25/12/2021
https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/46374/2265
Q:
Should a Buddhist be afraid of death?
A:
Yes, but it depends on how you define "afraid".
If you define "afraid" as a form of paralysis. inaction, and trauma then NO, that is not what Buddhism is about or any of the eastern practices.
If you define "afraid" as a form of anxiety and stress leading to contemplation and ACTION (spiritual practice)... then YES, every single genuine Buddhist of all genuine sects use the relative reality of death as a motivation for practice, at least in the early stages before they are Enlightened (i.e. have achieved initial stages of Immortality/Nirvana/Buddhahood).
All the basic Four Noble Truths, 3 Characteristics, and contemplations point to impermanence as a motivating factor for the Practice which leads to the end of forced rebirth and retribution.
If we look into the Fourth Noble Truth, the Eightfold path, the hallmark of Buddhism, we will find that Right View expounds this. Right View has two aspects, mundane and super-mundane.
This super-mundane aspect teaches about the 33 realms of existence and how we are essentially stuck in karmic loops across the various realms of existence based on our karmic action, deservedly-so. Frequently, this process is unfortunate and one ends up in hell for "no good reason" where one can end up for a long time until one cultivates and develops "higher" character and then one can end up going to higher realms... wherein one, having forgotten the past lives and relishing higher comforts, again commits actions to bring one down to lower realms. The cycle continues, ad naseum, for endless eons. Even if one bumped into spiritual cultivation (without achieving a permanent Enlightenment/Awakening).
Hence, this super-mundane Right View gives us the proper motivation for the rest of the Eightfold Path. Ultimately the goal is to escape this "forced rebirth" of cycling within the wheel of rebirth since we can neither fully recollect nor control this process currently... and achieve Nirvana.
However, contrary to the common Early Buddhist understanding: Nirvana is not an "annihilation" per se or a total end.
To be unusually direct: the esoteric Buddhist circles expound: there exists three bodies that one cultivates in the progression of all spiritual cultivation: dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya. These latter two refer to a semi-immortal etheric body which is developed through advanced stages of practice, after one has generally mastered and developed the body and mind.
This separate body (not flesh) is essentially one's real self and becomes the mastermind which can control all of one's now voluntary incarnations. This is also known as the process of cultivating the spiritual "immortal fetus" in Taoism.
This is considered initial success in spiritual cultivation and should be the point at which one can finally relinquish fear of death, because one is no longer painfully stuck in the fiery trap of rebirth (especially the 6 lower planes of existence) along with all of one's previous family and friends, whom one can now assist.
It is arguable that every single genuine religion talks about this same "immortal body" including Hinduism and Taoism but also Christianity and Islam (symbolically so). Inter-religious evidence on this can be found in the articles on meditationexpert.com... the author is actually offering his book Bodhisattva Yoga (pre-published copy) currently free, which beautifully describes all this non-denominationally and comprehensively... including the long, near-infinite road after becoming this Bodhisattva...
However, none of this super-mundane Right View is necessary, including its concomitant beliefs in reincarnation. in order to progress on one's spiritual cultivation.
The "mundane" levels of Right View also give the same argument on an undeniable, smaller-scale, microcosmic level:
There exists much rampant impermanence and lack of control within our body and mind.
It is due to unnecessary craving/attachments.
This is embarrassing because I should be king of this body and mind.
How about we learn to be aware of and guide our body and mind?
That is the mundane-level 4 Noble Truths in a nutshell and arguably much better for some people who may mis-use the super-mundane viewpoints I outlined. This is what our Gautama Buddha originally espoused and focused on, anyway and he would shirk super-mundane elaborations a lot of time.
Ironically, this unreligious flavor of Buddhism and the calm, self-control, wisdom, and good behavior may end up giving some people more benefit post-mortem anyway as a spirit. (especially the crowd that thinks chanting a few words once a week is sufficient to have a good after-life)
:cue Tibetan Book of the Dead:
In our age of information however, I think it is is important to understand both viewpoints and be armed on the spiritual path with knowledge, especially as one progresses through some of the weird mystical experiences... with few genuine masters around. One has to achieve the Ultimate Aim or at least semi-permanent fruits of cultivation... motivated by the great awareness of death and impermanence of this body, it's memories, learnings, wealth, friends... and also these StackExchange points. ;-)
