Cremation is a physical process: the body is transformed into ashes by fire. However, Kübler-Ross maintains that the spirit is not bound to the physical body, so cremation does not affect the essence of the being that has transcended.
In her view, consciousness—what many people identify as the spirit or vital energy—has already left the body long before the cremation begins. It is comparable to a butterfly leaving its chrysalis: the body is left behind, but the essence has already departed.
From this perspective:
The physical body completes its function on earth, whether through cremation or burial.
The spirit continues its journey to another dimension of consciousness or existence.
Cremation does not “damage” or alter the spirit because consciousness has already separated from the physical body before the ritual act.
A process of transition, not disappearance. For Kübler-Ross, death is a transition—something experienced with clarity, peace, and profound meaning—and not a void or an absolute absence. People who have had near-death experiences (such as being clinically dead and then reviving) consistently share similar accounts: an intense light, the absence of pain, the presence of deceased loved ones, and a profound sense of love.
These kinds of experiences suggest that:
Consciousness can perceive the environment even when bodily functions have ceased.
Separation from the physical body is simply a step toward a broader state of perception and existence.
Cremation is considered a cultural or ritual practice, but not a factor that affects the continuity of the spirit.
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