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Malagasy Culture and Its' Norms, Values, and Belief System

The culture of the people of Malagasy in Madagascar and their death ritual brings to light their deep religious beliefs. They have specific norms within their society that allow them to accept retrieving remains of fellow humans in order to adhere to their religion. They see taking care of bones and skeletons as a way of having a sense of purpose and value in helping members of their relatives. From their perspective, the Malagasy culture believes that physical existence is not the end. They constantly are unburying bodies up to in order to not only strengthen and act out their religious views, but to give the souls rest and comfort in the afterlife. In addition to uncovering the dead for religious purposes, it is as if they do so to have the deceased person consciously present with them. Perhaps People engage in festivities and dance in the presence of the remains to possibly relive moments of happiness and joy that they experienced when the person was alive.

Norms, Values, and Beliefs of Tibetan Buddhist Culture

The generally mysterious practice of dealing with corpses in Tibet has “great religious meaning behind it”("Sky Burial in Tibet." 2003), and is in fact normal for them to do so because it is in adherence to their Buddhist beliefs. These people do not hold the same perspective of the bodies that other ethnocentric societies would see it as. Instead, they believe that the carcasses are merely pounds of flesh that do not any longer exhibit any human characteristics because the life force that had previously inhabited it has already passed on. In allowing the vultures to consume the meat, it can be inferred that Tibetan Buddhists place value in providing a source of food and energy for the vultures and for nature. This practice often allows individuals to come to terms with the realities of life and developing a relationship with nature.

Similarities Between Buddhist Tibetan Culture and Malagasy Culture

Both Sky Burials in Tibetan cultures and the Turning of The Bones death ritual in Madagascar have their similarities and differences. They both are heavily influenced by their religious and cultural beliefs. Although for different reasons, both cultures partake in the death rituals because it is believed to affect the afterlife of the one deceased. The Tibetan Buddhists believe that allowing bodies to be consumed by vultures, the Tibetan equivalent to angels, will “take the soul into heaven”("Sky Burial in Tibet." 2003). The Malagasy also believe that continuously taking care of the remnants of bodies will also improve that person’s afterlife.