Expert: Joe McSorley - 10/15/2003

Question
Would you say that this motto is relevant for Buddhism:
Illness and Death are part of life's circle

We need to identify different religions or cultures for an assignment, but I am not quite sure.
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Barbara,
 Sorry for the delay for some reason AllExperts no longer sends me my questions.  Yes, Buddhism could say that but more accurately it would say it is the cycle of life and death.  The way it's articulated in your formation it makes illness and death part of life's cycle as if life were above it.  In the Buddhist sense it's the cycle of living/dying or death/rebirth (though not necessarily meaning reincarnation).  So illness and death are part of the cycle of living/dying and the object of Buddhism is to overcome that cycle.
  Take care,
             Joe