Expert: Bodhicitta - 8/27/2008

Question
How do you overcome the fear of death completely?  And how do you overcome everything type of calamity and obstacles completely?

Answer
Hi Henry
This is a good question.

In Tibetan Buddhism there are many stories of great teachers of the past
who have over come the fear of death. There is of course the historic Buddha in India too - who died without fear. In Tibet there is Milarepa
the great yogin who lived in the mountains and became a Buddha in one life time through the practices of Tibetan Buddhism. He said that he
did not fear death. However when talking to others who hadn't realized
and practiced he told them they should fear death because death, karma and rebirth can lead one to a painful situation. Contemplating this is what drives Buddhists to practice while they are alive. The Buddha when he was a young man saw four messages: he saw a sick man, an old man, a dead man and an ascetic. these messages are what drove him to seek enlightenment. Milarepa killed people when he was  young man. The fear
of the bad karma and rebirth due to his bas actions led him to seek
enlightenment.

Buddhism is a path from fearing death to not fearing death. Who should not fear death at all, Buddha's .

Best wishes
Bodhicitta