In short: the Buddha taught people to look at death calmly and often: to reflect daily that we will age, fall ill and die (the Five Remembrances), to practise mindfulness of death one breath at a time (AN 6.19), and to live so that there is nothing to fear when it comes (AN 4.184).
Buddhism looks at death directly, not to frighten but to free us to live well. Here are the teachings on death and dying, gathered in one place.
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- The Five Remembrances: Pāli and English, and Why They Help
The Five Remembrances, the Buddha's five daily reflections on aging, illness, death, separation and our actions, in Pāli and English, what e… - Mindfulness of Death (AN 6.19): Maraṇassati, One Breath at a Time
Maraṇassati, mindfulness of death (AN 6.19): the Buddha asks his monks how they practice it, and praises the one who reflects 'if I live jus… - Fear of Death: Who Is Not Afraid to Die? (AN 4.184)
A brahmin claimed everyone fears death. The Buddha disagreed (AN 4.184) and named four kinds of people who are not afraid to die. A gentle t…
In the Buddha's words
- The Buddha's Last Words: What He Said and What They Mean
The Buddha's last words, 'Conditions fall apart. Persist with diligence,' in Pāli and English from the early texts, the scene at Kusinārā, h… - The Simile of the Mountain (SN 3.25): Old Age and Death Approach
Imagine mountains reaching the clouds, rolling in from four directions, crushing everything. 'Old age and death are advancing upon you', the… - Buddhist Prayer for the Dead: The Funeral Verse and What to Say
The verse chanted at Theravāda Buddhist funerals, Aniccā vata saṅkhārā, in Pāli and English, what it means, how merit is shared with the dea… - Sick in Body, Healthy in Mind (SN 22.1): The Buddha on Illness
An old, ailing man asked the Buddha for help. The answer (SN 22.1): 'Though my body is ailing, my mind will be healthy.' How not to identify… - The Blind Turtle (SN 56.48): How Rare a Human Life Is
The Buddha's blind turtle simile (SN 56.48): a one-eyed turtle surfacing once a century through a single yoke on the ocean. That is how rare…
Practices
- The Perception of Impermanence (SN 22.102): The Farmer's Plough
The Buddha says the perception of impermanence 'eradicates all conceit I am', like a farmer's plough cutting through roots (SN 22.102). Simi… - The Three Marks of Existence: Impermanence, Suffering and Not-Self
The three marks of existence in Buddhism, anicca, dukkha and anattā, in plain English with the Pāli verses from the Dhammapada, what each me…
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