Facing the End of Your Life? What Nichiren Daishonin Wrote About Life and Death
When time feels short
Perhaps the doctors have said there is little more that treatment can do. Perhaps you are very old and feel your strength fading. Perhaps you simply know, in the way bodies sometimes know, that this is the last chapter.
There may be fear: of pain, of the unknown, of leaving the people you love. There may be sadness for what you won't see. There may be questions you've carried all your life and now want answers to. There may also be moments of unexpected peace.
Whatever you are feeling, it is welcome here. This page is not here to tell you how to feel. It simply offers what the Daishonin taught about life and death, in the hope that it brings some light and some peace.
What does the Gosho say about facing death?
Nichiren Daishonin taught, "Myo represents death, and ho, life" (WND-1, 216). Life and death are two phases of one continuing reality, both embraced by the Mystic Law. He urged his followers to "chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death" (WND-1, 218). Facing death with faith means meeting it with a calm, settled heart.
Life and death are both part of the Mystic Law
In one of his most important letters on this subject, the Daishonin wrote:
> "Myo represents death, and ho, life. Living beings that pass through the two phases of life and death are the entities of the Ten Worlds, or the entities of Myoho-renge-kyo." > — The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life, WND-1, 216
In this view, death is not the opposite of life, or its failure. Life and death are like waking and sleeping, two phases of one eternal life. Both are expressions of the same Mystic Law that you have chanted.
Buddhism doesn't ask you to stop feeling sad about leaving this life. It offers a larger frame in which this life, and what comes after it, are both held within something vast and continuous.
A steadfast heart at the moment of death
In the same letter, the Daishonin wrote:
> "Be resolved to summon forth the great power of faith, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death." > — The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life, WND-1, 218
This is not about chanting perfectly or for long hours, especially when strength is limited. It is about the heart: meeting what comes with trust rather than terror.
Many people find that in their final season, what matters most becomes very clear: love, gratitude, forgiveness, saying the things that need saying. These, too, are a form of faith.
One small step for today
If you are able, tell one person you love something you want them to know: gratitude, forgiveness, a memory, a hope for them.
If chanting is difficult now, even listening to others chanting, or holding the words quietly in your heart, is enough. Ask your family or fellow members to chant with you or for you.
Please make full use of good medical and palliative care. Relief from pain and distress is part of a dignified, peaceful end of life, not opposed to faith. Hospice teams, palliative specialists and counsellors can support you and your family. If you're feeling overwhelmed by fear or despair, please tell your care team.
Your story could help someone else
Experiences of facing the end of life are rarely written by the person themselves. If you or a family member have walked this road with faith and want to share what it meant, your story could bring great comfort to someone reading this page.
Related experiences about life, death and courage are below.
Frequently asked questions
What does Nichiren Buddhism teach about death?
That life and death are two phases of one eternal life, both embraced by the Mystic Law. The Daishonin wrote, "Myo represents death, and ho, life" (WND-1, 216).
How can I face death without fear?
Fear is natural, and it's okay to feel it. Many people find peace through chanting, through being with loved ones, and through good palliative care. The Daishonin encouraged a heart that is "steadfast and correct at the moment of death" (WND-1, 218).
Should I keep chanting for a cure?
You can chant for whatever is in your heart: healing, comfort, peace, time with loved ones. There is no wrong prayer. Many people find that their prayer naturally shifts toward peace and gratitude.
Is it a lack of faith to accept palliative care?
No. Relief from pain and suffering is part of a dignified end of life. The Daishonin always valued good medical care alongside faith.
Which Gosho should I read as I face the end of life?
The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life (WND-1, 216–219). Your family may also find comfort in Hell Is the Land of Tranquil Light (WND-1, 456–459).
Sources
All passages are from The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I (WND-1):
- The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life, pp. 216, 218