death is handled here, and I would love to have such a peaceful death as Hiro did.

Jeff, thank you for reading and for sharing your interesting perspective. I’ve never heard of a Buddhist sect that does not believe in samsara, but that’s one of the things that makes life an endless adventure — there are always new things to learn. Thank you! Diane

Most sincerely, Jeff Black

Thank you for your kind comment. I’m happy you found my article helpful, and I appreciate you sharing it.

To my surprise, the crematorium throws them away. I know that in years gone by, the bones and ash were swept into the yard of the crematorium, later to be gathered and carried to a mountain top where they were left. I don’t know how they are disposed of now, but they are disposed of by the crematorium.

Thank you very much.