How do Buddhist deal with death on a personal level?

[GiveMeFreedom]

The reason I ask, is I am closer to the grave, with a incurable cancer and it's been 2 1/2 years since that fateful day I got the news. I consider reincarnation a big part of my personal belief system and I think the Buddha was closer to the truth about our mundane lives than other philosophers of his caliber. Some days I feel like a rotting piece of flesh, other days I feel better. There seems to be more flesh days than better days as of late, the doctor said I had 6 months to live, that was 2 months ago. I try to laugh at least once each day, honestly and not take myself to serious. It's just a vessel,a journey, an ending, a beginning. Man, have I squashed a lot of bugs, believing I am sending each to an early birth, instead of having to live in a monster world. Strange?

[grantcart]

1. Very sorry to hear about your cancer.

Living in Asia for 20 years with most of that time in Thailand I was struck by not only how different they viewed death and the afterlife, but by how different it was from what was commonly characterized in the West.

Their understanding of the world is not an act of faith, like it is in the West, where one endeavors to study and accept a doctrine.

They simply understand in reincarnation in the same way that we understand the Sun will rise in the East and set in the West.

It is simply part of the landscape.

I was surprised at how little they spoke of reincarnation. Anyone who claims to remember passed lives is considered a charlatan. While they think that all beings are related they really don't put much weight into animals reincarnating up or we reincarnating down, although it might be theoretically possible.

As science progresses we begin to understand that there may be different forms of reincarnation. We now know that our genes are 'reincarnated'.

In the same way our 'body' is reincarnated if we understand our body not to be the physical body but the body of our being, like Shakespeare's plays are the body of his writing. All of these years you have been putting together your body of work, inspiring and encouraging. That body will be reincarnated into your family and friends life experiences and continue to live.

You have one additional chance to add to that body and that is by continuing to be brave and hopeful and share your love with those that love you.

Will your soul be held and be given another vessel. We don't know and if it is you will not be able to remember this cycle.

So you can still be the author of the last chapter of this cycle, this body. You might be able to show a path that others will want to follow when their time comes. This might be the best chapter of your body of work.

I don't know that if you are able to travel but if you are and would like to consult with an American Monk I would strongly recommend that you investigate:

http://watmetta.org/

It is in Escondido and they have a lodge that you can stay free with a sleeping bag and meditate and consult with the Abbot Jeff.

I hope that you find the peace that you are looking for.

Namaste, my friend.

[onestepforward]

2. Not so strange about killing bugs.

I don't like to kill them, but when I have to, I always wish them a higher rebirth

I'm so sorry about your cancer. I don't have very much knowledge about rebirth. I do think it's interesting that energy isn't created or destroyed, but transforms and I've wondered if this could be related.

I can offer you my deepest wishes of peace, comfort and love.


(added)
Ajahn Brahm is one of my favorite teachers. I haven't listened to this particular talk yet, but he is very good and I thought you might be interested:

[Newest Reality]

3. I won't speak for buddhists or others,

but my humble suggestion, for your benefit, is to go for, find and immerse yourself in "definitive" teachings at this stage.

Provisional teachings are relative and contextual. Considering your place in the journey now, this is a wonderful time to consider the definitive and that, I will leave to you to discover if you so choose to do.

Having read your current perspective, you really don't seem to need much more other than to relax and open fully to the true nature of what is, of course, ineffable. How you go from here is a pattern that is full with all meaning and, like they say, the "real thing" where all pretenses and contrivances can be comfortably let go of and you may be truly ready for the breaking of the shell of concepts and and your liberation from the cage of beliefs.

While you may think you are "going somewhere", where is there to go? While you may believe in birth and death, who is it that is born and dies? I don't mean that to be disrespectful, nor am I conveying it in any way that condescends your current understanding in view.

In a sense, I can express a joy for your meaningful experience and how much potential there is for joy to unfold for you and how the gentle breeze of pure pleasure already blows around you on the path that is always beneath your feet.

Good fortune to you and profound peace in unimaginable vastness, clear and luminous, timelessly natural and all good, always! Beyond hope and fear even now.

[GiveMeFreedom]

4. Thank you

for sharing and teaching, for the well wishes and hopeful future. Peace.