Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a psychiatrist and pioneer in the study of death and the dying process, profoundly transformed our understanding of what happens when a person dies. Beyond her extensive contributions to end-of-life care and acceptance of death, she courageously explored questions that many cultures and religions have posed for centuries: What happens to the spirit when the body is cremated?
A Radical Perspective on Death
Kübler-Ross dedicated much of her life to accompanying terminally ill patients, observing near-death experiences, and listening to accounts from those who were clinically dead but returned to life. From thousands of interviews and documented cases, she concluded that death is not an absolute end, but a transition to another form of existence or consciousness.
According to her studies, consciousness—or what many traditions call the spirit—continues to exist even after clinical death. In these states, people described intense sensations of peace, light, connection with deceased loved ones, and the perception of their own body from the outside.
What happens to the spirit during cremation?
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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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Beyond the Body: An Invitation to Rethink Death
Kübler-Ross’s bold revelation challenges many traditional notions about death and the preservation of the body after passing. Her approach invites us to see life and death as parts of the same cycle:
The physical body is temporary, but consciousness or spirit transcends the bodily phenomenon.
Cremation, as well as other funeral practices, are symbolic acts for those left behind, rather than a determination of the final fate of consciousness.
Although these concepts cannot be scientifically verified with current technology, Kübler-Ross’s vision offers a new way to face death with less fear and more peace. For her, understanding death is, ultimately, understanding life itself.
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