Expert: Justin Choo - 4/22/2011

Question
Dear Justin Choo,
I am currently do a school project on religion and how it affects fear of death. I was wondering if you could be so kind as to answer my questions below:

1.   What happens to people after they die in the teachings of Buddha?

2.   If people are reincarnated over and over again, does that mean that their souls live forever?

3.    Can Buddhism help cope with the fear of death?

4.    Are people born with the fear of death, or do they learn it from their parents?

5.    When you are afraid of death, what are you actually afraid of?

Thank you for your consideration,
With the utmost respect,

-Zach

Answer
Hi Zach,

1. What happens to people after they die in the teachings of Buddha?
There are many realms of existence.  The two realms we can see here, humans and animal realms.  The rest we can't see.  There are heavenly realms where beings live happy lives for extremely long time.  But ultimately they will also die and reborn somewhere.  There are also the unhappy realms like unhappy spirits and hells.  So when people die, they are reborn in any of the realms depending on their storehouse of good and bad actions.

2. If people are reincarnated over and over again, does that mean that their souls live forever?
"Reincarnation" is a bit different from "rebirth".  The Tibetan Buddhists believe in reincarnation, but the Buddha taught "rebirth".  The difference is in the concept of "soul", which takes on an unchanging and permanent being who is born again and again maintaining the same "soul", and this process is "reincarnation".  The actual Buddhist concept is rebirth, where existence is a process without a permanent unchanging soul.  It's just like the electric current taking on new bulbs when the old ones are blown. The bulbs are different but the electric current is an on-going energy.  The bulbs are like our physical bodies, and the electric current is like our storehouse of consciousness that gives "birth" to life.

So you can say that reincarnation means that the souls live forever.  But rebirth means that the life continuum goes on but the lives are not exactly the same nor are they completely different.


3.Can Buddhism help cope with the fear of death?
Frankly most people fear death.  I wouldn't say I am not fearful.  However, with proper understanding of life and existence, a well-informed Buddhist should be able to come to terms with death when the time comes. This means we need to understand clearly, the teachings of the Buddha in respect to what this life is all about.


4.Are people born with the fear of death, or do they learn it from their parents?
I cannot comment on this based on any finding.  But from my experience I would say that humans have a higher level of consciousness and as they grow they are made aware of death, which will bring fear.  This is a very natural and universal process.   


5. When you are afraid of death, what are you actually afraid of?
You are afraid of the unknown.  You are afraid of losing this physical body.  

Hope this helps.

May you be successful in your studies.

Take care.

Justin Choo