Gudo Nishijima on Death in Buddhism

Buddhist priest Gudo Nishijima answers questions on Buddhism's ideas about death.

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• Gudo
• Nishijima
• Buddhism
• Zen
• death

[MrG00dbytes]

Yes he did. I think what he meant was that ultimately, death is a natural consequence of life. It is inevitable and it is that inevitibility that gives meaning to life. Imagine if there was no death, how much meaning would life have? Would we still cherish it the way we do now? Would every moment, every 64th of a finger-snap still be as precious and as beautiful as it is now? A rose is beautiful not in spite of the fact that it will fade, but because we know it will fade.

[MrG00dbytes]

There IS one coin, but in our deluded states, we see two sides. Death and life are the coin, but we see them, falsely, as opposing conditions. As Dogen said, "even though it is midnight, dawn is here; even though dawn comes, it is nighttime."

[PeaceWithTheseEyes]

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[Opetlao]

"energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another." then we all would just be in samsara with no hope. I believe the aim here for Siddhartha was to get away from forms? Not to be reconvert again and again? Study under a former student who study under Gudo for 20 years. I questions.

[hceggeberth]

I don't mean to be rude Opetlao...We might be able to have a very interesting discussion face-to-face, but I don't think youtube - or anywhere on the internet - is the right place for it...And I've got to do some shopping!

Perhaps we can agree that --

Both of us have projected our own ideas onto Gudo's words.

No one knows what happens after death.

This life, here and now, is real.

All the best :)

[Opetlao]

@hceggeberth Oh I see, 20 years with the Zen master, let me ask you something. How did you came up the concept that he just said "energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another." To me looking at a scientific point of view I would agree with you but base on Buddhism I have to challenge that ideas.

if that was the case then what's the point of even praticing Zen or Buddhism? That was the case then what's the point of the Siddhartha reaching Buddha?

[Opetlao]

We can not talk about death without the mentioned of the body and mind/spirit and the state of consciousness. I assumed that you are familure with Buddhism. I agree that the Buddha don't believe in ATMAN that is Hindus, but it doesn't mean that the Buddha or Buddhism doesn't believe in the existing consciouness. Because ATMAN to a lot of people, meaning that there's a existing being who going to look like them after they died, a soul. Far as the Buddha said he said there's no ANATA.

[hceggeberth]

@Opetlao. Forgive me for interrupting, but your comments "Even though he never mentioned...I assume that he already thinking..." says a lot. We should be careful about assuming what others must mean, even though we all do it! My assumptions about what Gudo means are based are a few years study and practice with one of his dharma-heirs who studied with him for over 20 years - perhaps my assumptions are nearer the mark than yours...

Whatever Gudo means, you and I can still believe what we like!

[Opetlao]

First let me start with Gudo statement answer from 3:28 even though he give it a simple example you have to look at live and death carefully to have an insight into the nature of of birth and death. Even though he never mentioned about body, mind, spirit and consciousness, I assume that he already thinking that the questioner already have some knowledge about these four parts of the human being. And he just use the water and foam as a simple example. Now let me explain about Death.

[Opetlao]

@hceggeberth Ok, I see now that I turn the volume up, he did say foam instead of form but either way it is still the same concept of what im saying. The point to the grasp from his answer to time frame 3:28 is that what will dissapear or goes away is the body not the natural state such as consciousness. I know that he didn't use the word consciousness. But we can't talk about death or birth without consciousness involve. I agree that there's no Atman. Let me explain.

[hceggeberth]

Opetlao - I hear Gudo saying that WHATEVER life (the foam) is, it is part of the Universe (the river). When the body (AND consciousness) 'dies', whatever it was is still part of the Universe; "energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another." That's not the same thing as the belief in a separate "spiritual" reality, inhabited by a separate soul, spirit, self or consciousness.

Of course, Gudo - and the Buddha - might be wrong!

:)

[hceggeberth]

Thanks for your reply, Opetlao. It is true that many who call themselves Buddhist believe that a separate 'soul', 'spirit' or 'consciousness' continues after the body stops working - but Gudo would disagree. The belief in such things (ATMAN in Sanskrit) is a Hindu belief, not a Buddhist one. Neither does he believe that this life, this body is an "illusional state". Of course, you are free to believe as you wish - but that's not what Gudo is saying :)