Life Beyond Death
The purpose of death
The nature of life beyond death
How we can prepare for death
How we can assist the dying
Suicide
A man should wait, and not take his own life until God summons him, as he is now summoning me.
To get a human body is a rare thing - make full use of it. Every second in human life is very valuable.
Anyone who's been close to a suicide knows the terrible suffering of the family and loved ones who remain behind. But suicide may create difficulties for the departed as well, resulting in deep regret.
There are many possible reasons why a person might commit suicide. Sometimes, people will sacrifice their lives for selfless or noble reasons. Sometimes the act arises out of exhaustion or mental illness. But if the motive is revenge, or an effort to escape difficult circumstances, suicide may actually cause more problems for the departed. In such cases, the subtle body is often caught in limbo for the duration of what would have been the person's natural lifespan. And during this period, the pain and frustration, which led to the suicide in the first place, is compounded by remorse over the act of suicide itself.
There are documented cases of people who survived an attempted suicide and recalled their experiences in the after death state. In most cases, they immediately realized the enormity of their mistake and wished they could go back and choose again. As further testimony, consider that from the beginning of human history, every spiritual tradition has issued a prohibition against suicide. If we know someone contemplating suicide, we should make every effort to persuade him or her to explore other options and/or to seek professional care.
The purpose of life is to gain knowledge through experience; not just pleasant experience, but the whole range of Earth experience, as dictated by our unique karma. We may think that our lives belong to us, but this is an illusion. All life belongs to Divine Consciousness. From this perspective, it's not about what we may like or dislike. Any attempt to cut life short won't work. Cosmic evolution will not be derailed. In the end, experiences will unfold as dictated by karma and the more we understand the process and the purpose behind it, the easier it will be to accept what comes.
Aside from the possible negative consequences of suicide, it's important to consider the value of human life in terms of spiritual evolution. No matter where we are in the cosmos, we always continue to evolve. But the opportunity to evolve quickly is much greater on the Earth plane. By comparison, evolution on the spiritual planes is very slow. A single day on the Earth plane can equate to decades on the spiritual planes. This is particularly true when we're faced with difficult physical or emotional circumstances. That's not to say we should seek out painful experiences. But if they come uninvited, we can be assured that these experiences represent quantum leaps in our spiritual evolution.
In the case of a progressive and terminal illness, suicide is still a poor choice for the same reasons cited above. However, Hindu and Jain scriptures offer an alternative in this situation, a ritual fasting called Prayopavesa. Below is a brief explanation of Prayopavesa by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, abbot of the Saivite Hindu monastery on Kauai, Hawaii. Subramuniyaswami himself observed Prayopavesa after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2001. During his fast, he was able to continued many of his daily duties and passed away comfortably on the 32nd day.
Prayopavesa (Ritual Fasting to Death)
by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
In cases of terminal disease or great disability, religious self-willed death through fasting - prayopavesa - is permitted. The person making such a decision declares it publicly, which allows for community regulation and distinguishes the act from suicide performed privately in traumatic emotional states of anguish and despair. Ancient lawgivers cite various stipulations: 1) inability to perform normal bodily purification; 2) death appears imminent or the condition is so bad that life's pleasures are nil; 3) the action must be done under community regulation.
The gradual nature of prayopavesa is a key factor distinguishing it from sudden suicide, for it allows time for the individual to settle all differences with others, to ponder life and draw close to God, as well as for loved ones to oversee the person's gradual exit from the physical world. In the ideal practice, one begins by obtaining forgiveness and giving forgiveness. Next, a full discussion of all karmas of this life and confessing one's wrongdoings. Thereafter, attention is to be focused on scripture and the guru's noble teachings. Meditation on the innermost, immortal Self becomes the full focus as one gradually abstains from food.
