Research Title: An Analysis of Theravada Buddhist Scriptures: Death and Mindfulness of Death
Researcher: Mr. Suchaya Siritanyaporn and Others
Department: Division of Buddhist Texts of Academic Division, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
Fiscal Year: 2548 / 2005
Research Scholarship Sponsor: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University
ABSTRACT
An analytical study of the Theravada Buddhist scriptures death and mindfulness of death was aims: to study the principles of the Buddha’s teaching about the death appearing in the Buddhist scriptures, to study how to apply the death to the sense object of meditation exercise and to study the method of practice about the death in applying it to the present societies.
The foresaid aims will respond to the way of death, will right recollect the death, will be able to help lessening the people’s fear of death, will help release the sorrow arising in the present societies and will help them to possess of peaceful minds at the point of death.
By findings of this research were as follows:
1) From the principles of teaching about the death as appearing in the Buddhist scriptures. Commentaries sub-commentaries, special texts and all other related data; it was found that death is the truth in lives. It was what usually arising but it was causes a fright to every body. Every body tries in any way to escape from death, but no one can not be successful. Really the death is not a fearful condition, but the condition before death is more fearful, because of this condition, if a person has pure mind, he will go to a happy state, if he has impure min, and he will go to an unhappy state. So, one should follow the way of correcting about the death such as the state before death which is called an object’s teaching about the death, thought process before death, the method to set the mind right, and finally the Buddha’s teaching about the death. By this way, one can rightly lead one’s life, and as a result, one will die peacefully. This is called the good death. At any rate, according to the Buddhist principles of teaching, the state of no rebirth again is called the attainment of Nirvana, the Highest Bliss, which is called the best death in Buddhism.
2) In applying the death to the sense object of meditation practice is appearing in the Buddhist scriptures. It is found that the Buddha said about the mindfulness of death in various places. For example, one who develops the mindfulness of death should contemplate as follows. We may be still alive only for a moment of chewing one mouthful food of a morsel of rice. Or, we may be alive just at the moment of our inhalation and exhalation. More over, one who could mainly contemplate on one’s death day and might, and should consider one’s life as full of both inside and outside danger to destroy one’s life. Furthermore, one should be possessed of doctrine, namely-mindfulness, sense of urgency and wisdom. Having practiced in these ways, one can be relieved from suffering and be free from suffering. Beside, one can get rid of sorrow, when on sees the beloved people die.
3) From the application of the matter of death to the present societies, in such ways as using the technological methods in recording the teaching about the death and mindfulness of death on tapes, C.D, plates, magic lanterns or movies, can help the sorrowful people to be free from sorrow, or the suffering people to get rid of suffering. Beside, it is good to form a new viewpoint about the death which will be a better one to be taken by all people by emphasizing the principles of the teaching about the action or the state of existence which has the relationship with human beings. Good action leads the people to be a happy state, whereas ad is fact clearly shows the relationship with human beings. Good action leads the people to be a happy state; whereas bad action leads the people to the unhappy state. This fact clearly shows the relationship with each and every human being’s death.
In addition to this, the researching group was interview for many people about the death and mindfulness of death. The result of the interview was satisfactory in one part, and will have to be right in another part. The conclusion was what will be the people’s refuge is the good action already reformed. For the Buddhists, the best refuge is the Triple Gem which can be the people’s good refuge at the point of death, make the death be a good one and help to die peacefully. If there is a group of people, nation, race and religion can help them and rightly teach about the death and mindfulness of death. Each of them can help human beings who are afraid of death to refrain from disturbing one another.
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