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.