Releasing The Soul: A Balinese Transformation Ritual

The Hindus of Bali believe that cremation releases the soul so that it can continue it's journey through to reincarnation. It is not death that is primary but the destruction of the host, and successive incarnations of that soul. This is a brief account of the ngaben ceremony held in Ubud, Bali in 1992. The photographs were taken by the author and complement the account. The author addresses such questions as "Why the soul cannot simply wander off?" or "Why does the 'soul' seem tethered to the earth?" "Why must we 'transcend'?"