The spiritual importance of dying
As we have seen it the discussion on the concept of life, Buddhism considers every moment in life of great importance, for it is the moment in which one constructs one's own destiny, More emphasis, however, is placed on the last moment in life, or the dying process, in which all the five aggregates of existence are disintegrating. For in Buddhist thought in this last moment the last stage of consciousness (cuti vinana) of one's life is passing away to give place to a new stage of consciousness (patisanthi vinana), which will form another life by its new association with the new aggregates of existence. Even if the character of the new life is affected by the whole previous life, the nature of the last conscious state still contributes significantly to the quality of the ensuing one. If it is wholesome (kusala), this will produce a wholesome inauguration of the new life. Similarly, if it is unwholesome (akusala), the ensuing new life will be unwholesomely inaugurated.
Consequently, it is of great importance that special care should be given to enable the dying to die a "good death" i.e. a calm, and happy peaceful death which will occur only when the mind of the dying is clear and subtle, never be impaired by analgesics or sedatives. Impairment by drugs would affect the consciousness of the dying person and make it impossible to fill his mind with wholesome and happy thought.
In this respect Buddhism enriches the philosophy of the hospice movement, devoted to the full physical, psychological, social and special care of the dying, and reaffirms the significance of the dignity and importance of death and the need for spiritual care. Buddhism also teaches that removing one's thought focused on the pain of death can be done through specific meditations, which are usually mastered only after years of practice. By using these specific meditations one can transform oneself into a state of painlessness. In order to reach this understanding one has to be prepared to devote oneself to the study and the practice of meditation. Without his long and arduous effort no one can ever reach the stage. As this power is available to very few, the question of withholding pain-killing drugs and sedatives from those who have not made such preparation is a serious one.