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

Page 116

Sallekhanā by Ācārya Säntisāgar
105
was to save himself from lapses in the observance of religious rules and vows.
The situation under which he adopted the vow were explained by him before entering on Sallekhana. Due to old age, his eye-sight had been failing day by day. His eyes had been examined by eminent eye-surgeons and they had pronounced that it was not possible to remedy the weakness in his vision as, due to old age, there was no supply of sufficient blood to the nerves. The vows of an ascetic require him to look ahead by six feet while walking with a view to avoid the possibility of treading on some small living beings, to observe the place of his sitting to avoid similar himsă and exercise extreme care while taking in his food. For all these matters, he had become dependent. So he resorted to Sallekhanā owing to an incurable disease, extreme old age and consequent disability to fulfil the vows of an ascetic in accordance with religion.
The means adopted were most natural. He told his follo. wers who were present there that he would gradually stop taking food and spend his time in meditation and japa. He asked for pardon from everybody and pardoned everybody on his part. He was living a life of complete detachment and spending his time in contemplation over his self. If he had not adopted the vow, he would have lived a life of transgressions of rules and vows of a saint. Adoption of the vow was the best solution as nourishing a body which was failing to serve the needs of a religious life would have only result. ed in more transgressions. There was complete cessation of dependence on others. There was no himsă of any kind to anybody. So the means adopted were consistent with religion.
'The consequences of his quitting body were most ennobling to everybody. His last sermon about soul, karma, selfrestraint, self-contemplation, ahimsã and truthfulness shows that he was alert and spiritually alive to the needs of the
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