TECHNIQUES FOR OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF DEATH ACCORDING TO BUDDHISM
Lauw Acep, Ida Bagus Gde Yudha Triguna, I Gusti Bagus Wirawan, Sutrisno Sutrisno
Vidyottama Sanatana: International Journal of Hindu Science and Religious Studies October 31, 2025 DOI: 10.25078/vidyottama.v9i2.4854 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 108 |
| Population | Students from Nalanda Institute who study textual analysis of Buddhist scriptures |
| Topics | Anxiety Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Impermanence Ignorance Existentialism Perspective graphical Transcendence philosophy Psychotherapist Death anxiety Fear of death Qualitative research Epistemology Apprehension Gautama buddha Panic Psychoanalysis Aesthetics |
| Key findings | The fear of death in Buddhism is rooted in attachment and ignorance, and can be reduced through mindfulness, insight meditation, and cultivation of wisdom. |
Abstract
The fear of death is a fundamental existential issue that has been widely discussed in psychology, philosophy, and religious studies. This dissertation explores the phenomenon of death anxiety from the perspective of Buddhism, which offers a unique approach to understanding and overcoming the fear of death. Using a qualitative methodology, data was collected through in-depth interviews with 108 students from Nalanda Institute who study textual analysis of Buddhist scriptures, including the Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma, and Visuddhimagga. The research findings indicate that the fear of death in Buddhism is primarily rooted in attachment (tanha) and ignorance (avijja), which lead to suffering (dukkha). However, through practices such as mindfulness (sati), insight meditation (vipassana), and the cultivation of wisdom (panna), individuals can gain a deeper understanding of impermanence (anicca), thereby reducing their anxiety about death. Additionally, Buddhist concepts such as death, karma, and their implications in overcoming the fear of death play a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward mortality. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of meditation practices, the application of the Noble Eightfold Path found in the Sutta Pitaka, as well as an understanding of the nature of the mind as explained in the Abhidhamma and the path of purification (Visuddhimagga). With consistent practice, one can attain a state of inner peace in facing death.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... | 2017 | Qualitative study with mixed-methods | |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Anger regulation in traumatized Cambodian refugees: the perspectives of Buddhist monks. Buddhist Cambodian monks in Massachusetts | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 6 |
| The Lived Experiences of Experienced Vipassana Mahasi Meditators: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators | 2018 | Qualitative study |