Why Sensitivity ‘Increases’ When Dying And After Death?
Question: Why is it taught in Buddhism, that there is ‘magnification’ of sensitivity, when dying and right after death?
Answer: Let us understand the terms correctly first.
[1] When Dying And Right After Death: This refers to the pre-death phase, when the consciousness is operating through the body normally, and the post-death phase, when the consciousness might still be attached to the body, thus still experiencing through it, although with ‘magnified’ sensitivity.
[2] Sensitivity: This sensitivity refers to keenness of the six sense consciousnesses (六识), of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and thought (眼耳鼻舌身意), hereby collectively abbreviated as ‘the consciousness’. The first five senses are physical, while the last is mental. The last becomes so sensitive post-death (i.e. after ending of breathing), that there will be the psychic ability to ‘read’ the thoughts of others near. This is knowing others’ minds’ supernormal power (他心通).
[3] ‘Magnification’: This ‘magnification’ of keenness of the senses is actually an illusion, as it is the actual keenness one has when the consciousness is functioning by itself, when not limited and encumbered by one’s imperfect and failing physical sense organs. The senses are experienced to be as if ‘magnified’ only when compared to the dulled versions when they were functioning through the body.
First Example: For example, our sense of sight is now limited by the nature of our eyes, thus seeing only a small fraction the electromagnetic spectrum, what more if with far and/or near-sightedness, with the possibility of more eye ailments, such as glaucoma, that discolours and distorts that seen.
But when the consciousness is freed from bodily constraints, it sees much more clearly, which is what the consciousness is capable of naturally, all along, if unhindered by the eyes. The default consciousness sees directly, without need for flesh eyes. Animals like eagles seem to have keener seeing, but are so karmically due to the same consciousness functioning through their particular eyes.
Second Example: As another example, our sense of hearing is now limited by the nature of our ears, thus hearing only a small fraction of the range of frequencies, what more if with (partial) deafness, with the possibility of more ear ailments, such as excess earwax, that dulls and distorts that heard.
But when the consciousness is freed from bodily constraints, it hears much more clearly, which is what the consciousness is capable of naturally, all along, if unhindered by the ears. The default consciousness hears directly, without need for flesh ears. Animals like bats seem to have keener hearing, but are so karmically due to the same consciousness functioning through their particular ears.
Pain And Discomfort: If the consciousness of the deceased is supposed to be free from the body, why is there ‘magnified’ (yet possibly inexpressible) pain and discomfort (which might lead to anger and anguish) when the body is touched or moved? This is because the average person with average karma and average spiritual practice will be habitually attached to the body even after death for some time, since they have lived in the body for decades, and might not know where to go after.
Although the consciousness per se is without a physical body, due to attachment to the body, the consciousness still experiences through it, but no longer with the sense organs. There is seemingly overall ‘magnified’ sensitivity now, although it is actually the true default sensitivity, as explained above.
In the pre-death phase, as the consciousness is about to depart from the body, or has partially departed from the body, it begins returning to the default. In the post-death phase, as the consciousness has departed from the body, it returns to the default fully.
This is why there should NOT be touching or moving of those dying and just deceased before offering guidance (开示) and support-chanting (助念) adequately. What seems to be a slight and loving squeeze or kiss can be torturous in effect. Some Tibetan Buddhist teachings even state that the ‘magnification’ of sensitivity is by nine times, although this might be figurative to represent a very high number of times, that cannot be imagined. This emphasises the importance of not touching or moving prematurely.
