Death, according to Buddhism, is the cessation of the…
““Death, according to Buddhism, is the cessation of the psycho-physical life of any one individual existence. It is the passing away of vitality (āyu), i.e., psychic and physical life (jivitindriya), heat (usma) and consciousness (viññāṇa). Death is not the complete annihilation of a being, for though a particular life-span ends, the force which hitherto actuated it is not destroyed. Just as an electric light is the outward visible manifestation of invisible electric energy, so we are the outward manifestations of invisible Kammic energy. The bulb may break, and the light may be extinguished, but the current remains and the light may be reproduced in another bulb. In the same way, the Kammic force remains undisturbed by the disintegration of the physical body, and the passing away of the present consciousness leads to the arising of a fresh one in another birth. But nothing unchangeable or permanent "passes" from the present to the future.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Buddhist view: death ends the physical-psychic life but not the underlying karmic energy, which persists and can manifest anew.
In simple terms: Death ends the body, not the karmic force.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate positive karma for future rebirths.
Themes
spirituality
death
rebirth
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
Buddhism:1
Death:1
Electric light:0
Life:1
Passing away:1
Physical body:1
Light Extinguished:0
Physical Life:1
Existence Passing:0
Buddhism Cessation:1
When to use this quote
- end‑of‑life care
- meditation practice
- ethical living
Key Concepts
karma
impermanence
energy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does belief in rebirth shape moral choices?
- What evidence supports karmic continuity?
A Different Perspective
Karmic continuity is a belief, not empirically proven.