How to Skillfully Apply Proper Contemplation

Question: When a person dies, do all sentient beings within the body depart? Are there still sentient beings in the body after death, especially invisible sentient beings?

Answer: To resolve this question, one must first understand why sentient beings attach themselves to others' bodies and what purpose they seek to achieve by utilizing another's body. Then, one should contemplate what happens to the body after a person dies and whether it remains useful to sentient beings. By following this sequence of contemplation and clarifying each point, one can comprehend whether various types of sentient beings remain in the body after death.

When addressing any question, it is essential to have a clear line of thinking; contemplation must be logical, extending far beyond merely solving the immediate problem. If contemplation lacks logic and clarity of thought, even if one problem is solved, others will remain unresolved, necessitating reliance on others for solutions. Yet, relying on others is never as reliable as self-reliance, which is fundamental. If one's contemplation lacks logic and thoughts are perpetually unclear, one should analyze why this is the case—what causes the deficiency in contemplative ability—and then devise a solution to address this cause. This will enable one to cultivate a powerful mind capable of resolving numerous problems, whether they are critical or basic.