Death according to Buddhist concepts

Death according to Buddhist concepts

By Alex Supartono

JAKARTA (JP): What is death? Is it the end, or is it the gate
through which we enter a new phase, a transformation? This
question has been around as long as mankind, and is the most
basic question in philosophy and religion.

Death is the only thing that mankind cannot deny. Any analysis
of life without taking death into account is nonsense.

But in this age of advanced technology and communication,
death is no longer discussed. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, the spellbinding march of progress. The realization
that nothing is forever spurs progress, making time a precious
commodity. The race for efficiency has bred an powerful sense of
optimism, and we have forgotten our own mortality.

Secondly, there is the inclination to deny death, despite the
knowledge that this is impossible. Even in the face of death,
most people hope that they will be an exception, that death will
not touch them. It is a foolish dream, but such is human nature.
This makes it a difficult subject to discuss.

It is in this context that the Buddhist concept of death is
helpful; how does it explain the mystery of death?

Wheel of life

Eastern and Western views of life differ. In the East, life is
likened to a page in a book, while in the West life is regarded
as the whole book. Death in the East is finishing a page in a
book, before turning to a new page. In the West, however, death
is the end of the book, with no sequels.

The Eastern attitude is inherent in Hindu and Buddhist
teachings, which share the concept of the "wheel of life" -- the
conviction that life is a perpetual process in a constant chain
of death and reincarnation.

The death of the body does not mean the end of it all; it is
just a collective transformation of "factors and functions". Life
never ends, it goes on infinitely and it has done so since the
beginning of time. Life is like a page in a book, but the book
itself has neither a beginning nor an end. No matter how many
pages are turned, the story goes on, infinitely.

The "wheel of life" is the Eastern belief of karma, the total
account of causes in life which affect our future lives. If the
West regards life as in direct communication with God, with its
fate depending on His judgment, Eastern beliefs proclaim that
life is karma. Thus destiny is a logical consequence of the law
of cause and effect.

Buddhism teaches us to see happiness and suffering today as
the result of a previous life's behavior, and as a decisive
factor in determining the course of our future life. Pain and
grief experienced today have its origin in the past, and the
payback for one's deeds will come in our future lives.

We must realize that our lives are our responsibility. By
accepting our own suffering, we are able to overcome our problems
and find peace and happiness. We will discover that we are master
of our own destiny.

Road sign

Buddha asserted that life consists of suffering rooted in fear
of death. All living creatures fear death. But human fear is
unique, since we understand the meaning of death and often ask
ourselves what awaits us in the hereafter.

Fear grows from the awareness of death. Our love of life
banishes thoughts of death, as if it were a financial debt whose
repayment can be deferred forever. When the realization of death
hits, solace is sought in the eternal soul, or in reincarnation.

This idea exists in nearly all religions.

In Buddhism, there is a belief that we will be reborn after
death in The Pure Land of the West. Here we will live forever in
happiness; however, this belief should be regarded more as a
enticement into Buddhism.

Buddhism's main objective is to liberate us from worldly
affairs, so that we meet death properly.

Buddhism is frequently slated for focusing too much on
suffering. But what is more positive than realizing death is
accompanied by suffering, and finding a way to overcome this
sufferings? Even if Buddhism preaches eternal life, it is not
medicine that eradicates man's fear of death. Several questions
about death were answered by Buddha from his own experience.

Life flows in large waves. It would be wrong, however, to
think that Buddha's teachings were romantic. In his view, death
exists to bring forth new life. Its function is to provide a
period of rest before new life.

Buddha's idea of eternal life in the Sutra Teratai asserts
that death is a road sign. This view sees life and its
ramifications as sublime; it does not, however, exclude death. It
aims to teach us to live well with an awareness of our mortality.

Buddhism is not a depressing or passive religion yearning for
life in another world, but neither does it permit much optimism.
Its message holds that the pleasure of life is not found in
evading sufferings; hardships should be experienced. Illumination
comes from reality, no matter how bitter this process may be.

The concept of death as a road sign is intriguing; but it does
not wholly explain the connection between life and death. Maybe
life should lead the devotee towards an acceptance of death.

Life and death are two aspects within one entity inseparable
from the human spirit; it is nature's current of infinity.
Death, just as life, is present in the infinity of the universe.

Death does not destroy identity, just as a sleeping person is
not destroyed by sleep. The death of a living entity will not
destroy its nature, it will carry on in the next life.

The eternal flow of life is a wave, alternating rhythms of
infinite life and death.

The spirit, life's essence, is in constant flux within each
person on his or her road to infinity. Life exists; it is
infinite since it is tied up with the universe. Life did not take
form before the universe, nor did it appear out of the blue, nor
was it created by a mystical power.

Death does not stand still, it is active just as life is.
Death is kept alive by the soul.

Life is infinite and death is a part of infinite life. Death
is not the last chapter of one's life. Nor does it mean eternal
life. It is a period of rest before a new existence.

Buddhism does not recognize the concept of a beginning and an
end. Everything moves as it should, life flows on without
questioning its source or its destiny. Source and destiny are
life and death itself.

The most interesting part of all is that we decide our own
destiny. Everything depends on the person alone, he or she is
responsible for his or her actions and their consequences.
For the noble humanism championed by the West, this sense of
individual accountability is a necessary condition.

The reckoning for sins and good deeds comes to us alone.

Alex Supartono is an active member of Jaringan Kerja Budaya and
Forum Bebas Wacana Filosofis in Jakarta.