Faith and Wisdom: Buddha's Comforting Words to Noble Disciples about Fear of Death

Faith and Wisdom: Buddha's Comforting Words to Noble Disciples about Fear of Death

Linked Discourse 55.21

So I have heard. 

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery. Then Mahanama the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, this Kapilavatthu is successful and prosperous, populous, full of people, with cramped cul-de-sacs. In the late afternoon, after paying homage to the Buddha or an esteemed monk, I enter Kapilavatthu. I encounter a stray elephant, horse, chariot, cart, or person. At that time I lose mindfulness regarding the Buddha, the teaching, and the Sangha. I think: ‘If I were to die at this time, where would I be born in my next life?’”

Buddha replied:

“Do not fear, Mahanama, do not fear!

Your death will not be a bad one; your passing will not be a bad one. Take someone whose mind has for a long time been trained with faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. Their body is formed, made up of the four principal elements, produced by mother and father, built up from rice and porridge, liable to impermanence, to wearing away and erosion, to breaking up and destruction. Right here the crows, vultures, hawks, dogs, jackals, and many kinds of little creatures devour it. But their mind rises up, headed for a higher place.

Suppose a person was to sink a pot of ghee or oil into a deep lake and break it open. Its shards and chips would sink down, while the ghee or oil in it would rise up, headed for a higher place.

In the same way, take someone whose mind has for a long time been trained with faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. Their body consists of form, made up of the four principal elements, produced by mother and father, built up from rice and porridge, liable to impermanence, to wearing away and erosion, to breaking up and destruction. Right here the crows, vultures, hawks, dogs, jackals, and many kinds of little creatures devour it. But their mind rises up, headed for a higher place.

Your mind, Mahanama, has for a long time been trained with faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom. Do not fear, Mahanama, do not fear! Your death will not be a bad one; your passing will not be a bad one.”

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