Sallekhana is Not Suicide

SR No.: 001568
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T K Tukol
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1976
Total Pages: 124
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 8 MB

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Sallekhanā is not Suicide
passions, purify his mind and progress in the observance of the vow consistently with his physical and mental capacities.
To stigmatise Jainsm as “a negative religion" amounts to an uncharitable criticism founded on superficial study, with no real inclination to reach the depth of understanding. Jainism is a positive religion preaching that every living being is the maker of his own destiny. Only that philosophy which propounds reliance on other supernatural forces and miracles and leaves a living being to the mercy of some unknown force or factor that can be called a negative philosophy. Jainism is a religion of dynamism and purposive living.
It would be legally wrong and morally insupportable to categorise death by Sallekhanā as a suicide which is sudden self-destruction due to emotional and neurasthenic upsetment. Suicide causes harm to the person committing it as also to the society whose concern it is to ensure the safety of its member. Umāsvāmi has defined hissä (violence) as 'severance of vitalities out of passion” (pramatta-yogät prāņavyaparo. panań himsă). A person actuated by passion is pramatta. The activity of such a person is pramatta-yoga. Amộtacandra Sūri has expressed similar views : He who injures the real nature of Jiva commits hissä. Any injury whatsoever to the material or conscious vitalities caused through passionate activity of mind, body or speech is undoubtedly himsā. Hirisa is sure to result, if one acts carelssly under the influence of passions. Even where there is injury to the vitalities, there is no himsă if the man is not moved by any kind of passion and is carefully following Right Conduct."16 Thus, it is only when a person puts an end to his own life due to his passionate activity that there is suicide.
I have already pointed out that in the observance of the vow of Sallekhanā, there is complete absence of passion and the conduct is directed to liberate the soul from the bondage of karma. While such individual advances himself spiritually
16. Purușārtha-siddhyupāya, Chap. VII.