Talk:Avatar Aang Memorial Island/@comment-4943148-20120317182500/@comment-1382550-20120331224559

Knowing what I know about Buddhism, Bryke might've taken more from practices and there may be some relics of him in there. In particular Buddhists believe that people who are enlighted leave behind pearl or bead like objects in their remains called Śarīra that are purported to have mystical properties.

The Tearbender brings up something interesting about Sky Burials. Given the birds' connection with air, and Aang's generous and selfless nature I think that's the most fitting real world funeral practice for him. When the birds eat him, he will be giving one last thing to the world and flying once again. This funeral practice was also the most venerated method to dispose of a body in Buddhist and Himaylayan culture.