Suicide, cowardly?

[ajay0]

I agree with you, but the Jain would not.See the video of opposition to the call of abolishing 'Santhara'.

There is no need for abolishing santhara for the aged. Veer Savarkar too practiced santhara when he felt that he was not fit enough to do the duties of life due to old age and poor health.

Fasting for long periods should however be strictly prohibited for children and even for youth incapable of doing it due to health reasons as it can aggravate their health issues.

Fasting promotes good health and inner cleansing of the body, and one also meditates better on that account too. But anything in excess is stupid, and so is fasting.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Fasting promotes good health and inner cleansing of the body, and one also meditates better on that account too. But anything in excess is stupid, and so is fasting.

I will go with your last point, though I may not agree with all the benefits that people claim for fasting.

 

[ajay0]

I will go with your last point, though I may not agree with the benefits that people claim for fasting.

I have personally seen my meditation levels go up dramatically during fasting followed by a lot of bliss and joy.

Fasting releases a lot of prana which helps to expand the consciousness and this is the reason for it.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel also attributed his legendary mental toughness and physical hardihood to his practice of fasting twice a week in his childhood and youth. This was a voluntary practice of his.

Patel is known as the Iron Man of India who single-handedly forged the 565 kingdoms in India at that time after independence, into a single republic.

 

[निताइ dasa]

Interesting discussion on the Koshas and Shariras. This is how we understand it.


The Koshas do not form the Shariras themselves, but rather envelop them and each others. These Koshas are parts of the Linga Sharira only and cause the Jiva's mind to be orientated towards different objects. When the mind is oriented towards eating, it is in the annamaya phase. When it is oriented towards physical endeavors, it is in the pranamaya phase. When it is oriented towards mental activity, it is in its manomaya phase. When it is oriented towards intellectual discrimination, it is in its vijanamaya phase. When it is oriented to spiritual happiness, it is in its anandamaya phase.

Because the Koshas are part of the Linga Sharira, they act as sort of stages of consciousness that influence our mind, false ego and intellect towards respective areas. For example, the annamaya kosha is not the sthula sharira (physical body), but rather impels one's consciousness towards the sthula sharira. The same goes for the other koshas. And they sort of envelop each other. The atma is found within the anandamaya kosha.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I have highest regard for Sardar Patel.

 

[Vinayaka]

If the physical and intellectual faculties are quite retarded due to old age, not permitting one to think and act correctly, then some opt the practice of Santhara in the jain tradition where they give up food and drink completely.

This is why 'living wills' or personal directives are becoming more common. It is a clear and written direction for loved ones of what to do when the individual in question does lose his/her thinking skills, and done well before this happens. I certainly have one. My children know my wishes. It says something like this, "In the case I cannot feed myself, or indicate by any means that I wish to be fed, the caretakers are directed to not feed me, or give any other nutrition by intrusive means. (referring to an intravenous feeding system). As with actual wills, I would generally suggest its a great idea for anyone.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Why is self-starvation the only exception to the suicide rule? Why is intentional self harm by food deprivation so noble when all other kinds of suicide carry karmic blowback? I think we really need to examine that more closely as a faith because there doesn't seem to be a logical reason for it other than, "Cuz we said so" a long time ago.

I don't think needless suffering is noble or ennobling. People are sick and need help, not our disdain or glorification (when we randomly assign a stamp of approval on certain methods). It would seem to me that Ishvara being the font of limitless compassion would take pity on such a person, recognizing that it is not for selfish gain that one kills oneself, but only in the most extreme circumstances. I can accept that there will be karmic consequences for every action, but I also believe that Devi is compassionate and loving and would do what they could (barring intercession with Karmic Law) to make the transition tolerable and provide a path to hope in the next life.

 

[Vinayaka]

I'm not all that sure, and perhaps self-declared euthanasia will be accepted sooner than later.

Certainly end of life fasting is different, or at least it can be argued so, in that its a clear-headed decision, and one that could be fairly easily reversed at that, within a couple of weeks for sure. Often suicide is from nasty depression that is more temporal, and it can easily argued that the individual involved isn't really in their normal mind. Of course each individual situation is very different.

Fasting has been around a long time and is in scripture. Prayopavesa - Wikipedia

In my particular teachings, it has to also be 'with community support' whatever that means. I know I'd support someone in this endeavour if it made sense to me. It's also not exactly sudden, and might imitate a more natural death process. We see it to some degree happening in care centers naturally, as families choose a lack of intervention more and more instead of the 'ol 'keep 'em alive at all costs' idea.

Interesting discussion and questions, I think.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Prayopavesa - Wikipedia

Glad to know that the rule exists in Hinduism (from your link): "Committing Prayopavesa is bound by very strict regulations. Only a person who has no desire or ambition left, and no responsibilities remaining in life is entitled to perform it. The decision to do so must be publicly declared well in advance. Ancient lawmakers stipulated the conditions that allow Prayopavesa. They are one's inability to perform normal bodily purification, death appears imminent or the condition is so bad that life's pleasures are nil and the action is done under community regulation."

Examples: King Parishk-hit, Savarkar, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.
Though I think a cup of a mixture containing poison hemlock is a better option.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Certainly end of life fasting is different, or at least it can be argued so, in that its a clear-headed decision, and one that could be fairly easily reversed at that, within a couple of weeks for sure. Often suicide is from nasty depression that is more temporal, and it can easily argued that the individual involved isn't really in their normal mind. Of course each individual situation is very different.

One would think that if intention carries so much weight in one's action that the fact one is "not in their right mind" would constitute more leniency, not less. Whereas with a clear-headed, community sanctioned, slow suicide intention is clear and understood. It goes back to that "knowing better" conversation a bit. I person suffering from depression can't think straight because their brain isn't functioning correctly. But of course no one on the outside knows how lucid someone is when they kill themselves. Only God knows that, so the karmic result remains a mystery.

 

[Vinayaka]

Glad to know that the rule exists in Hinduism (from your link): "Committing Prayopavesa is bound by very strict regulations. Only a person who has no desire or ambition left, and no responsibilities remaining in life is entitled to perform it. The decision to do so must be publicly declared well in advance. Ancient lawmakers stipulated the conditions that allow Prayopavesa. They are one's inability to perform normal bodily purification, death appears imminent or the condition is so bad that life's pleasures are nil and the action is done under community regulation."

Examples: King Parishk-hit, Savarkar, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.
Though I think a cup of a mixture containing poison hemlock is a better option.

Another thing to point out is that its not unique to our Hindu society, but exists in other cultures as well. To me, it just seems so kind. Postponing death when there is incredible pain seems downright cruel.