Questions tagged [death]

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What is it that pass from this life to the next?

A friend wanted to know the Buddhist position on rebirth/reincarnation since we don’t believe in a permanent soul. Specifically, what is it that pass from this life to the next? “Karma” was my reply ...
Desmon's user avatar
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3 votes
6 answers
257 views

Is it correct view, as in renunciation, or desire, to want to die

I am not asking about depression or suicidal thoughts but the actual aspiration for this life/human experience to end. So of course the desire for material and immaterial existence (rebirths) are ...
Remyla's user avatar
  • 519
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5 answers
104 views

Specific ways/practices to help die with equanimity, (less "self") and perhaps even awakening at death-time?

In general all Buddhist practice seems to help with the concerns mentioned in the Title. Equanimity helps with all unwanted, changing conditions (from minor challenges to "aging, sickness and ...
Kyoshin's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
154 views

Reunion with the loved one after death and in next life

My spiritual bonding and connection are very strong with my lovely mother who has passed away. We both have tremendous love for each other. Can we be reunited again in the next life? Can she be born ...
Kanad's user avatar
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3 answers
128 views

Can Meditation lead to Suicide?

Background - My sister's son did not work at all in his life and has been taking anti-depressants for many years now. My sister must be very sad and worried about him constantly, but she never talked ...
JAYSHREE DESHMUKH's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
209 views

Clear and white light at death

What does the Tibetan Book of Dead say about the lights, at death? Is it true, as some people say, to avoid all lights and not walk to them? And that "clear light" means "not a white ...
Mathieu's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
96 views

Buddhist's teaching on grief?

💚Was there any wisdom, any words of clarity about how to handle grief in the Buddhist scriptures or in a good teacher's interpretation? Is grief a unique mind state? Is it lobha based?
Lowbrow's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
173 views

Talking to dead loved ones

💚Could talking with dead loved ones be in line with the proper practice of the Buddha? If proper practice permits talking to dead loved ones, then what is the proper way to talk to dead loved ones ...
Lowbrow's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
66 views

Does a risk of death exist in the awakening process?

I have a vague recollection of a Dhamma teacher saying that, in the process of awakening, the practitioner eventually reaches a stage of development where they either awaken fully or they die. I'm not ...
Alex Ryan's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
196 views

Carpe Diem or Memento Mori?

Carpe Diem or Memento Mori? Which of these two approaches did the Buddha recommend for your benefit?
user23666's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
32 views

Books on monastic traditions and techniques

Almost twenty years ago I did a meditation on death that catapulted me into a Near Death Experience the likes of which I could not even have imagined possible. This 'mini enlightenment' allowed me to ...
duckegg's user avatar
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2 answers
113 views

When does right or wrong view at death over ride the karma one has accumulated in life?

When does right or wrong view at death over ride the karma one has accumulated in life? I was just reading (googling) how right and wrong view when we be die can determine our next birth, rather than ...
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1 vote
1 answer
121 views

What is the sutta where the Buddha says that one breath or one bite of food is the proper timeframe with which to contemplate life/death?

I have heard this sutta referenced in dhamma talks by Ajahn Thanissaro, although I don't have a specific talk to point to. I know I have also read the sutta, but I can't remember when. In the sutta, ...
Peter Charland's user avatar
10 votes
13 answers
3k views

Should a Buddhist be afraid of death?

A friend of mine is a committed Buddhist, a teacher in a group that meets to discuss Buddhist teaching. He's explained many things about Buddhism to me. Recently, his father died after a long ...
Rusty's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
132 views

Is the whole of reality what is being denied by some Buddhists?

Is the whole of reality what is being denied by some Buddhists? So, for as long as the sensation of pleasure or an atom or visual consciousness or apple is thought to belong to everything that exists,...
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4 votes
7 answers
632 views

Why aren't there omnicidal Buddhists?

So, I'm not a Buddhist, but my understanding is that in Buddhist thought, existence is the root of suffering, and Buddhists seek to end suffering by attaining a state of spiritual enlightenment that, ...
nick012000's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
124 views

Place of death and rebirth

I'm reading about bardos in the Tibetan Book of the dead. I'm wondering how is rebirth dependent on geographical location. For example, if dead occurs in Europe is it possible to get a rebirth in Asia?...
aaa's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
394 views

Was Sariputta alive during the time of Buddha's death?

I have found two Suttas and I am a bit confused about Sariputta's death. In DN 16, there is a part about Sariputta being alive at the time of Buddha's death. (look at 4. Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar in DN ...
user17389's user avatar
  • 305
4 votes
7 answers
324 views

Unwholesome thoughts at the time of death

Say one reflects on the beauty of one's children, the beauty of one's husband or wife, the beauty of one's house or garden, or the beauty of a flower, and other such things: that is rooted in greed ...
iyi lau's user avatar
  • 137
1 vote
3 answers
121 views

Should one who follows the Dhamma give drugs to the dying to ease thier suffering?

My Christian wife is dying and the doctor has prescribed morphine and tranquilizers. She is losing her mind and the drugs may be contributing to that. I don't want her to suffer but I also don't want ...
Lowbrow's user avatar
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1 vote
4 answers
169 views

Is there any advice in the Buddhist scriptures that would help a leader balance a safe economy with people's concerns about sickness & death?

Is there advice in the various Buddhist scriptures that a leader could use in this Coronavirus situation? Is there advice in the Buddhist scriptures that a lay-person could use in this Coronavirus ...
Lowbrow's user avatar
  • 7,144
2 votes
2 answers
81 views

Taking care of the dying

What advice did the Buddha give to laypeople or monastics about taking care of a dying loved one or anyone dying in their deathbed?
Lowbrow's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
130 views

What is before spring?

Genjokoan says Birth is an expression complete this moment. Death is an expression complete this moment. They are like winter and spring. You do not call winter the beginning of spring, nor summer ...
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2 votes
5 answers
586 views

Whats happens after death?

When a human being dies, their body dissolves into other bodies, i.e., other humans, plants, air, water, rocks, sand, etc. But what really happens to our Consciousness memory thoughts intelligence &...
Suraj Kumar's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
241 views

Buddhists view on NDE experiences

I have recently given some interest to NDE stories. After reading a hundred of them, it seems pretty credible that people are telling at least some level of truth in their experience. One thing that ...
ian3111's user avatar
  • 153
6 votes
8 answers
428 views

How to stop thinking about metaphysical questions?

I have been practicing seriously for a month now. I'm mindful a lot of the time but not 100% yet and whenever I'm not I start thinking about metaphysical questions or what could be after death or if ...
buddhismcuriousity's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
258 views

I love life and I don't want to die. How to let go?

The last few days I've been struggling with the fear of death. I really love life and I fear the unknown. I know it's inevitable but for some reason I can't accept it. I find it beautiful how in ...
buddhismcuriousity's user avatar
1 vote
5 answers
378 views

Can I plan for future while doing meditation on death?

Buddha said about meditation on death : "Even if a person aware about his death can be happen within that day is late. If someone thinks, his death can be happen within current breath is not late". ...
Dum's user avatar
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3 votes
5 answers
356 views

How does rebirth fit with the fact that everything is impermanent?

One of the lessons Buddhism teaches is that everything is impermanent. Our thoughts, our feelings, our emotions, our bodies, our life. Everything. We are surrounded by death. We are mortals. There is ...
Pips's user avatar
  • 149
0 votes
2 answers
96 views

Where is ignorance, and why does it not end with death?

Where is ignorance, and why does it not end with death? Can we experience it? Does it have to be actively conditioning formations for us to experience it, or can we know this nidana even when freed ...
user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
79 views

Do Buddhists talk about insides?

Buddhists talk about abstract and concrete things, particulars, parts and wholes, etc., and Theravada Buddhism is often I think thought of in terms of an analysis of parts, breaking things down into ...
user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
650 views

If there is no literal rebirth, why have samvega (a sense of urgency)

Some people believe in rebirth after this life because (for them) it seems that the suttas claim literal rebirth. And it somewhat makes sense because in some passages it'd be harder to believe in "...
Val's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
70 views

How are "all types of beings originally formless"?

How are "all types of beings originally formless"? p100 The Sutra of Hui-neng, Grand Master of Zen: With Hui-neng's Commentary on the Diamond Sutra I'm asking because this page [quoting His Highness ...
user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
727 views

How can people meet again after rebirth?

Prince Siddhartha & Princess Yashodhara met in a lot of lives as partners. How are people intended to meet their present life relations in the next life? Is the desire needed to be wished upon?
Amaani's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
95 views

I'm fascinated by 'death': what would Dogen say?

I'm fascinated by 'death': what would Dogen say? What about Rinzai zen? I don't have any questions about it, but I'm sure there's answers I haven't contemplated at all. Quotes would be necessary.
user avatar
3 votes
6 answers
375 views

Happiness, rebirth, and the death of an arahant

I am new to Buddhism and have a question I am hoping someone can answer. My understanding is that realizing enlightenment is universally desirable. In other words, it is considered “better” to ...
Don's user avatar
  • 133
1 vote
5 answers
170 views

Someone has an illness which is inevitably going to kill them. Why?

Imagine following situation: A person who thinks of themself as a good person, meaning they are mostly nice to people and act and think almost always morally. Said person is diagnosed with an illness ...
palkonimo's user avatar
  • 113
2 votes
3 answers
492 views

Buddhadasa and the continuity of suffering beyond physical death, without rebirth

I read "Anatta and Rebirth" by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (let's call this explanation B) and I also read similar explanations by Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu from this answer, this comment and this answer (let's call ...
ruben2020's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
282 views

Various types of death

In this answer, Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu wrote about various types of death (quoted below). Where can I find references to and more info on the various types of death that is mentioned - khaṇika-maraṇa, ...
ruben2020's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
2k views

What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism? Is it nirvana?

What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism? Why should a person practice Buddhism, what will it provide to him? Various religions have various goals. For example, the ultimate goal in Christianity is ...
Stephen's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
147 views

Tirokudda Kanda: Do the dead really benefit from the gift given by the living?

Tirokudda Kanda briefly out line the benefits the dead receive from the gifts given by the living.. and there are many more injection in the Pali Cannon with similar tone. My question is are we to ...
Epic's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
78 views

Getting out of a rut when your sick and dying

What are the teachings and books that are good for inspiring the sick and soon to be dying? If your brain is getting eaten away, what are the best practices for that? Anyone know of any Doctors who ...
Lowbrow's user avatar
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-6 votes
6 answers
545 views

If Buddhists believe that life is just suffering why don't they just kill themselves?

Can anyone give me a clear answer? What does the Buddha say?
nomel7's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
388 views

Does any real existent or genuine person end with parinibbana?

Does modern Theravada accept that no real person ends with the break up of the body of a realized one? That the moment after the break up of the body of a realized one is the same as the moment before?...
Yeshe Tenley's user avatar
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10 votes
9 answers
4k views

What do you do to prepare for death?

There are probably a lot of ways to prepare for death. I myself can't come up with more than: Reflecting on ones own death on a daily basis; Don't buy stuff that's useless so that it's easier for ...
user avatar
0 votes
6 answers
1k views

Do arhats exist after death?

I was just looking at the connected discousres (Bhikkhu Bodhi) and it said Sorry for the rushed question, but I wondered if arhats can be said to exist or not after death? Does the Buddha say the ...
user avatar
2 votes
4 answers
438 views

Have Buddhas escaped samsara?

Have Buddhas escaped samsara? Obviously there is the mainly Chinese term "non-abiding in nirvana". I'm interested in an answer from any tradition at all, and for enlightened non-Buddhas, too. To be ...
user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
83 views

Meditate about friend's death

Someone I know is dying. If its death doesn't affect me much (Sadness, remorse...), I feel meditating about its condition as my own could be very beneficial. But if its not taking advantage of him, ...
Dh4rm4 only's user avatar
5 votes
9 answers
766 views

Is meat eating a possibility?

I have been vegan (no animal products) for over 5 years but recently have encountered many health issues (unable to digest many plant protein, leaving no viable protein to eat), including some meat in ...
Cloud's user avatar
  • 161
3 votes
5 answers
318 views

Vajrayana VS theravada - after death theories - do they contradict each other?

As far as i understand the having opposing views about what happens between after you die until you are reborn again right ? or do they "sit together" some how ?
breath's user avatar
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