A Peaceful Death: How the Buddha Praised One Who Strives Diligently

When the monk Tissa heard that the Buddha would enter nirvana in four months, he suddenly fell silent, withdrew from everyone, and practiced diligently day and night. Among the community, his attitude led others to misunderstand him as eccentric. But the Buddha praised him:

"Tissa, knowing that he will soon be apart from the Tathagata, never to see the Tathagata again, and knowing he has not yet attained the path, is pouring his strength into practice. Such a person is one who truly cherishes and reveres the Tathagata."

This small story opens a great lesson on diligence and a peaceful death.

What is genuine diligence?

Tissa's diligence was not for showing off or proving himself better than others. He simply feared that if the Buddha entered nirvana before he had attained the path, he would be left adrift. It was precisely this motivation that made his diligence pure and worthy of praise. By contrast, someone who practices pretending to be diligent just to earn others' admiration has a mind of arrogance and ambition. Teacher Thich Chan Quang warns: "Those whose diligence is not genuine, who merely put on airs of being better than others, are in great danger—they can very easily go mad."

Two worthy goals of a human life

While healthy, people dream of money, power, and fame. But facing death, everyone has only one remaining wish: to die peacefully, without torment. So from this very moment, let us aim for two worthy goals: first, to live in a way that is truly useful to others, and second, to pass away with true ease. To die easily, we must plant the seeds now.

Five causes and effects (karmic law) for a peaceful death

Contemplate the impermanence (anicca) of the body: "One who sits in meditation regularly contemplating the impermanence of the body is planting the seed to die with ease." One who sits in meditation each day, aware of the breath, relaxing body and mind, is preparing for the final moment.

Have at least once been willing to sacrifice your life for a great cause: If even once in your life you sincerely think of giving your life to save others or to accomplish something great, that seed is enough to help you die gently.

Do not cling to life and fear death: Clinging to life and fearing death is the instinct of all beings. A person of wisdom must extinguish this mind, not clinging to existence, so that when the body fails, the mind no longer delays.

Live selflessly and practice letting go: Do not hoard wealth, fame, or gain. Live selflessly, share with others, and accumulate blessings from merit. "One of great merit dies easily, while one heavy with karma dies with difficulty."

Attain the power of concentration in meditative concentration: Like the meditation masters who could die standing or die sitting at will. But this power of concentration requires the foundation of the four previous factors.

Solitary dwelling and communal living: The strength of a practitioner

The Buddha often praised those with the strength to live in solitude. Human beings have a very strong need for social contact. Living alone for a long time can drive us mad. But one with spiritual power abides peacefully in meditative concentration, without sorrow. Teacher Chan Quang points out two strengths one needs: "First, solitary dwelling—living in peace without sadness. Second, communal living—dwelling together without conflict." To live within a community without creating discord, without comparing or competing, is the strength of a practitioner.

Precepts and attachment to rules: The trap of mistaken diligence

Many people misunderstand keeping precepts as rigid, mechanical clinging. The teacher tells the story of a nun who sat in meditation without speaking, allowing a thief to take the temple's precious bicycle simply because she was attached to the rule "do not move." That is attachment to precepts, without wisdom. Keeping precepts correctly means being flexible, with morality as the foundation. One who truly keeps the precepts does not look down on those who break them. "One who does a good deed and then criticizes those who have not yet done it is being cruel." Do not let the teachings turn us into harsh people. Open your heart with compassion and guide others.

Do not wait until your final moments to begin caring about death. Live like the monk Tissa: diligent but not arrogant, letting go but not haughty, selfless and at peace. A peaceful death is the fruit of a life truly well lived. The Buddha praised the diligent, but true diligence must go together with wisdom and compassion.