Moment Of Death

[Nampeung]

I am on the short string towards the end of this life and, having studied Theravadan Buddhism previously and found it to be closest to what I know to be true, need to ask some of you out there what you think about death etc. Please on;y answer if you understand Theravadan ways as I don't want confusion or conflicting ideas right now. Thanks.

The first question is the moment of the last breath in this body. I have read somewhere that this moment should consist of 'good and happy thoughts' but am wondering how to do that when one is worried about those we are leaving behind?

The second question is, is the moment of the last breath in this body simultanious with the moment of rebirth in the next phase? As in one may become a conception, an egg, of another life. When I say 'one' I mean one's 'Kam', 'Spirit', 'Energy'.

Any thoughts most welcome...

[gcheok]

I am on the short string towards the end of this life and, having studied Theravadan Buddhism previously and found it to be closest to what I know to be true, need to ask some of you out there what you think about death etc. Please on;y answer if you understand Theravadan ways as I don't want confusion or conflicting ideas right now. Thanks.

The first question is the moment of the last breath in this body. I have read somewhere that this moment should consist of 'good and happy thoughts' but am wondering how to do that when one is worried about those we are leaving behind?

The second question is, is the moment of the last breath in this body simultanious with the moment of rebirth in the next phase? As in one may become a conception, an egg, of another life. When I say 'one' I mean one's 'Kam', 'Spirit', 'Energy'.

Any thoughts most welcome...

1st question:

"Everybody must die. The important thing is whether we will die when our mind is clear or clouded. If it's clear, we will go to a fortunate realm. If it's clouded, we will go to an unfortunate realm. You must keep your mind clear." - quoted from www.dmc.tv/pages/en/good_questions_good_answers/white_lie.html

2nd question:

"What lives on of a person when their body dies is their 'mind'. As long as this mind is not free of greed, hatred and delusion, it must go to a new existence. It will go to a more fortunate existence if the mind is in a good mental state, and a worse one if it is in a bad mental state. Thus there are as many as 31 afterlife realms where a 'mind' can be reborn after death." - quoted from www.dmc.tv/pages/en/faqs/What_will_happen_when_I_die.html

[agent69]

I am not a scholar. Everything I have learnt is based on experience by the teaching from various sources, reading and some practicing.

The first question is the moment of the last breath in this body. I have read somewhere that this moment should consist of 'good and happy thoughts' but am wondering how to do that when one is worried about those we are leaving behind?

Definitely you do not want to hold any grudge. Keep you mind free of all emotion. Best way, I believe, to keep a clear mind is meditation. Concentrate on your breathing. Can be done even if you're confined to a bed.

Regarding the loved ones, you just need to make sure they are going to be okay. You need to work out exactly what you're worried about and try to resolve it. In my case, I don't have my 'Rahul'. I only need to make sure that my wife will be financially comfortable. Emotionally? That's something she has to deal with in case I am gone. Best thing I can do is guiding her.

The second question is, is the moment of the last breath in this body simultanious with the moment of rebirth in the next phase? As in one may become a conception, an egg, of another life. When I say 'one' I mean one's 'Kam', 'Spirit', 'Energy'.

We all will be reborn, unless we broke free from the circle in this lifetime. But in which form, it really depends on the previous karma. The worst, I believe, would be being born in Naraka (นรก).

[camerata]

We had a topic about this in 2005 titled The Final Moment.

In the Pali Canon, the Buddha says to his son: "If, Rahula, Mindfulness of Breathing has been cultivated and regularly practised, even the last in-breaths and out-breaths will pass consciously, not unconsciously."

So, it seems that ideally one would be mindful of the breath at the last moment. Failing that, I believe the thing to do is recollect all the good things you've done in your life.

[Svenn]

It is beyond my capacity to do so, but I believe a skilled follower of the theravada would focus on severing his attachment to notions that this is 'his' death, or 'his' life that is about to end. no matter how strong our sense of self or deluded we may be, our consciousness really is and always was just as inanimate as a slide of falling rocks... in other words, 'life' is not real and we have been dead all along... nothing changes after you expel your final breath.... 'you' were never alive in the first place. There is a more fundamental, background existenceness that remains despite the passing of a temporal consciousness. These our thoughts that work for me, I don't know if they are helpful to anyone else

peace

Edited May 28, 2009 by Svenn

[lannarebirth]

I am on the short string towards the end of this life and, having studied Theravadan Buddhism previously and found it to be closest to what I know to be true, need to ask some of you out there what you think about death etc. Please on;y answer if you understand Theravadan ways as I don't want confusion or conflicting ideas right now. Thanks.

The first question is the moment of the last breath in this body. I have read somewhere that this moment should consist of 'good and happy thoughts' but am wondering how to do that when one is worried about those we are leaving behind?

The second question is, is the moment of the last breath in this body simultanious with the moment of rebirth in the next phase? As in one may become a conception, an egg, of another life. When I say 'one' I mean one's 'Kam', 'Spirit', 'Energy'.

Any thoughts most welcome...

Here are some informational links I'd bookmarked on this topic Nampeung:

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha103.htm

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha207.htm

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha113.htm

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha290.htm

http://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebdha257.htm

The answers to your questions are contained within.

Best Wishes to you.

[Nampeung]

Going to read them over the next few days Lannerabirth dear, many thanks and metta for you. Am in a Hospice now where you can be of any religion / belief so should have the chance to practise...

[Nampeung]

Thank you also Svenn, your wise thoughts make sense to me... Thanks

[sabaijai]

I just re-read the other thread that camerata had initiated some time ago. It's a good one, perhaps one of our little community's best.

Buddhasa Bhikkhu's story about 'turning a fall from a ladder into a calculated leap" feels like timeless advice. Nampeung. Metta. Forgive yourself and everyone you've ever known and every birth to come.

[Nampeung]

A nun called Ajhan Thanasanti from Chithurst Monastery in south England is coming to see me on Wednesday this week. I have never met her but I Googled her name and she seems to be a prolific and well respected Theravadin Nun so I feel very honoured. I don't yet know what we will discuss but I expect it will be death and moving on... I will let you know what she says

[sabaijai]

Nampeung passed away last night, 'very peacefully with no pain or distress,' according to someone who was with her.

[Svenn]

. . . . . . . . ขอให้เดินทางด้วยความปลอดภัย . . .

I wish her family the best. Can you provide any more details?

[phetaroi]

Nampeung passed away last night, 'very peacefully with no pain or distress,' according to someone who was with her.

I communicated with her a couple of times via email. She seemed like a nice, gentle person.

[bina]

seonai/nampeung died after a very very very long bout of tb complications; this past week she had an other infection, she refused treatment as she had spent the past few weeks 'saying goodbye'. she has a son who will be taken care of by his paternal grandmother and her ex (she had been married to a southern thai man). she requested that this time round, she only wanted palliative treatment (painkillers and anti anxiety medicine plus her oxygen) and no 'heroic measures', as she was unable to function at all these past few days (couldnt breathe at all), while her mind remained quite clear. she had met with the theravadan nun and felt calm after their discussion as far as her questions about death and the dying process.

bina

israel

[GraBangkok]

RIP..

[Foggy Dew]

Hi,

I am saddened by the passing of Nampeung and am sorry I did not see this thread before today.

I found it, while looking for .... I don’t know what... because of the passing of an old and loyal friend today.

I practice Theravada Buddhism and am familiar with the analogy of the old candle passing on its flame to the new candle. Rebirth ....

I am also reminded of a saying of a wise Irish pagan the late John O’ Donohue the poet and philosopher, he was best known as author of Anam Cara (A friend of the soul)

“everything will be alright in the end..... if it’s not alright, it’s not the end.

Nampeung safe passage,

Foggy