Buddhist View of Death: Condolences over the Death of a Law Student from the Faculty of Social Sciences

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the death of a student of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Buddhist concepts about death according to Buddhist beliefs. This study employs documents, research works, and interviews, and then present in the form of academic article. The results of the study found that Buddhism has a concept of death and consider the death as a tool for determining an attitude towards life which is called Marananussati. Hence, the death serves as a profound reminder, an awakening, and a form of self-expression in relation to carelessness, mindfulness, and caution under the three Laws, so called “arising - remaining - passing away,” as in the case of law student who died peacefully from a chronic illness. It is considered a loss that is not appropriate for one's age. But it is under the rules of the characteristics of Tilakkhana. Moreover, her passing reflects the laws of nature which calls the principle of Aniccalakkhana. It is a condition of changes and extinguish of all things in final.