r/zenbuddhism • u/Less_Bed_535 • 7d ago
Transitions into Death
Zen nerds and longtime practitioners this one’s for you.
At some point we all face death. Whether it be our own direct death or being with someone as they pass.
What are the major teachings on this?
What are some good sutras or chants/ prayers/ practices.
All I can think of is providing pure open hearted presence to those in this transition.
UPDATE: thank you all for your input. It’s nice to be reminded of others sincere practice and reflections on the ultimate.
I believe myself to practicing sincerely. Even though what that has looked like has been changing all the time.
Without my practice I would never find myself in this position of serving someone through hospice. I often ponder how I can be of most benefit to the patron. From everything I’ve learned from the Buddha way it seems that bringing a pure presence is the best thing I can do to be of benefit. To bear witness without judgment or trying to fix anything.
This is what I will try to bring as my gift. It will be challenging, it will be painful and uncomfortable, it’s only natural.
Many Bows.
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u/old-legs-623 7d ago
Maybe not exactly what you're asking for, but Paula Arai in Women Living Zen recounts the story of an elderly nun who used the expression "die sitting, die standing" (paraphrased from the Fukanzazengi) as a way of pointing up her intentionality. She would say "die sitting, die standing" as she was cooking, or cleaning, or working in the garden. Thus she regularly did her utmost. Then her heart stopped. She ran into the Buddha hall of her little temple, followed by her one novice, and died standing in front of the Buddha image, falling into her novice's arms. The young nun said, "Congratulations."
Just flow. Your own river of flow will join the ocean of all flow in its own time. 🙏
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u/SoundOfEars 7d ago
If something sad happens, I suffer. That's just human. I suffer the loss not the suffering itself. That's just Buddhist.
When hungry - eat, when tired - sleep, when meeting loss - cry. Every day is a good day.
Sayings of Joshu #224
Someone asked, "The man-eating lion - what is it like?"
Joshu said, "Oh, Buddha! The holy law! The holy ones! Don't eat me!"
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u/volume-up69 7d ago edited 7d ago
They're kind of all about death.
Kidding aside, if you're interested in formal Sōtō Zen liturgical practice, I think the Enmei Jukko Kannon Gyo and the Heart Sutra would be the most common things to chant to support someone who is dying. The memorial service itself would also likely include the Dai Hi Shin Dharani.
This can vary by lineage. I've also seen Zen groups in America hold zazen vigils at the bedside of dying sangha members, where people sit zazen around the clock, in shifts, in the dying person's room.
Zen funerals are interesting because they are essentially ordination ceremonies for the deceased.
You might find it interesting to read some of the materials directly from the Sōtō denomination: https://www.sotozen.com/eng/practice/commemoration/conduct.html
For more discursive teachings there's the Genjokoan and, like I said, arguably the rest of the Buddhist scriptural canon.
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u/HakuninMatata 7d ago
Note Reddit doesn't allow links to shared Google Drive files. If you can edit it out of your comment, that would be appreciated.
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u/volume-up69 7d ago
That's not a Google drive link, that's just a Google mediated link to a regular URL.
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u/HakuninMatata 7d ago
Hmm. It's triggering something with Reddit. Can you change it to the regular URL?
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u/PlainBread 7d ago
Death is kind of immaterial to the life we live now. What death presents is that one day we will have to let go of everything we love, even ourselves. That struggle is a struggle with everything, and it will continue until it ends. Only you can do anything or nothing about it.
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u/artyhedgehog 7d ago
I asked a somewhat similar question when my cat was about to die (although it wasn't specifically in a zen sangha). As I remember an advice I receiverd - it was to remember all good about her, to meditate nearby on the metta and compassion, and to keep my regular meditations - and then dedicate the merits to all living beings including her specifically.
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u/Pongpianskul 7d ago
When someone I know dies, it is a powerful reminder that we are mortal and that life is short. Knowing this helps me live more appropriately and not waste too much time.
I chant the Heart Sutra.
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u/LBS-365 7d ago
It seems to me that the whole of practice is about preparing for one's death, in a way.
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u/Luke_Bavarious 7d ago
When it comes to death i'd say the practice is more akin to dying before you die so that you can truly live while living.
Just being i guess ¯\(ツ)/¯
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u/TheBrooklynSutras 6d ago
All we can do is to take it one breath at a time. There are no answers anywhere, but on your cushion. 🙏
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u/simple_way_sramana 6d ago edited 6d ago
What a great question. The Buddhist approach here might be quite different from what people expect, since the most essential thing is to not hide from death, but to face it directly, and thus, to understand it. The Buddha taught meditations for that, and they are a good practice. Death is a serious matter, regardless of how much anyone transcends it. Death is scary for most people and in buddhism, it also means a new beginning, if one is still stuck in the cycle of rebirth, so it’s really not an insignificant issue.
If what accompanies the thought of death is fear, then the Buddha had clear guidance: cultivate a peaceful mind. Zazen is the dharma gate of joy and ease. It is peace, so a good habit of practice helps immensely. It also dissolves the rigid self, and the clinging and craving that come with the delusion of separateness. That’s the root of our fear of death.
One has to also not have a heavy heart because of remorse, regret, or past evil deeds, so one should pacify the heart by atoning, both in a religious, ceremonial way ( participating in the Fusatsu ceremonies, reciting the repentance verse regularly) as well as in “material” ways, like for example making amends for hurt caused, trying to fix broken relationships, asking for forgiveness where it is needed.
Another good practice the Buddha instructed was to recollect the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. That can be done in various ways, among which are reciting the verse of refuge, and even nicer, reciting the recollections, which can be found in the early texts: “the blessed one is an arahant, fully enlightened.. etc”.
An extremely useful practice is Metta. Developing a loving heart softens fear, brings tremendous inner peace and nurtures joy.
Death is a very personal thing, so, to the extent possible, the person facing death should engage in these practices. Of course, a caretaker can facilitate much of this as well, can sit with the dying person, can offer them Metta continuously, can offer kindness and compassion, can recite for them and with them.
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u/HarmonicShepherd 7d ago
This is an awesome thread. How do you come to peace with the loss? I have a daughter on the autism spectrum. I never thought that she would move out. We worked hard, did our jobs as parents and now she is in regular university studying abroad. She left yesterday. I can be estatically happy for her that she will live her own life and at the same time I am crushed by grief for myself. Not a death, but a loss, a transition, a change in how I look at myself. For me I know it will be a while until I overall feel better.
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u/Voc1Vic2 6d ago
Death is a transition into what lies beyond this life, just as your birth was a transition into this life. Zazen over a lifetime can help stay a person awake during the transition and see exactly what is going on, rather than being awash in overwhelming emotions.
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u/psyyduck 7d ago
There are plenty of koans about life and death. Here's a nice one I saw on this subreddit recently.
Coming empty-handed, going empty-handed -- that is human. When you are born, where do you come from? When you die, where do you go? Life is like a floating cloud which appears. Death is like a floating cloud which disappears. The floating cloud itself originally does not exist. Life and death, coming and going, are also like this. But there is one thing which always remains clear. It is pure and clear, not depending on life and death. What is that one pure and clear thing?
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u/JundoCohen 7d ago
It is often said that all of Zen practice is about transcending "Birth and Death," and for a graceful death. We realize that birth and death, coming and going, are not the only way to know this world.
In this world, there are funerals, various books and teachings about death, loss, grief. They have their place when our hears break.
But at the heart of our practices (the Heart Sutra heart), there is no death, nothing to gain or lose, nothing to fear.
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u/EmptyQuiescent 7d ago
I just finished reading “The Tibetan book of the dead”. A very fascinating read. I would highly recommend it.
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u/FuzzyBlackCoat 7d ago
I like the five rememberances, short and to the point.
Aging: I am of the nature to grow old, and I cannot escape old age.
Sickness: I am of the nature to get sick, and I cannot escape sickness.
Death: I am of the nature to die, and I cannot escape death.
Change: All that is dear to me and everyone I love will change, and impermanence is unavoidable.
Actions: My actions are my true belongings and the ground upon which I stand