Some notes on the Buddhist perspective of death by Tamara Tam-Cruickshank

I've known Mel for many years now. We've always had conversations about the 'deeper' matters of life. I was super interested to hear about her work as a death doula and the community called Death Cafe TT. I myself have long had a deep interest in the topic of death. Maybe this intrigue was sparked from a past life...one in which I was a mortician or a funeral director or worked in forensics. (I like to imagine I was in this field at some point, haha.) Since I was a child, I was fascinated in particular by the body after death. I can see now that my idea of death was vague and shallow. As an adult, I've been practicing Nichiren Shoshu, which is a Japanese form of Buddhism, for the past 12 years or so. 

One time, Mel and I spoke about me presenting on the topic of Death in Buddhism. I gave the presentation to a very kind, patient and open-minded audience, and was truly grateful for the responses from people who had never heard of some of these concepts. This post is a sort of follow up on a couple of questions that were asked, that I needed to clarify before answering.

One of the aspects I presented on was the concept of rebirth (reincarnation). Nichiren Shoshu Buddhists believe that the body and mind are one, and that when the body dies, the mind, or the person, also dies, meaning the person as we knew them, no longer exists, but will take another form, human or otherwise, in their next lifetime, depending on the karma they have created. This process takes 49 days and the person will be reborn as someone else on the 50th day. The 49 day period after death to the time of rebirth is crucial. Each 7th day for 49 days after death, the karma of an individual is judged until, on the 49th day, the decision is finally made as to who or what, where, etc., they will be reborn. Nichiren Shoshu Buddhists believe that we can create better circumstances in our future lives by chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (the universal mystic law) to the Gohonzon (a scroll that is the spiritual and physical manifestation of the Buddha). 

The 49 day lead up to rebirth is not like a judgment from a higher power (such as God etc.), but the life condition one is reborn into is based on an accumulation of causes made in one'a past life. In other words, one's new life is the overall effect or result of the accumulation of positive and negative causes made during one's previous lifetime, as well as it may or may not include those causes of lifetimes before the very last one. To sum up this point: It takes 49 days for all the accumulated karmic causes to be deciphered and reincarnated by the universal law of cause and effect. Buddhists offer toba memorials, prayers and incense on each of the 7th days as a way of caring for deceased loved ones after death, ensuring better circumstances in their next lifetime. 

Another interesting question during the presentation was from Barabara who asked: "Do Buddhists believe in ghosts?" I asked the chief priest, Reverend Takikawa about this. I am paraphrasing what he said here: The existence of ghosts in Buddhism is not denied. Ghosts are viewed as deceased who experience a very low life condition due to their accumulation of negative karma. The ghost is therefore unable to escape their attachment to the physical world and unable to free themselves from this interim state between life and death. We usually cannot perceive ghosts because our life condition is at a much higher level than theirs. 

I hope that these comments clarify the two points raised and that they give a little more insight into what I consider to be the wonderful world of Buddhist practice. For myself, I now understand the deep significance of death, not as an end, but as a continuation and a beginning - a further opportunity to create positive karma by positive actions. I also understand the meaning and importance of caring for my deceased ancestors, friends and even pets. We are all able to attain enlightenment even in death. 

If you want to learn more about Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, these sites are helpful: https://www.nichirenshoshu.or.jp/eng/taisekiji.html https://nstny.org/

You can also ask Mel for my contact. Thanks for your time!

Best wishes,

Tami