Asia's Three Paths of Departure

The ritual process itself is highly formalized, conducted by specialized officiants (rogyapas) at designated outdoor sites. The body is often ritually broken down into smaller pieces to facilitate consumption by the birds. This seemingly gruesome procedure is carried out with a calm, matter-of-fact dignity, precisely because the focus is entirely on the soul's liberation, not the fate of the physical remains, and the rapid disappearance of the flesh is often viewed as a positive sign that the deceased has few residual ties to the earth.