In Buddhism, d3ath rituals are performed to help the soul move peacefully to its next state. Disturbing the body during this sacred interval is considered disruptive to both the d3ad and the living. Similarly, in certain Christian and Eastern Orthodox traditions, mourners are advised not to kiss the face of the deceased after the final blessing – a symbolic recognition that the soul has already departed.
In Hinduism, direct physical contact with the dead is avoided because the body is believed to be “impure” once the life force has left. Energy healers interpret this impurity not as moral uncleanliness, but as a shift in vibration from warmth and motion to stillness and decay. To touch or kiss the body, they warn, is to invite this imbalance into one’s own energy field.
The emotional and spiritual impact
Many who have kissed a loved one goodbye report feeling a sudden chill, a sharp emotional pain, or even vivid dreams afterward. Psychologists might describe this as a reaction to grief and trauma — the mind’s way of processing loss. Spiritual teachers, however, recommend that such experiences may be signs of the soul’s energy leaving an imprint on those it loved most.
It is not necessarily harmful, they say, but it can draw a person into deep sorrow, preventing emotional release. That is why, in many cultures, the final farewell is performed symbolically with words, prayers, or flowers rather than physical touch. The act of letting go must be spiritual, not physical.
Saying goodbye without crossing the boundary
Continued on next page//
