Objectives <p>As an important Buddhist practice, mindfulness of death has been applied to modern psychological interventions, but focused empirical studies on this topic are lacking. This study developed and evaluated a specific mindfulness of death meditation (MDM) and its corresponding intervention.</p> Method <p>Two laboratory experiments compared single-session MDM with mindful breathing (Study 1) and death scenario imagination (DS, Study 2). A three-arm randomized controlled trial further assessed the effects of MDM intervention, mindfulness meditation (MM) intervention, and a waitlist control on emotions, self-control, death attitudes, and life satisfaction (Study 3).</p> Results <p>In Studies 1 and 2, single-session MDM consistently increased inspiration (Study 1: <i>η</i>_p² = 0.13; Study 2: <i>η</i>_p² = 0.20). Compared with mindful breathing, MDM increased anxiety (<i>η</i>_p² = 0.07) and fear (<i>η</i>_p² = 0.11) while reducing peace (<i>η</i>_p² = 0.05). Compared with the DS, MDM reduced anxiety (<i>η</i>_p² = 0.23), fear (<i>η</i>_p² = 0.37), fear of death (<i>d</i> = -0.64), and death avoidance (<i>d</i> = -0.46), while improving peace (<i>η</i>_p² = 0.31) and natural acceptance (<i>d</i> = 0.47). Excitement and self-control intentions were comparable between conditions. In Study 3, both interventions increased emotion control (MDM: <i>d</i> = -0.37, MM: <i>d</i> = -0.40) and reduced sleepiness (MDM: <i>d</i> = 0.30, MM: <i>d</i> = 0.37); only MDM intervention reduced fear (<i>d</i> = 0.29).</p> Conclusions <p>Findings preliminarily support MDM’s effects on emotions and self-control, offering insights for research on psychological&#xa0;responses to death.</p> Preregistration <p>Studies 1 and 2 were not preregistered. Study 3 was preregistered at <a href="https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TC7Y3">https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TC7Y3</a>.</p>