Many cemeteries do not allow humans and pets to be buried in the same grave. This is not the case for all cemeteries, but why do pets and humans not share the same grave? What are the reasons? What should you do if you want to be buried in the same grave as your pet?
For pet owners, after the death of a pet who has lived with you as a family member, it is natural to want to bury them in the same grave as you, in the same grave as your family. Even if they look different, they are family members who share a common bond, so we even try to avoid calling them pets "pets" if possible. Unfortunately, however, many temples do not allow pets and humans to be buried in the same grave. There are several reasons and backgrounds for this. One is management issues, and the other is Buddhist thinking.
Regarding graves, there is a law called the "Act on Cemeteries, Burials, etc." (Tomb Burial Act). The Act does not state that humans and pets cannot be buried in the same grave. The absence of a legal provision means that it is not legally prohibited for humans and pets to be buried in the same grave.
Under Japanese law, pets are considered "objects." If a pet's remains are to be buried in the same grave after death, their grave goods, favorite personal items, and photographs are treated as belongings to be buried with the deceased. While some countries, such as Germany, explicitly state in their civil code that "animals are not objects," Japan's civil code does not. Animals are living creatures. For owners who view their pets as part of the family, treating pets as objects is unbelievable.
Furthermore, some businesses prohibit pets due to management reasons. Some people object to the idea of humans and pets being together, and regulations sometimes prohibit this out of concern for business negatively.
Buddhism has a concept called the Six Realms of Reincarnation. This concept holds that "all living things in this world are reborn multiple times into six realms, known as the Six Realms." It is believed that one's actions in this life determine the realm one is reborn into in the next. There are six realms into which people are reborn after death: Heaven, Human, Ashura, Animal, Hungry Ghost, and Hell. Of these, Heaven, Human, and Ashura are considered good, while Animal, Hungry Ghost, and Hell are considered evil. The Animal realm is the world of animals, birds, and insects. It's said to be a world where people fall after death as punishment for their misdeeds. It's a world of the survival of the fittest, where people live in constant fear of being killed.
Many temples and cemeteries explain that "animals go to a different world from humans, so they will never be reunited in the afterlife." However, if reincarnation isn't necessarily as a human, then making a distinction between them seems even more unreasonable. After all, the DNA of humans is 90% similar to that of dogs and cats, so there isn't much difference between them biologically.
★At "SANKOTSUYAMA," no distinction is made between humans and animals anywhere. In line with societal thinking, we set the price of animals lower than that of humans, but we treat both humans and animals the same. This is not to treat humans poorly, but rather to follow our policy of treating all living things with the same care when funerals are held as for humans. We understand that this may not be easy to understand, so we ask that those who feel uncomfortable treating animals with animals refrain from attending. We apologize for any inconvenience. |
