thought question

[dkferret]

Given the assumption of animism,
What is the difference between a garbage-collector* and a psychopomp?

* using garbage-collector here as a term to describe anyone in the trash or recycling industry -- this includes thrift-stores and other places dealing in used goods.

Comments

[gramina]

Well, a composter (rough parallel, I figure) doesn't have to deal with backchat from the coffee grounds and egg shells :)

[pearlshadow]

a psychopomp leads the soul to the land of the dead.. and helps the family of the dead move on and thru the death.. the psychopomp helps everyone to come to peaceful resolution with the situation.

a garbage collector cleans up the detrius, a good one recyles what can be recycled and puts the other stuff where it will do the most good...

[emberleo]

It sounds like the main issue is that a psychopomp deals with spirits which have been sepparated from their most recent bodies, and a garbage collector deals with the reconfiguration of the body, whether the spirit has departed or not.

--Ember--

Not too serious

[hilarypoet]

My dead body is your species' treasure trove.
There is one of the Jataka tales where the entity who will become the Buddha eases the hunger of a large cat by feeding himself to it. The poor psychopomp in such a situation would be looking for a grave to whirl in...