PERSONAL AND CULTURAL BELIEFS

Why might people be afraid of death?  You are invited to take a moment to jot down different fears you may have about death.

 

Some Fears of Death (what else can you name?):

1. Grief to Family and Friends

2. Missing out after death

   1. Not seeing loved ones go through major life events (graduation, marriage, etc.)

   2. Unfinished projects

   3. Unfinished to do lists

3. The physical death process

   1. Pain and suffering

   2. Being a burden

   3. Losing control of the body functions

4. Who will take care of the people I leave behind?

5. The Afterlife

6. What happens to my body

7. What happens to all my stuff

8. Not living a life fully lived

 

Reflect on and be prepared to discuss the Nine Contemplations on Death, developed by Atisha, an 11th Century Buddhist Scholar and found in Being with Dying by Joan Halifax:

1. Death is inevitable

2. The lifespan is ever decreasing

3. Death comes whether or not I am prepared

4. My life span is not fixed

5. Death has many causes

6. My body is fragile and vulnerable

7. My material resources will be of no use to me

8. My loved ones cannot save me

9. My own body cannot help me when death comes

 

Five Tasks of Living to Prepare for a Peaceful Dying 

(from Facing Death and Finding Hope by Christine Longaker)

1. Find meaning in your life

2. Heal your relationships

   1. Thank you

   2. I love you

   3. Please forgive me

   4. I forgive you

3. Find meaning in suffering and ways to transcend suffering

4. Build a personal relationship with death

5. Make preparations for death

living.