Jain Spirit 2000 03 No 03

SR No.: 528983
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 66
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, UK_Jain Spirit, & UK
File Size: 14 MB

Page 44

commit suicide. One who commits suicide has a mind full of impure feelings such as greed, anxiety, depression, guilt and hatred. Suicide is approached violently and often clandestinely by means of cutting, hanging, poisoning or shooting. In other words, suicide is a cowardly way of escaping life while sallekhana is an act of purifying the soul, embracing life and facing death courageously. An observer of sallekhana is free of any passions, often has the consent of a guru or the Jain community, and seeks forgiveness from family and friends.
The practice of sallekhana is not restricted to ascetics. However, most Jains who observe sallekhana tend to be monks, scholars or those who are educated about the ritual. Old age and terminal disease are the two major circumstances under which one decides to observe sallekhana. According to Jainism, life and time develop in a cyclical manner rather than unfolding in a linear one as Western philosophy suggests. One does not simply move from birth through life to death, but as Niraj Jain, a noted Jain scholar said, "because we are born we die, because we die we are born." Since life is cyclical and sallekhana is a way of perfecting Jain principles, the fear of death is minimized. It is not that death does not occur, but through it, only the body dies. Furthermore, death is embraced because the soul is given a chance to be entirely purified through sallekhana. Denial of death cannot occur
Death needs to be understood, but not feared. It is as natural and inevitable as life itself.
EMBRACING DEATH
JODEN
because in a cyclical view of life, there is no death except for a bodily death.
However, one is not guaranteed a better rebirth or moksha by observing sallekhana. The observer empties himself of expectation and desire for the quality of the next life, so if one does not practice sallekhana their chances of being reborn into a better life are not reduced. According to Jain philosophy, one of the five transgressions to be avoided during the observance of sallekhana is that one wish for a particular kind of fruit (i.e. a better rebirth or moksha) as a result of his penance.
Similar to many other world religions, it is usually the monks and scholars who have the knowledge of sallekhana and thus the opportunity to practice a ritual like sallekhana. Undoubtedly, it should be the individual's choice whether or not to practice sallekhana, or pursue any religious aspect that suits them. Perfection and liberation of the soul should be a choice granted to all Jains. However, it appears that some Jains are not given an opportunity to make this choice because they do not have the knowledge about sallekhana.
Bradley Kerschensteiner wrote a postgraduate research paper on this subject after a visit to South India. He lives in Gahanna, Ohio.
March May 2000 Jain Spirit
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JAYU SHAH