Dealing with Death –Lotus Link Humanistic Buddhism Class

On 21 April, Venerable Miao Yu led 5 members of the Lotus Link Humanistic Buddhism Class to explore the fourth of the eight sufferings: the suffering of death. The members have no idea about the process of death and what will happen after death. Venerable Miao Yu explained that our physical body is made up of the four elements: earth, water, fire and wind. Death begins with the sequential dissolution of wind (breathing stops), fire (temperature drops); water (fluids stop flowing), earth (stiffness of the body) and lastly the disassociation of the eight consciousness. The suffering of death is as painful as a tortoise being torn from its shell and the more a person is attached to worldly things, the more suffering they experience. Venerable Miao Yu encouraged everyone to continue to work hard in their daily practice towards Buddhahood and learn to be carefree from all worries.