Most people think reflecting on their own death would be depressing. Why focus on something so bleak? Surprisingly, thinking about death can actually make you happier and a better person.
In a UK experiment, participants were asked to think about death abstractly, picture their own death, or imagine having a toothache as a control. They then read an article about blood donations, some stating donations were high and the need was low, and others stating the opposite. They were offered a pamphlet for quick registration at a blood center, only if they intended to donate.
People who thought about death abstractly were influenced by the article about blood shortages and were more likely to take the pamphlet. However, those who imagined their own death were likely to take the pamphlet regardless of the article—they wanted to donate no matter what.
Reflecting on your own death helps you focus on what truly matters in life. It aligns with teachings like those from Buddha, which encourage frequent reflection on mortality for a well-lived life.
A comment on Facebook mentioned Terror Management Theory (TMT), a branch of psychology about how we deal with the fear of death. It often shows that subtle reminders of death can make people rigid and cling to beliefs like nationalism and religion. However, there’s a difference between abstract thoughts about death, which can cause anxiety, and specific thoughts about personal death, which can enhance life quality. For instance, thinking about a spouse’s future death can make you appreciate them more and overlook their minor flaws.
If you think about death generally, some part of you might resist it, hoping it won’t happen to you. Accepting your own death removes these internal battles, leaving you to ponder how to make the most of your remaining time.
Contemplating death is beneficial in many ways. It offers existential and emotional insights and can foster important family discussions. No one wants to die, but it’s a universal destiny. Death is an essential part of life, clearing the old to make way for the new.
I’m planning a research project on death contemplation and its effects on happiness for my Master’s in psychology. Existing studies use scenarios like imagining being caught in a fire to evoke a near-death experience. However, this might not be quite the same as contemplating death itself.
I struggle to find a proper reference on administering death contemplation, especially since methods vary widely. Any help on this would be appreciated.
There isn’t detailed guidance in early Buddhist teachings on how to reflect on death, but it suggests reflecting on the inevitability of aging, illness, and death, and on being the owner of our actions.
Here’s what we are encouraged to observe: aging and death in all beings, recognizing our own susceptibility to aging, illness, and death, understanding we will be separated from everything dear, and acknowledging our actions’ consequences.
Thank you for your detailed response. When reflecting on illness, what does “have not gone beyond illness” mean? I understand the part about death clearly.
The traditional view is that enlightenment frees one from rebirth and illness, but a more practical interpretation is that an enlightened person might experience illness without mental suffering.
This discussion was very helpful. I plan to use these reflections to create a thought-provoking process for my study, keeping it systematic as required by scientific methods. Thanks for your prompt and constructive responses.