A few years ago, I shared a video from my farm, discussing the reality of aging and my views on burial practices. Many people misunderstood me, labelling me as frustrated or poor. Some even accused me of insulting medical doctors who are not wealthy. Let me clarify—I have been out of medical school for 41 years, and if I were poor, something would truly be wrong with my brain.
In that video, I mentioned that I did not want to be buried in a casket. This sparked criticism because many people do not respect personal opinions or philosophies. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on a recurring question: Was Jesus buried in a casket?
After conducting a review, I found that only one person in the Bible was documented to have been buried in a coffin. If you know who that person is, feel free to share in the comments. Jesus, on the other hand, was wrapped in linen cloth, a shroud believed to be preserved by the Catholic Church as the Shroud of Turin. This shroud was first photographed by a man named Secondo Pia, revealing the imprint of a man on the cloth. Additionally, a separate napkin used to wrap Jesus’ head was folded and placed aside.
So, where did the practice of using caskets originate? For me, living life to the fullest means making a meaningful impact while alive. I want to give to those I feel led to help and live in a way that makes people thank God for me. But I do not like people who beg unnecessarily.
Recently, a security man contacted me, asking for money to buy a casket for his mother’s burial. He earns only 40,000 Naira a month, yet his family demanded he buy an expensive casket costing hundreds of thousands. My response was straightforward: Why didn’t your mother leave money for her casket?
A friend’s father was buried many years ago, and when they exhumed his body for reburial, the casket had disintegrated. This experience highlights the futility of spending excessively on burial rites.
Expensive funerals have become a norm, even for parents who were neglected in life. I attended a funeral for someone who lived close to me. I had never visited him while he was alive, and when he died, I felt guilty. This is a common pattern—people pour energy and resources into celebrating the dead while neglecting the living.
This is why I admire Muslim burial practices. Muslims bury their dead within 24 hours in unmarked graves and move on. They do not indulge in wasteful ceremonies. I have touched lives all over the world, yet I live alone in a large house with only security for company. Many elderly people live in big houses without basic amenities like electricity or solar panels. When they die, relatives flock from all over to organize extravagant funerals. I find this deeply confusing.
Instead of spending so much on the dead, let’s focus on making an impact while we are alive. Visit your parents. Take care of them. Build meaningful relationships and invest in things that matter.
I remain Dr. Charles Apoki.
God bless you.
