Ways to cope with death
Buddhism places death at the heart of the human predicament while also recognizing it as the primary solution to this predicament. This religion has maintained that one cannot find liberation from the human predicament by denying death but only by confronting it. Therefore Buddhism does not condone a melancholic reaction to the death of those dear to us. What is necessary when death occurs is that we understand its meaning and cope with it in a realistic and intelligent manner.
As a means of solving the predicament of death Buddhism has developed special systematic techniques of meditative methods, called moranasati and asubha bhavana, to enable us to face the fact of our death with equanimity and understanding and ultimately to attain mibbana, in which there is neither life nor death. These meditations are concerned with concentration on the idea of death (moranasati) and actual observation of decomposing corpses (asubha bhavana). Through progressive stages of confronting and comprehending death the meditator is led towards control and freedom. The meditations give him an increased sense of non-attachment towards himself and the world as well as more control over his own mental development. In addition, these meditations further the process of freedom or liberation by revealing the impermanent and substantial nature of existence. As a result he is moved towards liberating wisdom (vijja)16 that would free himself from the clutch of the illusory Ego and its selfish desires, particularly the lust for life (bhava tanha), the craving for sensual pleasure (kama tanha), and the craving for the immaterial sphere (vibhava tanha)17 and ultimately from the wheel of life and death.