Buddhism FAQ0 >> 31. What Buddhism Says About Death?
Death then rebirth, these are the transient states until defilements remain
Buddhism FAQ[]
(Frequently Asked Questions About Buddhism)
31. What Buddhism Says About Death?[]
A. From Tipitaka : Meditation on Death (AN6.19-20)[]
AN 6.19 Meditation on Death1 (Maranassati1 sans. Marana Smriti)
On one occasion the Lord(Buddha) was dwelling at Nadika in the brick hall. There the Lord(Buddha) addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus!"
"Venerable sir!" those bhikkhus replied. The Lord(Buddha) said this:
"Bhikkhus(Monks), mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, culminating in the death less, having the deathless(amata/amrit) as its goal. But do you, bhikkhus, develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death?"
(1) When this was said, one bhikkhu said to the Lord(Buddha): "Bhante, I develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death?"
"Here, Bhante, I think thus: 'May I live just a night and a day so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!' It is in this way that I develop mindfulness of death."
(2) Another bhikkhu said to the Lord(Buddha): "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death?"
"Here, Bhante, I think: 'May I live just a day so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!' It is in this way that I develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
(3) Still another bhikkhu said to the Lord(Buddha): "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death?"
"Here, Bhante, I think: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to eat a single alms meal so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!' It is in this way that I develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
(4) Still another bhikkhu said to the Lord(Buddha): "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death?"
"Here, Bhante, I think: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow four or five mouthfuls of food so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!' It is in this way that I develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
(5) Still another bhikkhu said to the Lord(Buddha): "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death?"
"Here, Bhante, I think: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful of food so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!' It is in this way that I develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
(6) Still another bhikkhu said to the Lord(Buddha): "I too, Bhante, develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
"But how, bhikkhu, do you develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death?"
"Here, Bhante, I think: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out, so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!' It is in this way that I develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death."
When this was said, the Lord(Buddha) said to those bhikkhus:
"Bhikkhus(Monks), (1 ) the bhikkhu who develops mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death thus: 'May I live just a night and a day so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!'; and
(2) the one who develops mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death thus: 'May I live just a day so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!'; and
(3) the one who develops mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death thus: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to eat a single alms meal so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!'; and
(4) the one who develops mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death, thus: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow four or five mouthfuls of food so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!'; these are called bhikkhus who dwell slothfully. They develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death sluggishly for the destruction of the taints.
"But
(5) the bhikkhu who develops mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death thus: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to chew and swallow a single mouthful of food so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!'; and
(6) the one who develops mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death thus: 'May I live just the length of time it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out, so that I may attend to the Lord(Buddha)'s teaching. I could then accomplish much!'; these are called bhikkhus who dwell alertfully. They develop mindfulness of death keenly for the destruction of the defilements.
"Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will dwell alertfully. We will develop mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death keenly for the destruction of the taints.' Thus should you train yourselves."
AN 6.20 Meditation on Death2 (Maranassati2 sans. Marana smriti)
On one occasion the Lord(Buddha) was dwelling at Nadika in the brick hall. There the Lord(Buddha) addressed the bhikkhus:
"Bhikkhus(Monks), mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit, culminating in the death less, having the deathless(amata/amrit) as its goal. And how is this so?
"Here, bhikkhus, when day has receded and night has approached, a bhikkhu reflects thus: 'I could die on account of many causes, (l) A snake might bite me, or a scorpion or centipede might sting me, and I might die; that would be an obstacle for me. (2) I might stumble and fall down, or (3) my food might disagree with me, or (4) my bile might become agitated, or (5) my phlegm might become agitated, or (6) sharp winds in me might become agitated, and I might die; that would be an obstacle for me.'
"This bhikkhu should reflect thus: 'Do I have any bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma) that have not been abandoned, which might become an obstacle for me if I were to die tonight?' If, upon review, the bhikkhu knows: 'I have bad harmful(akusala) qualities that have not been abandoned, which might become an obstacle for me if I were to die tonight.' then he should put forth extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, enthusiasm, indefatigability, mindfulness(meditation/sati), and complete-comprehension(sampajanna) to abandon those bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma). Just as one whose clothes or head had caught fire would put forth extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, enthusiasm, indefatigability, mindfulness(meditation/sati), and complete comprehension to extinguish [the fire on] his clothes or head, so that bhikkhu should put forth extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, enthusiasm, indefatigability, mindfulness(meditation/sati), and complete comprehension to abandon those bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma).
"But if, upon review, the bhikkhu knows thus: 'I do not have any bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma) that have not been abandoned, which might become an obstacle for me if I were to die tonight,' then he should dwell in that same bliss(piti) and joy, training day and night in beneficial(kusala) qualities(Dhamma).
"But when night has receded and day has approached, a bhikkhu reflects thus: 'I could die on account of many causes. A snake might bite me ... or sharp winds might become agitated in me, and I might die; that would be an obstacle for me.'
"This bhikkhu should reflect thus: 'Do I have any bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma) that have not been abandoned which might become an obstacle for me if I were to die this day?' If, upon review, the bhikkhu(monk) knows: 'I have bad harmful(akusala) qualities that I have not yet abandoned, which might become an obstacle for me if I were to die this day' then he should put forth extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, enthusiasm, indefatigability, mindfulness(meditation/sati), and complete comprehension(sampajanna) to abandon those bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma). Just as one whose clothes or head had caught fire would put forth extraordinary desire. effort, zeal, enthusiasm, indefatigability, mindfulness(meditation/sati), and complete comprehension to extinguish [the fire on] his clothes or head, so that bhikkhu should put forth extraordinary desire, effort, zeal, enthusiasm, indefatigability, mindfulness(meditation/sati), and complete comprehension to abandon those bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma).
"But if, upon review, the bhikkhu knows: 'I do not have any bad harmful(akusala) qualities(Dhamma) that I have not yet abandoned, which might become an obstacle for me if I were to die this day' then he should dwell in that same bliss(piti) and joy, training day and night in beneficial(kusala) qualities(Dhamma).
"It is, bhikkhus, when mindfulness(meditation/sati) of death is developed and cultivated in this way that it is of great fruit and benefit, culminating in the deathless(amata/amrit), having the deathless(amata/amrit) as its consummation."
Note : Here deathless means achieving experience of nibbana state in samadhi-jhana/meditation.
B. From Tibetan Buddhism(Bardo Thodol)[]
The Tibetan Book of Dead in .pdf is actually not a part of Tipitaka of Therawada Buddhism. It originated much later in Tibetan Buddhism. It is very inspiring. Due to its popularity it is being provided here:
File:Tibetan Book of Dead(Bardo Thodol).pdf
