Introduction
Some of the most interesting ideas about afterlife come from the ancient Chinese culture and the Buddhist religion. The close relationship between Chinese culture and Buddhism provides some intriguing insights into heaven and hell. Although Buddhism was introduced into China from India, some of the values of the Indian culture were not easy to understand, and this facilitated the modification of teachings of Buddha to fit the Chinese traditions and practices. The end result was Chinese Buddhism that was unique in some aspects. According to the Chinese Buddhists, death does not signify the end of life rather it is a continuation of a life and birth cycle.
Similarities between Ancient Chinese Culture and Buddhism on the Concepts of Afterlife
For the Chinese, the concept of afterlife did not espouse after the advent of Buddhism. In fact, archaeological evidence discovered in 1970’s revealed that ancient Chinese culture (specifically, the Han Dynasty) had interesting ideas about afterlife. For example, artifacts excavated from the tombs of Mawangtui revealed that the ancient Chinese had a conception for heaven and hell. Scholars who observed the artifacts opined that the midsection of the tombs depicted a ritual known as fu. This was a purgatory ritual whereby one of the family members to the deceased would climb the roof of the eastern of the house, turn north and call the name of the deceased while holding a piece of cloth belonging to the deceased. The exercise would then be repeated three times, after which the person would climb down using the west side of the house. The basis of the ritual was the belief that the soul has two distinct parts – hun and p’o.
After death, it was believed, the souls would separate with one of the souls dissenting to hell while the other soul ascended to heaven. The Chinese people believed that death occurred after the hun soul left the body. Therefore, if the hun soul returned to the body, life would be restored. The ritual would then be conducted to return the hun soul to the body. If the ritual failed, the deceased would then be laid to rest. With the advent of Buddhism, Chinese Buddhists adjusted some of the Buddha teachings to fit in well with their tradition.
Conception of Afterlife According to Chinese Buddhists
There is a consensus among the Chinese Buddhists that life does not begin at conception because, in reality, people exist even before they are born. In the same way, life does not end after death because another form of life exists after death. This indicates that there is a life-death cycle that continues endlessly. With this background, the Chinese Buddhists call on people to develop true awareness of death. Awareness is one of the key concepts of the Buddhist religion. The Chinese Buddhists believe that awareness of death, as well as awareness of other important concepts, is the key to greater appreciation of life.
Types of Death
The Chinese Buddhists believe in three types of deaths. The first one is the end of life. The Buddhists believe that all people have to die, no matter how long they live. The number of years people live depends on their past karma. After the life given by karma is finished, people have to die. Karma gives the fuel each individual life. For example, if karma gives fuel for seventy years, the individual has to dies once that fuel is consumed, there is no alternative. However, life is not determined by karma only. Other things such current actions during one’s life play a great role in determining how long an individual may live. For example, if an individual does not take care of himself/herself, they may end dying of starvation.
The second type of death involves exhaustion of merit. These merits include basic commodities such as shelter, clothing and food. Sometimes, death can occur before attaining old age because of exhausting one’s merits. For example, death may occur because of anger. The last type of death according to the Chinese Buddhists is death at a period when one should not die. For example, sickness, floods and accidents may cut an individual’s life short.
Cycle of Life and Death
According to the Chinese Buddhists, the cycle of life and death is determined by karma. Karma refers to the energy that individuals leave behind because of their actions. The reason why we exist as humans in this life is because of our past karma. Conversely, the good and the bad karma of this life affect our future existence. The major influence of people’s future existence is a strong karma. According to the Chinese Buddhists, at the point of death, the good and the bad karma developed throughout one’s life appears before them. Depending on the thoughts that arise, the victim’s next life will be determined by the strongest karma - good or evil.
For other people, they may not have an extremely good or bad karma. In such a situation, habitual experience becomes the major determinant of none’s fate. For example, if the individual had accumulated many minor evil actions, then, an evil result would be produced. Conversely, when minor good deeds are accumulated, a good result is bound to occur.
The last thing that determines an individual’s next life is the last thought. For some people, they may not explicitly show evil deeds or established habitual actions. In such a scenario, the last thought, whether good or evil, influences the individual’s next life. It is for this reason that Buddhists encourage recitation of certain precepts that would assist in developing good thoughts all the time.
Conceptions of afterlife according to Taoism and Confucianism
Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism are all religions practiced in the ancient China. Although there are some similarities between the religions, there are also many points of divergence. For example, unlike Chinese Buddhism that advocates for the belief of life after death, Taoists are not concerned about life after death. They believe that afterlife does not exist because in life people are eternal. Therefore, afterlife occurs within life itself.
Confucianism on the other hand tends to focus more on ethics and morality than on matters to do with death. Most of its teachings concentrate on life here on earth. The belief is that people understand too little about life on earth, and it is a waste of time thinking about afterlife. This means that Confucianism does expressly deal with life after death. Consequently, Confucianism does not deal with heaven and hell.
Conclusion
Chinese Buddhism regards afterlife highly, unlike other contemporary religions found within the Chinese culture. The main belief is that afterlife matters a lot, hence the need to be aware of what death entails in order to be ready for it. The belief that there is hell and heaven encourages the faithful to lead good lives while on earth because failure to do so leads to afterlife in hell. There is also a strong belief that karma plays a major role in determining the direction of one’s after life. Just like in the ancient Chinese culture where purgatory rituals were carried out to restore one’s soul, the Chinese Buddhists also believe in the need for purifying one’s energy by reciting certain precepts that would develop good last thoughts and a stand chance of a good rebirth.
Bibliography
Becker, Carl B. Breaking the Circle: Death and the Afterlife in Buddhism. Carbondale, IL : SIU
Press , 1993.
D'Souza, Dinesh. Life After Death: The Evidence. Washington D.C : Regnery Publishing, 2009.
Hodus, Lewis. Buddhism and Buddhists in China. London : The Floating Press, 2009.
