Asia's Three Paths of Departure

The Buddhist principles of non-attachment and compassion provide the moral framework for this unique practice. The body, once the soul has left, is considered an empty vessel with no inherent spiritual value. By ritually offering the corpse to vultures and other predatory animals , the deceased performs a final, selfless, and charitable act, providing sustenance to other sentient beings. This act accumulates merit for the deceased's future rebirth, making the body's final function one of generosity.