Sky burial was once a common funerarl practice in Tibet. The corpse is offered to the vultures. After death, the deceased will be left untouched for three days. Monks will chant around the corpse. After the chanting, the body breakers prepare the body for consumption by the vultures. The body is unwrapped and the first cut is made on the back. Hatchets and cleavers are used to quickly cut the body up, in a definite and precise way. Flesh is cut into chunks of meat. The internal organs are cut into pieces. Bones are smashed into splinters and then mixed with tsampa, roasted barley flour. During the process of breaking up the body, birds circle overhead, awaiting their feast. The birds land and hop about, grabbing for food. To assure ascent of the soul, the entire body of the deceased should be eaten. After the bone mixture, the organs are served next, and then the flesh.
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