Death Is Inevitable: A Zen Buddhist Spiritual Story by Osho
From the moment we’re born, we are, in a sense, dying, and the sooner realize how impermanent this life is, the less entangled we’ll get in superficial things that bring pain in our hearts.
Below is a beautiful Buddhist story showing in a unique way the inevitability of death and the importance of accepting that every person alive — our loved ones included — will leave their last breath one day.
Buddha was staying in a village. A woman came to him, weeping and crying and screaming. Her child, her only child, had suddenly died. Because Buddha was in the village, people said, “Don’t weep. Go to this man. People say he is infinite compassion. If he wills it, the child can revive. So don’t weep. Go to this Buddha.” The woman came with the dead child, crying, weeping, and the whole village followed her – the whole village was affected. Buddha’s disciples were also affected; they started praying in their minds that Buddha would have compassion. He must bless the child so that he will be revived, resurrected.
Many disciples of Buddha started weeping. The scene was so touching, deeply moving. Everybody was still. Buddha remained silent. He looked at the dead child, then he looked at the weeping, crying mother and he said to the mother, “Don’t weep, just do one thing and your child will be alive again. Leave this dead child here, go back to the town, go to every house and ask every family if someone has ever died in their family, in their house. And if you can find a house where no one has ever died, then from them beg something to be eaten, some bread, some rice, or anything – but from the house where no one has ever died. And that bread or that rice will revive the child immediately. You go. Don’t waste time.”
The woman became happy. She felt that now the miracle was going to happen. She touched Buddha’s feet and ran to the village which was not a very big one, very few cottages, a few families. She moved from one family to another, asking. But every family said, “This is impossible. There is not a single house – not only in this village but all over the earth – there is not a single house where no one has ever died, where people have not suffered death and the misery and the pain and the anguish that comes out of it.”
By and by the woman realized that Buddha had been playing a trick. This was impossible. But still the hope was there. She went on asking until she had gone around the whole village. Her tears dried, her hope died, but suddenly she felt a new tranquility, a serenity, coming to her. Now she realized that whosoever is born will have to die. It is only a question of years. Someone will die sooner, someone later, but death is inevitable. She came back and touched Buddha’s feet again and said to him, “As people say, you really do have a deep compassion for people.”
Story source: The Book of Secrets, by Osho
What Is the Spiritual Moral / Meaning of Osho's “Death Is Inevitable” Story?
The story reveals a profound spiritual truth about the inevitability of death and the human experience of suffering. Through Buddha's enigmatic response to the grieving mother, it unveils the universal reality that death is an integral part of human existence. It reflects the spiritual principle that the cycle of life and death is an immutable law governing all beings, and the acceptance of this truth brings a deeper understanding of life's transient nature. The woman's realization through her quest signifies the awakening to the universal truth that birth and death are interconnected aspects of the human journey.
Additionally, the narrative invites contemplation on the nature of attachment and impermanence. Buddha's instruction to seek food from a household untouched by death serves as a metaphorical representation of the human yearning for permanence in an impermanent world. It emphasizes the spiritual truth that attachment to an idealized state of permanence leads to suffering, as everything in the material realm is subject to change and eventual dissolution. The woman's journey through the village symbolizes the acceptance of impermanence, leading to a newfound serenity amid the recognition of life's transient nature.
Moreover, the story highlights the transformative power of acceptance and surrender. As the woman traverses the village seeking the impossible, she undergoes a profound inner shift. Her initial desperation transforms into acceptance, leading to a newfound tranquility within. It signifies the spiritual principle that true peace arises from accepting life's inherent uncertainties and acknowledging the inevitability of death. Her return to Buddha and acknowledgment of his deep compassion signifies her newfound understanding of the compassionate acceptance of life's impermanence.
Furthermore, the narrative encourages a shift in perspective from seeking miracles to embracing the wisdom within life's natural course. Buddha's unconventional response challenges the conventional expectation of a miraculous resurrection and instead directs attention to a deeper spiritual truth. It prompts a shift in focus from seeking external interventions to recognizing the profound teachings embedded in life's inherent realities. The woman's realization embodies the spiritual awakening that true compassion lies not in altering the course of life but in embracing its inherent truths with grace and understanding.
In essence, this story unfolds as a spiritual lesson on the inevitability of death, impermanence, and the transformative power of acceptance. It beckons us to transcend the illusion of permanence and attachment, inviting us to embrace life's transient nature with compassion and understanding. Through Buddha's teachings, it guides us to find serenity amidst life's uncertainties, encouraging a shift from seeking miracles to embracing the profound wisdom inherent in life's natural rhythms. Ultimately, it inspires a deeper understanding of compassion and acceptance in navigating the human journey marked by impermanence and inevitable change.