Comparison and Analyzation of Orthodox Greek and Japanese Mahayana Buddhist Death Rituals

Compare:  Both cultures find that prayer and the afterlife are important to their ceremonies.  They allow loved ones to view the body and pay their respects to the deceased. They also carry out a period of mourning for over a month (30 days).

Contrast:  Buddhists do not believe in a need to keep the body intact and they cremate the deceased whereas an Orthodox Greek does not believe in mutilating the body in any manner.  Also Buddhists require a financial fee to be paid to the family, Orthodox Greeks do not require any payment from attendees.

What does this tell me? Analyzation:
For the Mahayana Buddhist Funeral Ceremony that religion and the practices associated with religion are normal parts of the culture.  The culture values the spirit or soul of the deceased one and not their body as they burn the bodies of their dead.  The culture also values support from the community as the community assist the family financially.  They value family as well with the family being the ones who must wait at the crematorium for the ashes.  The ceremony gives me insight on Japanese Buddhist beliefs or worldview as well:  they value reincarnation and the idea that the soul lives on even at the end of life in the body they had.  The body is not the important vessel when carrying the soul.

For the Orthodox Greek Funeral Ceremony, religion is another important part of everyday life.  A norm would be to not have the body tainted in any way--considering the view of transplants and organ donations I wonder if they even allow ear piercings and body art.  It is also normal to wear black, and potentially other colors for other ceremonies or events in life, to signify the loss of a loved one.  Another norm includes the consumption of brandy, and the consumption of coffee before and/or after meals as well as the involvement of the congregation in the family's life and business matters.  The culture values the food and drink as they consistently have meals after the death and before the funeral, after the funeral, and after Trisagions.  They value their congregation's involvement in their mourning and they value their bodies.  Their belief or worldview follows the idea that the body must remain intact and the soul must be prepared for eternal life.  They believe in God and that life after death can be great should the soul qualify as a good and righteous.  The family continues to pray for the soul after life in the hopes that their requests for forgiveness will help the soul reach an eternal life of peace and happiness.