Death in the Zen Tradition

[Shokai]

Personally, I recall times as a child (say between the ages of 4 to 9 or 10) seeing pets die and watching my parents dispose of remains. i had friends die during the polio epidemic. A cousin was burnt to death in a ski lodge. i attended visitations for grand parents, aunts, uncles. I specifically remember my paternal grand mother took me to the casket holding my maternal grand mother's body and explaining that she had died and I wouldn't see her again; and encouraged me to touch her. Maybe these are just fortunate experiences that enabled me to assimilate the reality but, I can't remember ever being afraid to die. I guess I was taught to accept death. It's not that I wasn't afraid of the pain or suffering that may occur but with age I realized I had already suffered as much pain as is associated with dying. Broken bones, food poisoning, pneumonia are three of the worst pain experiences I've had. Of course let's not forget tooth aches, headaches, being stung by hornets or slamming your thumb in a car door . Emotional pain ( such as grief) can be far worse to endure. So, why should we fear death. It's just another thing we do in life.

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[Rich]

Life celebrated
Though a terminal illness
Death appears quickly

Sat/lah




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[Jundo]

Personally, I recall times as a child (say between the ages of 4 to 9 or 10) seeing pets die and watching my parents dispose of remains. i had friends die during the polio epidemic. A cousin was burnt to death in a ski lodge. i attended visitations for grand parents, aunts, uncles. I specifically remember my paternal grand mother took me to the casket holding my maternal grand mother's body and explaining that she had died and I wouldn't see her again; and encouraged me to touch her. Maybe these is just fortunate experiences that enabled me to assimilate the reality but, I can't remember ever being afraid to die. I guess I was taught to accept death. It's not that I wasn't afraid of the pain or suffering that may occur but with age I realized I had already suffered as much pain as is associated with dying. Broken bones, food poisoning, pneumonia are three of the worst pain experiences I've had. Of course let's not forget tooth aches, headaches, being stung by hornets or slamming your thumb in a car door . Emotional pain ( such as grief) can be far worse to endure. So, why should we fear death. It's just another thing we do in life.

gassho, Shokai
stlah

That must have helped and been aided by your many years as a funeral director as well ...



Gassho, J
STLah

[Jundo]

On the other hand, the Simpsons, that series is eternal, will never die ...

[Shokai]

Just icing on the cake

[Rich]

On the other hand, the Simpsons, that series is eternal, will never die ...

Yes

I be watching that on my deathbed lol


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[Tairin]

I tend to believe that it is largely speculation of the religious imagination. I like to say that I don't know about "heavens and hells" in the next life, but I sure see people create hells for themselves in this one via their greed, anger, violence, jealousy and such. I like to say that, whether or not there is a life to come, please live gently and wisely in this one. If there is no next life, you will still have a gentle life here. If there is a next life, being gentle here will help your rebirth

I used to wonder and worry about death when I was younger. It was my need to know with certainty that there is some sort of life after this existence. As I’ve gotten older my view on life and death has more or less settled on basically what Jundo expresses here. I can’t know with any sort of certainty what comes next but I can sure make the best use of the time I have now and let the chips fall where they may.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Juki]

I lean towards 3 and 4, personally. But, I love your description in 1 of the way people believe Amida visits them on their deathbed and acts as a guide to the Pure Land. It reminds me of the descriptions given by people who were declared clinically dead but who came back. Those people pretty uniformly describe seeing a bright light and moving towards it. Since Amida Buddha is the Buddha of infinite light, the descriptions of the people who came back from "death" take on an added charm.

Gassho
Juki
sat today and lah

Apologize for going over 3 sentences

[Jinyo]

Lovely, wise. Our hearts can be broken, and tears can roll from our eyes, even as we also realize this aspect of reality which CANNOT be broken, cannot be lost, cannot be distant. Both are true.

There are many ways for folks to come to realize this.

(If we may, Jinyo, we will dedicate all our sitting and practice today to your husband.)

Gassho, J

STLah

thank you

Jinyo

sat today

[Jakuden]

thank you

Jinyo

sat today

I missed this until now, but will sit for you Jinyo tomorrow <3

Gassho and hugs
Jakuden


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[Tai Shi]

Death in the Zen Tradition

For me perhaps I will listen to those who know literature of Buddhism better than me. I am just sitting here in my Zendo. When I understand Shikantaza better I can talk about it here; what I am learning. Thich Nhat Hanh in an attitude of peace had helped me and Jundo with specific advice about how to practice has been good to me. Buddhism means loving kindness for me. Sorry for the rambling message but Jundo I saw nothing about any practice other than my own, and I hope someone sees I only want to be a peaceful man.
Gassho
Deep bows for all
sat/ lah


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[anzan]

Thank you for this.


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[Daitetsu]

Thanks a lot for sharing this!

Several years ago I tackled the topic of my own mortality very intensively. It was painful, but in the end cleansing in a way.
I read a German book (sorry, no English version available right now) with the title "Im Angesicht des Todes" (lit. back translation "In the face of death") that talks about death from a Buddhist perspective. It contains several (thought) experiments and exercises to work through.
I also found the above mentioned "No Death, No Fear" by TNH excellent.

However, I also find the following thoughts coming from outside of the Zen world quite consoling:

“Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist.”

And while it is not Zen either, Richard Dawkins also said something great:

We are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones. Most people are never going to die because they are never going to be born. The potential people who could have been here in my place but who will in fact never see the light of day outnumber the sand grains of Arabia. Certainly those unborn ghosts include greater poets than Keats, scientists greater than Newton. We know this because the set of possible people allowed by our DNA so massively exceeds the set of actual people. In the teeth of these stupefying odds it is you and I, in our ordinariness, that are here. We privileged few, who won the lottery of birth against all odds, how dare we whine at our inevitable return to that prior state from which the vast majority have never stirred?

Anyways, coming back to the Zen perspective, nothing beats the ocean/wave analogy for me personally.

Gassho,

大哲

#sat2day

[Rick]

I have not read no death, no fear, but I am going to buy it. Wrapping my brain around the idea of own mortality is still something that evokes terror at times. It comes and goes. At almost 55-years-old, I find myself thinking about the topic more frequently.

Gassho,
Rick
ST

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[Doshin]

Thanks a lot for sharing this!

Several years ago I tackled the topic of my own mortality very intensively. It was painful, but in the end cleansing in a way.
I read a German book (sorry, no English version available right now) with the title "Im Angesicht des Todes" (lit. back translation "In the face of death") that talks about death from a Buddhist perspective. It contains several (thought) experiments and exercises to work through.
I also found the above mentioned "No Death, No Fear" by TNH excellent.

However, I also find the following thoughts coming from outside of the Zen world quite consoling:



And while it is not Zen either, Richard Dawkins also said something great:



Anyways, coming back to the Zen perspective, nothing beats the ocean/wave analogy for me personally.

Gassho,

大哲

#sat2day

Doshin
St