Modern Interpretations of Zen Buddhist Teachings

Performing funerals is one of the duties of a Zen Buddhist priest,  and so they normally must confront death several times each year.  Although in today’s world, at least among developed nations, death  and aging are isolated from most people’s daily lives, sensing our own  aging and death and thus embracing the concept of non-permanency  is necessary when we discuss life. Without discussing how we would  like to age and die, we are not able to discuss how to live happier and  more meaningful lives. Physical death affects us all, and we must accept  it. However, there is another form of death, separate from physical  death: social death. Social death is what can happen when people  lose meaningful connections with others. Social and physical death  are not always concurrent and some of us will not even face a social  death. But some might face their social death before they face physical  death. People become isolated, cut off from the vital network of social  connections that sustains the human spirit. How does this happen,  and how can it be prevented? This session discusses how compassion  toward others and ourselves can influence interpersonal relationships  and how that influences social and physical death. Buddhist wisdom  tells us that it is important to be present, but it is also necessary to  discuss death and what most influences the end of our journeys.