Abhaya Sutta (4)
Four Types of People Who Fear Death and Do Not Fear Death
[184] At that time the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi approached the Blessed One, exchanged greetings with him, and after the courteous exchange was seated to one side. Then he said:
“Master Gotama, this is my view, this is my position: ‘For beings who are subject to death, there exists no one who does not fear death, who does not tremble at death.’”
The Blessed One replied:
“Brahmin, there are beings who are subject to death who fear and tremble at death; and there are beings who are subject to death who do not fear, who do not tremble at death.
“And how, brahmin, does one who is subject to death fear and tremble at death?
1. One attached to sensual pleasures (kāma) fears death
“There is a person in this world not free from lust, not free from delight, not free from affection, not free from craving, not free from fever, not free from longing for sensual pleasures.
When a serious illness strikes him, he worries: ‘My beloved sensual pleasures will abandon me, and I too must abandon my beloved sensual pleasures.’
He sorrows, becomes distressed, laments, beats his breast, and falls into confusion.
Brahmin, this person—subject to death— fears and trembles at death.
2. One attached to the body fears death
“Again, there is a person not free from lust for the body, not free from affection, craving, longing. When serious illness strikes him, he worries:
‘This beloved body will leave me, and I must leave this beloved body.’
He sorrows… Brahmin, this person too fears and trembles at death.
3. One who has done no good deeds fears death
“Again, there is a person who has not done good, not done wholesome deeds, not created protection from fear; he has done only evil actions, coarse actions, unwholesome actions.
When serious illness strikes him, he worries:
‘I have done no good. I have done only evil, coarse, unwholesome actions. Such is the destination of one who has done no good— and having passed away, I will go to that destination.’
He sorrows… Brahmin, this person too fears and trembles at death.
4. One with doubt about the Dhamma fears death
“Again, there is a person who is filled with doubt, uncertainty, not settled in confidence regarding the true Dhamma.
When serious illness strikes him, he worries:
‘I have doubt, uncertainty, I am not settled in the true Dhamma.’
He sorrows… Brahmin, this person too— subject to death— fears and trembles at death.
“Brahmin, these are the four types of people who fear and tremble at death.
Four Types Who Do Not Fear Death
“And how, brahmin, does one who is subject to death not fear and not tremble at death?
1. One free from sensual craving does not fear death
“There is a person free from lust, free from delight, free from affection, free from craving, free from fever, free from longing for sensual pleasures.
When serious illness strikes him, he does not worry: ‘My beloved sensual pleasures will leave me…’ He does not sorrow, is not distressed, does not lament, does not beat his breast, does not fall into confusion.
Brahmin, this person does not fear death.
2. One not attached to the body does not fear death
“Again, there is a person free from lust and longing for the body. When serious illness strikes him, he does not worry: ‘This beloved body will leave me…’ He does not sorrow… Brahmin, this person does not fear death.
3. One who has lived a wholesome life does not fear death
“Again, there is a person who has not done evil, has not done coarse or unwholesome actions; he has done good, done wholesome deeds, created protection from fear.
When serious illness strikes him, he thinks:
‘I have not done evil. I have done good, wholesome deeds. Such is the destination of one who has lived well— and passing away, I will go to that destination.’
He does not sorrow… Brahmin, this person does not fear death.
4. One without doubt about the Dhamma does not fear death
“Again, there is a person without doubt, without uncertainty, settled in confidence regarding the true Dhamma.
When serious illness strikes him, he thinks:
‘I have no doubt, no uncertainty; I am firmly confident in the true Dhamma.’
He does not sorrow… Brahmin, this person does not fear death.
“Brahmin, these are the four types of people who do not fear and do not tremble at death.”
When this was said, the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi exclaimed:
“Excellent, Master Gotama! … From this day forth, let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
End of the Abhaya Sutta (4)