Maraṇasati (mindfulness of death, death awareness) is a Buddhist meditation practice of remembering (frequently keeping in mind) that death can strike at anytime (AN 6.20), and we should practice assiduously appamada and with urgency in every moment, even in the time it takes to draw one breath. What is the meditation on death? Essentially, maranasati meditation consists of a series of Buddhist mindfulness of death practices, ranging from contemplation of the ever-present potential for death at any moment, to deeper contemplations, to the eventual breakdown of the body during the death process. How do Buddhist view death? Buddhists believe death is a natural part of the life cycle. They believe that death simply leads to rebirth. This belief in reincarnation – that a person's spirit remains close by and seeks out a new body and new life – is a comforting and important principle. Awareness of our mortality is not something we commonly contemplate in today’s modern society. We tend to steer clear of this difficult yet important topic for reasons that are understandable. Contemplating death can spark feelings of fear or anxiety, which can be quite uncomfortable. However, mindfulness of death is a powerful practice that, when explored with care, can actually help us to live life more fully.
