Q: Shall we be afraid of death, Ashin? Could you please kindly advise us from Buddhist point of view?

Q: Shall we be afraid of death, Ashin? Could you please kindly advise us from Buddhist point of view?

A: Well, I have very often said, “Death is not something to be afraid of, but to accept it With wisdom” according to the Buddha’s Teaching because it is just a pause to go on while one’s volitional actions one has done for life long are looking for an abode to exist in another form created by one’s own volitional actions.

One’s own good volitional actions will create a nice, beautiful, rich, wealthy educated person to exist in a nice abode that is also created by one’s own volitional actions.

Therefore, good volitional actions are really important for a Buddhist because all of those good volitional actions will create everything nice and beautiful, auspicious and fortunate here and now and here after.

In my opinion, good volitional actions can create happiness, peace and harmony even in the society here and now. They are not only important for a Buddhist but also important for everyone. They will also take care of us to be happy and to wisely live in dignity in the society.

At the last moment when we approach death, of course, all of these good volitional actions we have done for life long will make us happy to leave this life and to happily continue to the next. Therefore, death is not something to be afraid of, but to accept it wisely according to the Buddha’s Teaching. I hope you get it.

Author:

Ashin Kekasa is a graduate in Mathematics. He finished his both public and monastic educations. His major interest was Mindfulness-Based Vipassana Meditation instructed in Buddhism. He took six months long retreat course in Mahasi Meditation Center when he was a layman. After his six months long meditation practice, he became a Buddhist ordained in Mahasi Tradition. However, he wanted to know much more about Buddhist philosophy so he moved to Mahagandhayon monastery to study Pali scriptures seriously. He has spent teaching and practicing in Mahagandhayon monastery. He did it well. Then, he moved to the forest for his serious meditation practice. He founded his own forest meditation center 15 years ago. He has been conducting Vipassana retreat for laypeople twice a year. He has also been used to travelling to abroad since 2004 because he is invited by people to teach them meditation. It is just a brief biography of Ashin Kelasa.