UNDERSTANDING DEATH AND DYING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THERAVĀDA BUDDHISM WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SCHOLARSHIP FROM MYANMAR

Authors

  • Nyānavamsa
  • Mohammad Manzoor Malik

Abstract

This article is an investigation of ideas concerning death
and dying in in the context of Theravada Buddhism. It
draws especially from scholarship in Manaymar. Both
physical Death and the process of dying can be understoood
as products of impermenance. The Pali canon while
recognizing that death is beyond understanding in ordinary
language, understands death from the concept of continuity.
Myanmar scholars have understood the dying process in
Buddhism as involving mental processes and conciousness.
Death is a stage in the process which extends to the next
life. They therefore place an emphasis on the importance
of consciousness prior to death. The ultimate goal is
deathlessness or Nibbana which is achieved with the help
of meditation.

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Published

2023-04-12

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 1 (2023): January to June 2023

Section

Articles

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