A Study on Death Education in Buddhism

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 새한철학회
· 수록지 정보 : 철학논총 / 60권 / 2호 / 3 ~ 35페이지
· 저자명 : 강기선

초록

Concept of ‘birth and death’ makes human both happy and fearful in all ages. Thus we say, ‘Our birth might come in a chronological order, but our death does not.’It is not easy to define death in one sentence. Because we all are alive, and none of us has experienced death in first hand. Human cannot understand death; we only can observe it from other’s dying. Given that human only can study death from outside but never can be inside of it, this essay is constructed in following order. Chapter ii startswith the general definition on death, then philosophical interpretation, and ends with Buddhism s points of view on death. Chapter iii studies the precedent researches and starting point of death education in Buddhism. And examines methods of studies such as and education by śraddhā and by dhyana asceticism. Also reviews education by ceremony and composition in following categories, 1) upoṣdha done during life time hoping to rebirth in sukhavati’ 2) 49 days upoṣdha, 3) sangjukwongong upoṣdha, 4) youngsan upoṣdha.
Based on above, I suggest ideal and assignment on death education in Buddhism. From these studies I concluded that nirvana is the ideal of education. Nevertheless, attachment to life is a very strong instinct for every single human being and death is an inevitable accident that nobody can avoid. Therefore the stronger attachment to the life, the stronger the fear of death. Besides, even today’s frontier modern science can’t conquer death. We only can extend our life by a few years from the help of medical science. The shadow of death always hangs down our life no matter what we do to avoid it. Buddhism suggests “Three Dharna Seals”, “The Four Noble Truth” and “The 12 dependent origination” as methods to overcome death. We should pay kin attention that by stating ‘suffer’ first among the four noble truth, showing practice of noble eightfold path(āryāṣṭāṅgika-mārga) is truly the way to attain nirvana. Accordingly death education in Buddhism should be based on above mentioned thoughts thoroughly. Because without basic understanding on Buddhism, the effect of death education would be like the house built on sands, very easy to be destroyed. However, proper death education in unision with śraddhā and ceremony with Buddhism understanding of death can serve society by helping terminally ill patients and their families.

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