Modes of Birth and Death - The Buddhist perspective
The Paticca-Samuppada or Dependent Origination describes the
process of rebirth in subtle technical terms and assigns death to one of the
following four causes:
1. Exhaustion of the Reproductive Kammic energy (kamma
kkhaya) :
The Buddhist Doctrine teaches that a thought, volition, or
desire, which is extremely strong during lifetime, becomes predominant at the
time of death and conditions the subsequent birth. In this last thought-process
is present a special potentiality. When the potential energy of this
Reproductive (janaka) Kamma is exhausted, the organic activities of the
material form in which is embodied the life-force, cease even before the end of
the life-span in that particular place. This often happens in the case of
beings who are born in states of misery (apaya) but it can happen in other
planes too.
2. The expiration of the life-term (ayukkhaya) :
which varies in different planes. Natural deaths, due to old
age, may be classed under this category. There are different planes of
existence with varying age limits. Irrespective of the Kammic force that has
yet to run, one must, however, succumb to death when the maximum age-limit is
reached. If the Reproductive Kammic force is extremely powerful, the Kammic
energy. rematerialises itself in the same plane or, as in the case of Devas, in
some higher realm.
3. The simultaneous exhaustion of the Reproductive Kammic
energy and the expiration of the life-term (ubhaya kkhaya).
4. The opposing action of a stronger Kamma unexpectedly
obstructing the flow of the Reproductive Kamma before the life-term expires
(upacchedaka-kamma).
Sudden untimely deaths of persons and the deaths of children
are due to this cause. A more powerful opposing force can check the path of a
flying arrow and bring it down to the ground. So a very powerful Kammic force
of the past is capable of nullifying the potential energy of the last
thought-process, and may thus destroy the psychic life of the being. The death
of Venerable Devadatta, for instance, was due to a Destructive Kamma which he
committed during his lifetime.
The first three are collectively called timely deaths
(kala-marana), and the fourth is known as untimely death(akala-marana). An oil
lamp, for instance, may get extinguished owing to any of the following four
causes namely, the exhaustion of the wick, the exhaustion of oil, simultaneous
exhaustion of both wick and oil, or some extraneous cause like a gust of wind.
So may death be due to any of the foregoing four causes.
May all beings be well and happy & attain the fruits of
Nibbana.
Suranda Weediyage
BA, Tripitakachariya, Dip in Pali/ Buddhism (Pali & Buddhist University of Sri Lanka), HNDBF,
surandalk@gmail.com
http://www.thebuddhadhamma.wordpress.com
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