What Happens When We Die? Here’s What Buddhism Says!
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear friends around the world,
One of the features of the various world religions is that they explain what happens to us after we pass away and Buddhism is no different. The way we act and live now definitely has consequences for where we end up in our next lives. I came across this short article that explains what happens according to Buddhism. This is something everyone should learn and know. I hope that this article will make things clearer and provide you with a better understanding of what happens and how our actions will affect this outcome.
Tsem Rinpoche
The Buddha’s teachings offers the most satisfactory explanation of where man came from and where he is going. When we die, the mind, with all the tendencies, preferences, abilities and characteristics that have been developed and conditioned in this life, re-establishes itself in a new being. Thus the new individual grows and develops a personality conditioned both by the mental characteristics that have been carried over from the previous life and by the new environment. The personality will change and be modified by conscious effort and conditioning factors like education, parental influence and society but once again at death, it will re-establish itself as life in a new being. This process of dying and being reborn will continue until the conditions that cause it, the mental factors of craving and ignorance, cease. When they do, instead of being reborn, the mind attains a state called Nirvana.
How does the mind go from one body to another?
When a person is dying, he begins to lose conscious control of his mental processes. There comes a time when his actions and habits locked away in his memories are released. In many instances, there arises in his mind a mental image. This image is totally involuntarily and is produced by his karma or past actions. Thus depending upon the nature of the particular karma that produces this image, the person may see dark shadowy figures, frightening images, or he may see his relatives or perhaps visions of scenic beauty. Quite often, he will cry out at these visions or remark about them to his visitors. Even though the physical body may be weak these thought units are very strong as death approaches. When the body finally breaks down at the point of death these energies are released as mental energy. As energy cannot be destroyed they have to re-establish themselves in a new body thus causing the phenomenon of rebirth.
Think of it being like radio waves which are not made up of words and music but energy at different frequencies, which are transmitted, travel instantaneously through space, are picked up by the receiver from where the radio produces them as words and music. It is the same with the mind. At death, mental energy travels through space, is picked up by the fertilized egg of the future mother, is reborn as a new being and manifests as a new personality.
Thus it is important that a dying person is comforted and reminded of his good deeds. He should not be made confused and visitors should not overtly grieve in his presence. Neither should unfamiliar ideas like a new religion be introduced to him. The Buddha advises that when one is fearful, he should recall to mind the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.
Is one always reborn as a human being?
No, there are several realms into which one can be reborn. Some people are reborn in heavenly planes, some are reborn in hell planes, some may be reborn as ghosts and as animals. Heaven is not a place but a state of existence where one has a subtle body and where the mind experiences mainly pleasure. Some religions strive very hard to be reborn in a heavenly existence mistakenly believing it to be a permanent state. But it is not. Like all conditioned states, heaven is impermanent and when one’s life span there is finished, one could well be reborn again as a human. Hell, likewise, is not a place but a state of existence where one has a subtle body and where the mind experiences mainly anxiety and distress. Being a ghost, again, is a state of existence where the body is subtle and where the mind is continually plagued by longing and dissatisfaction. So heavenly beings experience mainly pleasure, hell beings and ghosts experience mainly pain and human beings experience usually a mixture of both. So the main difference between the human realm and other realms is the body type and the quality of experience.
“Those who imagine evil where there is none, and do not see evil where it is — upholding false views, they go to states of woe. Those who discern the wrong as wrong and the right as right — upholding right views, they go to realms of bliss.”
~ Dhammapada 318 & 319
What decides where we will be reborn?
The most important factor, but not the only one, influencing where we will be reborn and what sort of life we shall have, is karma. The word karma means ‘action’ and refers to our intentional mental actions. In other words, what we are is determined very much by how we have thought and acted in the past. Likewise, how we think and act now will influence how we will be in the future. Just as radio waves will be picked up by a radio tuned to its particular frequency, the mental energies released at the time of death will naturally be re-established in a new material body that most suits it. Thus, the gentle, loving type of person shall be reborn in a heavenly realm or as a human being in a comfortable environment. The anxious, worried or extremely cruel type of person is reborn in a hell realm, or as an animal, or as a human being born in extremely difficult environment.
Not only is there scientific evidence to support the phenomena of rebirth, it is the only after-life theory that has any evidence to support it. During the last 30 years parapsychologists have been studying reports that some people have vivid memories of their former lives. Professor Ian Stevenson of the University of Virginia’s Department of Psychology has described dozens of cases of this type in his books. He is an accredited scientist whose 25 year study of people who remember former lives is very strong evidence for rebirth.
[Source: http://www.socialeverythings.com/2016/07/what-happens-when-we-die-heres-what.html]
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Visiting this article because just now our weekly Sunday online Dharma Class sharing, Pastor Seng Piow shared about scientific proof that consciousness exists past death. Perhaps there’s more evidence that might be of interest to you https://youtu.be/_18UdG4STHA?si=WoBo4aRmeWMR_3rE
Generally, Buddhist teaching views life and death as a continuum, believing that consciousness continues after death and may be reborn. We’re all going to face death, so we shouldn’t ignore it. Being realistic about our mortality enables us to live a full, meaningful life. Buddhist teachings emphasize the idea that although one’s destiny is always influenced by past karma. That is, our actions in this and previous lives shape the outcome for the next life. Reading this article had me understand further . To learn ,practice Dharma is the best choice I have made. We have our Guru to thank for sharing with us the journey from birth to death. This article gave us a better understanding of what happens to us after we pass away according to Buddhism.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Homage to the truly enlightened holy sacred marvellous beings like Rinpoche who with their sacred glory of wisdom and bodhicitta pretty much brightened our lives, May every one be this fortunate 🙏🙇♀️🌟
Thank you so much la Rimpochoe! It’s clear and very important article 🙏
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us this article on death. It is very comprehensive and easy to understand. When we die, it is not the end of our life, we will take rebirth again.
In Buddhism, we believe there are 6 realms, when we die we will take rebirth in one of these realms. It is our karma and our last thought that will determine which realm we will take rebirth in.
Since we only take with us our habits, characteristic when we die, it will make more sense to spend more time to develop good habits instead of focusing on accumulating wealth. We may be rich and wealthy but we cannot bring wealth with us when we die.
Interesting post .There is no possible way to escape death.Death comes in a moment and its time is unexpected. All that separates us from the next life is one breath.The only thing that can help us at the time of death is our mental and spiritual development.As Buddhist we do believe in rebirth and depands on how we live this life. We should have thoughts such as love, compassion, letting go all things in this life (attachments).To practise the spiritual path and ripen our inner potential by cultivating positive mental qualities and abandoning disturbing mental qualities.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these teachings and reminder to prepare ourselves for death to cultivate love,caring,kindness and compassion.
Professor Ian Stevenson had spent his entire life investigating cases of children having past lives. And so much so he became and expert in it, a lot of people have called him gullible without really looking at all the vast corpus of the information compiled by Professor.
However there is no real benefit for the Professor to put himself up for ridicule, and scorn from the entire Western medical researchers and staff. He in this case chose the more difficult road, to investigate into reality.
This blogpost explains very clearly and logically why we take rebirth after we die.
“When the body finally breaks down at the point of death these energies (in the body) are released as mental energy. As energy cannot be destroyed they have to re-establish themselves in a new body thus causing the phenomenon of rebirth”.
As Buddhists believe in karma and rebirth, they do not shy away from the issue of death. Buddhists in fact believe that how we die and where , in the six realms of samsara, we are reborn, is very much determined by how we live this life. The most important factor is karma. The type of thoughts or actions –positive or negative – that we carry out now will determine what form we take in our rebirth. Our state of mind at point of death determines the throwing karma, which will decide whether we have a positive or negative rebirth. A positive rebirth is rebirth in the heavenly realm where we are in comfortable and pleasurable state . A negative rebirth is a rebirth in the hell realm where we will suffer in an extremely difficult environment.
Hence, it behoves us to cultivate a peaceful mind as we grow older, by letting go of all clinging to the things of this life, by letting go of always wanting to be right, by cultivating patience and tolerance, by cultivating compassion.
No matter you are Buddhist or not, we cannot run away from Karma. That means our karma decides where we go after death. We are not in control at all. Where is karma come from? from what we have done, good and bad, everyday, since beginingless time, life after life. But Buddha has taught us the truth, how to over come it, how to create merits, how to purify karma. What we need to do is to put Dharma into our lives and start practicing. So, creating more merits and stronger imprint in this life is extremely important in this life for us to re connect with Dharma and our Gurus to continue to practice in our next lives until we achieve enlightenment. Which is total freedom.
We should not fear of death if we have prepared for it. Many high lamas can even fully control their next incarnation, life after life. It is proven that by practicing three principle path with the guidance of the Gurus and guarded by the protector with the right motivation, we will be able to achieve that state of mind. Hence that’s why Buddha taught the holy Dharma.
death is so certain that everyone has to go through, and what we did in this life, what we owned in this life, we cannot bring with us after death, because we borrowed this body to live our life, hence, all the things we ‘owned’, it is actually never belongs to us.
We are not necessary reborn as a human in the next life, not that when we believe in god, or buddha, then all our action will be wiped out and we will have good rebirth, whatever we do, we take responsibilities to that, there is no escape.
It is very unfortunate that we have karma, so everything we do or act in our lifetimes are bond with karma, good or bad, we have no escape, we cannot simply do what we want to do, we are restricted, we don’t have the freedom, but at the same time, we are also very fortunate that our life are bond with Karma, because then we will be disciplined, we will be more aware of our action, we will be kinder, we will practice compassion, etc. Karma is the law of life, without the law, human’s life will degenerate a lot, and our life will be much worse, imagine when the world is ruled by devil.
So if we don’t want to go to the ‘bad’ place, then we have to be mindful of our action and practice kindness and compassion when we are still living, nothing is worse than going to hell or hungry ghost realm.
In Buddhism we learn about reincarnation and that every action creates karma – good or bad. Our future life depends on how we live our life, if we help others and especially what is the motivation behind.
When we do things for others, with a good motivation, it is helpful for a good rebirth but if we are selfish and only think about ourselves, it will be a scary rebirth. Attachment, ignorance, greed are the stepping stone to a lower rebirth.
There is no deny that we all die and we don’t know when. We have to learn and do things that benefit ourselves and others long term.
All of us as human beings are borned with attachments, then, we are trained to create more attachments throughout our short lives and these attachments are not what we really want within our short life on Earth because they bring only pure sufferings.
If let’s say to abandon aĺl attachments and live without any attachments. Personally, I think that it would take forever for human beings to realise and do accordingly. However, we should never give up, because nothing is impossible, it’s just difficult.
Death is not the end of the life destination. Our consciousness will leave our body one day travel to the next body. In Buddhism we call incarnation. Is important to know about death will come one days, we should not focus bringing pressure for our senescence, create more attachment to our worldly life. When the death arrived. is nothing we can do about it except we can rely on our spiritual practice. through our spiritual practice, we are able collect good merit to purify our negative karma.Only merit and karma can determined our next rebirth either born at the three upper realm nor reborn at the three lower realm. we must obtaining nirvana quickly to release from the cycle of death and rebirth to end the suffering of samsara.
While reading this article, I recall what H.E Tsem Rinpoche said about freedom, H.E. mentioned freedom is when you have a control of your future life, and very sad that none of us has this freedom. Our next life is always base on our Karma. And due to the lack of mindfulness, we keep forgetting “karma” and we did something to make our life suffer and more negative karma created.
If we understand rebirth correctly, “rebirth” is so powerful. In rebirth, death is the beginning of another existence. If you know you have next life to live, would life be great? Moreover, you can create a better next life if you follow what Buddha taught.
The Buddha reminded us to prepare for death, to prepare for that journey the mind and not being so attached to things, to be able to let go and release ourselves for needing to be.We will not suffer so much as we pass the final stage of the present life, we can let go, be grateful for what we had, this way we can end the cycle and leave forever, obtaining nirvana and release from the cycle of death and rebirth.
In most societies, people evade the subject of death, as it is regarded as taboo, bad luck, inauspiciousness, that resulted from the loss of life in the family. People grieved over the departure of a loved one, it is a time of mourning and not celebration. And rightly do.
All major religions teach people to do good, be kind, be compassionate, be tolerant, be generous; not to harm, kill, cheat, lie and so on. Different cultures and religions have their belief, I do not see it as right or wrong. As a Buddhist, I subscribe to the teachings of Lord Buddha as described here in this article. Understanding and believing in karma, as the main force that will determine my next rebirth, helps me to keep in check what I do or don’t do in this life.
I believe in rebirth, as clearly and logically taught be the Buddha. Many scientific studies and investigations have been recorded and written on rebirth. Subjects were interviewed, tested, using past life regression hypnotherapy for their claim of having lived before in a different time and era. There are also many case studies of child prodigy, of children who have amazing skills and abilities that their parents did not have. Where and how did those children inherit them, if not from their previous lives’ imprints.
Our essence is energy is a very relatable way to illustrate our mind…or soul or spirit. As we know, energy never dies, it keeps moving from one channel or vessel to another infinitely. Energy also “enters” an unoccupied space like how a mind would enter a newly conceived organic being. Furthermore, the first space energy would move towards would be one that shares the closest to its nature or level of intensity.
The karma equation is also very well explained. It reduces the probability calculation of where we would go or what would happen to us because much is revealed simply by reflecting on our current actions and choices. In some way, this explanation offers a formula for us to better manage the outcomes of our life. Well, of course there is a downside to it: we are responsible for our own fate. No one to blame. We are no longer victims of others.
Well, such is a the nature of samsara, there is alway pros and cons. The good news is, if we follow the principal of karma and reincarnation, we have the weight of responsibility that will lead to joyful and beneficial future lives.
This synergy between science and spirit is very logical and respectful.
Thank you for sharing a fresh angle to look at life and after-life that encompasses our spiritual aspect which is essentially the core of our existence with our scientific intellect which is nurtured by the advancement of human civilization.
This is a very interesting post! There was another post years back that actually gave a more detailed process at https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-dying-process.html
The truth is, in the past, I never really like to attend funerals. Its sad and emotional. And we have to control our emotions so that we don’t affect other people and make it worse. But now, its much better because of the ‘little’ understanding from Rinpoche’s teachings.
I think the most scary part is when we are not prepared and we suddenly die. This is why we must equip ourselves with more good deeds and do our very best as if the next minute is our death. Of course it may not be easy as not everyone want to think about death all the time but at same time it will also help us in our next rebirth as everything is based on our karma.
Besides the above, we should also educate our family members and people around us so that they know what to do at the time of someone’s death.
I think regardless of a person’s faith or beliefs, it is agreeable that what happens to us after we die is mostly determined by our actions when we are alive.
Reincarnation is actually harder to dispute than to agree upon. The society today are more aware of science than before. Science and technology are playing a huge role in our lives whether we want to or not. The term religion is being slowly replaced by spirituality which offers a less rigid and much broader scope. In a way it open doors for certain aspects of Buddha’s teachings to be absorb without the religious context. To me, the concept of reincarnation is one of them.
There are science projects focusing on transferring human consciousness, so in a way these people believe that the human consciousness is an entity not necessarily attached to the one single physical organic body form. That our consciousness can exist outside of our current body. While our organic body is mortal, our mind is actually “immortal”.
In Buddhism, we go through cyclic uncontrolled rebirth until we gain higher attainments and eventual enlightenment. In science, we are trying to achieve immortality or controlled “rebirth” by using technology to transfer/upload our consciousness onto AI or non-organic form.
Everyone will die one day. What important is how we prepare ourselves in dharma point of view. When we talk about karma it’s about what we did in the past that going to affect our future. By knowing this we should do what is necessary for the benefit of our future. Not easy but one at a time. What important is also to know that time never at our side. Every moment is precious and could make a change for our future especial when our moment arrived for us to take rebirth.
i always believe in reincarnation, and i believe in karma too. Scientists nowadays have done many research with lots of evidence the existence of reincarnation, many living cases telling their past live experience. While we still have the precious human body in this life, we should performed good deeds, help others, do dharma works collecting good merits so that we have a better rebirth and eventually to have attainments and enlightenment.
Thank you Rinpoche for this short but detailed and well explained article.
I find The Topics of Karma and Rebirth very interesting especially since it is backed with scientific evidence. What really scares me is the fact that I am a very anxious person but I am in no way cruel and I would never harm a living being. Am I destined to be born in a hell realm or an animal because im anxious? I am doing my best to get rid of my anxieties but the part in the article where it says “The anxious, worried or extremely cruel type of person is reborn in a hell realm, or as an animal, or as a human being born in extremely difficult environment.” made me abit worried.
Dear Elton,
Even if we are not cruel and we do not harm a living being in this life, what about our previous lives? That is why it is important to learn and understand more so we are better prepared for the day. You seemed to be attracted to the correct topics of karma and rebirth, which are very crucial topics in Buddhism. Being anxious and worrying too much does not help any situation, so it is better to equip ourselves with knowledge so that we can deal with what is to come.
Here are two teachings that I would like to share with you:
1. The Dying Process
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-dying-process.html
2. The Mind, and How it Reincarnates
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/the-mind-and-how-it-reincarnates.html
Do read and watch the videos and leave a comment to share with us what you think!
Regards,
Pastor Shin
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this article to remind us the preciousness of optimum human rebirth and our stay here is not permanent. Our human life is so fragile but we are constantly deluded to think that we will live forever. When death sets in, we will realise all the things we dreamt of and owned will disappear and non of it will matter anymore. The only thing that matters during death is karma.
Humbly,
Chris Chong
When I was small, I scared to attend funeral for the feeling losing someone and also I was scared what happened when I die. I’m lucky to meet Dharma for the guidance and Rinpoche’s teaching. With dharma knowledge, I’m no longer scared and being sad when attend my relatives or friend’s funeral.
Hence, how we choose to lives, it depends on our actions for the future live. When we die, we need to overcome our fear which taught by Buddha, and we shall recall our mind to meet with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Thank you Rinpoche for the teaching.
Death has always been my ghost hunting my wild thoughts. I used to get very sad thinking of the moment i will die soon and no one will ever remember me here after, and i will be forgotten forever. With my little learning from Rinpoche and other sources, the fear slowly eased on accepting the death and knowing about the karma and rebirths. Remembering death has now given me some purpose and reason to dwell day to day. Thank you, Rinpoche for this thought provoking share.
When a person is dying, he begins to lose conscious control of his mental processes. There comes a time when his actions and habits locked away in his memories are released. In many instances, there arises in his mind a mental image. This image is totally involuntarily and is produced by his karma or past actions. Thus depending upon the nature of the particular karma that produces this image, the person may see dark shadowy figures, frightening images, : this is so true. My dying brother kept seeing things like cats, or even just a couple of eyes in the living room curtain. And he would ask – did you not see it?
I used to ponder on this question countless times but through my ignorance never attempt to find the answer.With not much knowledge on Buddhism, Rinpoche’s Dharma talks and teachings plus the Lamrim have helped me to have a better understanding on this topic.
We have a choice how we live now and what sort of life we shall have in our future lives. It depends on our karma.At the time of death, only the Buddha,Dharma and Sangha that matters.
A great reminder and thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this article that explains death so well.
I was very afraid about death since young. I remember I hide in my blanket and think about one day I will lost my parents and people around me as they will die one day. Sometimes I cried and there was once my mother found that I was crying in the blanket and asked me what happened. I told her I am so afraid I will lost them one day. My mom didn’t say anything and just asked me don’t cry.
When I attend wakes and funerals, most of the family fill with so much heart wrenching sadness that the family can’t let go of the deceased. I understand the feeling very much and it’s unbearable. With this explanation, I found the logic would ease the sadness, that the deceased person is not varnished and just gone with the wind but there is continuation of life in another physical body. And death is a great reminder of our actions and how to prioritize our time.
Thank you!
I also like the metaphor of the radio wave transmit and receive as how one’s mind travel and take rebirth in a new body. The existence of physical body is impermanent. Everything starts from zero and we start collecting “debts” again to keep us in the endless sufferings life time after life time. Death is just an exit or entrance of each traveling destination. To cease the process, the only way is to cease the causes which are craving and ignorance.
May we all exit samsara and stay in Nirvana. Thank you!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us the topic on death. It is indeed a topic that no one was to talk about or even hear about it. Many times when we mention about death, others will say that we are depressing. Yet what they fail to realise is that everyone reaches that moment, hence, we will need to face it one day or another. It is just when we face it.
The earlier we do face it, the better it is as we will have the time to prepare for it. Doing what will be beneficial to us at that last point in time.
Thank you Rinpoche for reminding us that the places that we go to after death is all just a state of our minds. It is not something that is permanent, we will not be there forever. As everything in life is just like a wheel, whatever that it is on the top, will one day reach the bottom as well.
What I really like from this article is how we can help others at the points of their death. What we constantly fail to do is to comfort them and remind them of the good deeds that they have done. Also, we constantly grieve and even argue at times before the decease, making them more confused and attached to this world. Personally I feel that to not introduce them with a new religion is the biggest and most important thing as that will confuse them even more when they are passing. I have heard from senior students that sometimes Rinpoche does prayers of a different religion for the person that is passing to ease the person’s mind and not to further confuse them. I truly feel that this is very beautiful as it is a way that we can help the decease and not adding more burden to them by over grieving.
Thank you Rinpoche for this highlight on death, a morbid and taboo subject, everyone knows about death but few wants to hear it, talk or discuss about it but eventually we will all have to face this moment one day. It is an inevitable fact that we have to embrace it when our numbers are up, a highly respected sage was asked about death he replied that we are all heading towards death the minute we are born, go to every householder and you will realize that there is always death in every family for no can or will ever escape from it.
There will always be extreme fear, uncertainties, mental confusion, depression and fearing of the unknown as many of us are unprepared when it really and eventually arrived at our door step. What will be my thoughts then when it comes? I would feel the same situation as everyone else prior to my coming here at Kechara. At least now in Kechara with constant Rinpoche’s teaching and discourses on so many subjects about life and hereafter and being guided on the so many steps, ways, meditation practices that I can learn and prepare for the final moments I would say it somewhat has lessened the fear and hopefully be more brave to accept it as a reality and should not shun it and be in denial mode but be properly prepare for it.
It is rather unfortunate that many of our elders has not guided us, prepare us or discuss with us on this subject however, if they had done so we would have been better equip with the knowledge on death. I guess they are also in the dark on this subject unless they are spiritually inclined especially towards Buddhism.
I found this very interesting and its always in our head…. Not as simple as just going to heaven or hell but a more understanding how it works. i agree on the actions will affect the outcome. So meaning we are the one whom decide what we want to become and where will us end up in next life.
What Rinpoche taught is and In Buddhism practice is actually prepare us for that. This is a great article read on.
thank you Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for this article.
It clearly tells us where do we go when we die. Especially on how we act and think now and in future.
Simple and easy to understand.
This article pretty much summed up where do we go after life or rather where we came from too. The explanation and analogy used here is logical and easy to understand. Rebirth have great dependency on our Karma as in also how we are born in this world & condition we currently experiencing which is based on our past lives action. We are reaping the what we sow, just that we cant recall our past lives. So, understanding all this, don’t we want to do more positive deeds etc ? It has its consequences, you decide.
Thanks Guru for the sharing of this article.
I used to wonder if heaven (like the one in Christianity) would eventually get crowded. I found my answer that I have been looking for in this article. According to Buddhism, heaven will not get crowded as all beings there has a life span, will die and will be reborn.
After reading this post, I now have a clearer understanding of death and what happens after we die.
Thank you for this short but insightful post.
Wow. Intriguing……….Now we found the answer!! We do we go when we die? This is the questions older than organised religion.
Does a person A dies and stay as person A forever; either in heaven or hell? The key point is “Forever”. What if person A is my dead infant son. Who is going to take care of him?? This worries me….! The answer is often a supreme being but this doesn’t comfort me as many human suffers tremendously as we can observe and is never “taken care” off. At least this is how I see it.
But the concept of reincarnation comforts me more. My infant son gets to be another person, with parents to take care of him.
ps: I don’t have a dead infant son but this is just a hypothetical scenario.
This short but informative post is really wonderful. It has many important points about Buddhism on death, but is very well put in very easy understanding for beginners.
I think most people do not believe (or don’t want to believe) that the deciding factor of our next destination is our own Karma, and the only person responsible for it is ourself.
To me, many of the other religions don’t really talk about after death, or over simplify death, that after we die, we just go to a plane such as heaven. I feel that would give us the excuse to do whatever we want, therefore there is no need to do practice to improve oneself. I really like the Buddhism teaching where we build our own destiny and we are fully responsible for it.
I wish many can read this article to have a glimpse of the death process, and eventually to find out more detail about it. 🙂
This is a very simplistic explanation, easy to understand but yet filled with all the important points necessary to entice us to think deeper on the subject of death and rebirth. This subject of Death is often avoided as the mind usually is in a denial mode; thinking that death won’t occur as yet. Death is happening all around us but we love to assure ourselves that it won’t happen to us for now ! In fact if one learns and talks too much of death he/she may be seen as strange by others. We talk about every thing under the sun except the one most sure thing in life ie Death !! That’s how deluded our minds are !!
This article is also very helpful in describing what happens at death, the brief processes and how the body shuts down permanently but the energy doesn’t. This energy will “migrate” into another vessel, be it a physical human body or animal or ghosts or celestial beings. The destination depends entirely on our KARMA !
Hence if we are convinced with the theory of Rebirth we must ensure that we are experts in the theory of Karma !
Thank you Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for this article. It’s interesting to know that Heaven and Hell realms are temporary states of existences and not a permanent place to go to. This is contrary to what other religions say.
The law of karma and how it works is very logical and empowering. Our destiny is literally within our control if we understand how karma works. This is definitely more reassuring than having an Almighty judge me after putting me in a place created by HIM. If the Almighty is so powerful, then why does the Almighty not remove all problems so that all of us can just live in a place of eternal bliss? Why create so many issues? Makes me feel like a mouse in a test lab! hehe
When we understand about the process of life, death and rebirth, we begin to make better choices in our life and not continue to live in ignorance and fear.
This was a nice short post about death. Different people from different religions, backgrounds and faiths all over the world have the same description about the dying process. It’s only their interpretation of it that differs based on culture and faith, and since their interpretation differs therefore what they find valuable or strive towards will differ too.
When I read blog posts about death, one thing often comes to mind – death is certain but the timing of death is not. Knowing death is certain, yet some people remain in denial of that fact, acting as though they will live forever and there are no consequences to their actions. But denial is not healthy because it leaves you unprepared for the Big Passing.
So while people think Buddhism is morbid for the focus on death, in actuality it’s realistic. It teaches you to face the truth about living – that is, we are all moving towards death – and gets you prepared for it early on. Isn’t that the best way to go, knowing you are prepared for it? And isn’t that the best way to live, knowing you are prepared for the ‘worst’ thing that could possibly happen, death?
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us about death. Death is a scary incident to everyone of us because most of us do not actually prepare for this big day, when it come is actually too late for us to do anything, as a result we as a Buddhist we need to remind ourselves about preparing this big day by doing our daily practice of death meditation because we do not know when is our death and also live our life fully to benefits others.
This article certainly explained what happens when we die in a simple easy to understand way. If we fully understand that actually we have control of our rebirth then all the more our “self-preservation” mind should work towards “guaranteeing” a good rebirth. As Buddha and many attained gurus had taught us, practise is the way to habituate our mind into the good that we want. If we keep practicing at compassion and kindness to others, then eventually our egos will be ignored and less bad karma will be generated.
The death meditation prepares us to learn what to expect as death comes and to be able to let go of the fear, to be able to have that peaceful transition. And yet, why are so many still allowing themselves to be conned into samsaric activities by Karma when death could be round the corner?
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article that many will be able to grasp and understand. May they take the steps to preparing for their good rebirth and not be mired in focusing on their secular activities and achievements.
Dear Rinpoche,
This is a wonderful article that put death and rebirth into scientific point of view. This proof that Buddha taught us about reality of our life.
I understand that it is very important to have positive mind for us to have good rebirth in a good realm. It is important, that when we are at the present of the one who are about to pass away to have peaceful moment.
To go into Nirvana, the key point “This process of dying and being reborn will continue until the conditions that cause it, the mental factors of craving and ignorance, cease. When they do, instead of being reborn, the mind attains a state called Nirvana.” This key point, to my understanding, as long as our mind are attached to our desire, it is hard to liberate ourselves from the 6 realms. The craving to fulfill our daily desire, will lead us to negative mindset that causes us to be rebirth in 6 realms with never ending circle.
I have learned that, when a person was about to pass away, his habits and actions will be released as memories. He will see what his passed actions and habits. This alerts me on – if we want to take good rebirth, we need to train our mind and actions to always be mindful, positive, kind and not to be attached to pain. Pain on the desire we can’t fulfill. But, to focus out in helping sentient beings. By helping sentient beings, our state of mind is always happy.
It is very scary to even think about the death moment I am going to face with the negative thoughts I always have in mind currently.
I always wonder about the hell and heaven. From this article, hells and heaven are from our own mind. I think we always make our own grave yard and not even aware how our negative mind and actions could influent on us. We really live mindlessness! We are our own actions; in fact, we are responsible towards our own rebirth.
I thankful to Rinpoche. Rinpoche have given me this knowledge. Equipped us to face our next lives. Guide us the way to enlightenment. May i able to share this precious knowledge to other, May Rinpoche continue to turn the dharma wheel to liberate sentient beings.
Thank you Rinpoche for this article. I will remind myself more to be mindful on my daily thoughts and actions.
With folded hand,
Freon
Many of us always have these questions and have doubt where and what happened after we die. Will we go to heaven, hell or just like in the movie become a ghost?
In Buddhism, where our next destiny very much depending on how we act and live now. When we die, only the mind is active. Where will we go depending on our state of mind. And our mind is very much depending on our habit and karma.
By realising this, we therefore must train our mind now. Practise right value, positive habit and may we have a calm and stable mind when the day come.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
The very encouraging thing that comes to my mind reading this article is that it is possible for us to do something now in this current state of being alive to help us in death to the progression to another life, which in Buddhism is called rebirth.
The fundamental belief in being a Buddhist is Karma and Rebirth. It is so important for us to cultivate a mind of calm filled with joy for others (without jealousy) care and love for others (compassion) and patience which is a result of no expectation. Most of all is the ability to let go of what we have in negative habituation.
This journey of purifying our Karma and developing right views and virtuous acts is not easy but it will be unfair to ourselves to not even try since as buddhist and we have the good fortune to be taught by our Guru, H E the 25th Tsem Rinpoche.
With folded hands and much appreciation.
It is very interesting to read of a simplistic point of view on the subject of death and rebirth. The essence of this article summed up the movement of the mind from the time of death until the next rebirth. Superficially, it may be a relief (to some) that there is continuity of the mind that will continue the journey by taking the form of a new body. But the next rebirth depends entirely on the action we had done in our previous life and current life as well as the condition at death. Rinpoche once mentioned in his teachings that “So if you’ve lived the life of killing or arrogance, or hatred then you’ll be predestined to take a rebirth between a white and red cell that will help you to act out those impulses, such as an animal.” Hence it is important to practice now and prepare for the moment of death.
Rinpoche also mentioned in his teaching that “… if we have predominantly anger, or attachments, or fear, then the wind will go down and leave our body through the lower apertures. If it’s a neutral state, it will leave through the middling part of the body. If it’s higher thoughts such as compassion, or remembering one’s meditational deity – in this case Avalokiteshvara – or remembering good deeds one has done, or one has the wish to continue doing good deeds, that future lives will be used to benefit others solely, then it will leave through the upper aperture. When it leaves to the upper aperture, one will take rebirth in the higher realms, such as a higher human form, or a higher existence in human, where when you’re born, you have very good thoughts, immediately. You continue doing your work.”
With this in mind, we must continue to create the cause for a good rebirth. Thank you very much Rinpoche for this article.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
The thought we hold on to at the point of death will determine where we are going in the next life. Even though this fact has been made known to us, many are not equipped to deal with the moment of death adequately because at the moment arrives, we will be filled with fear and severe apprehension, to say the least. To ensure that we will not go to lower realms, we must start the preparation for death now. We do not have much time for death can knock on our door anytime.