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Şanlekhana : Neither Suicide nor Desired Death
The modern age is the age of rationalisin and intellectualism. The tendency of comparing a thing, theory and process with another is increasing. Efforts are being made to redefine ancient philosophical principles and practices in the light of modern materialistic theories. It has gone to the extant of criticizing and belittling the higher Spiritual practices.
Some extreme rationalists devalue Sanlekhana and meditative death by calling these suicide. But there is a sea difference between Sanlekhana and suicide.
(1) Suicide is committed under influence of intense stimulus of passions like anger. whereas in Sunlekhana the passions are of extremely low intensity.
(2) Only such people commit suicide who are tormented and agitated by circumstances and any hope of fulfillment of their desires is lost, whereas those who practice Sanlekhana are neither agitated nor have any desire.
(3) Suicide is embracing death by force with an intense desire of death, whereas in Sanlekhana their is no desire of death.
(4) Suicide is committed by consuming poison, using a weapon, falling from heights, strangulating and other such violent processes, whereas in Santekhumu no such violent process is resorted to.
(5) The attitude of a person committing suicide are certainly base and sinful, whereas that of a person practicing Sunlekhand are certainly pious.
There are many such reasons that clearly show the difference between suicide and Sanleklama.
The critics put forth the logic that stopping food intake emaciates the body and ultimately leads to death. This is a slow process adopted for willful death and so it is nothing but suicide.
But this is a misunderstanding. Reduction or total stoppage of food intake may cause weakness of the body but it is not necessary that the age determining kurmas are shed. Moreover suicide is never done by so slow a process. Disturbed by prevailing torments a person commits suicide at the spur of the moment, exactly as a string is broken with a jerk.
Therefore this is certain that in no way Sunlekhana is suicide
For last 9-10 years a new word has gained popularity-Srechhu-mriu. This is a single meaning word. The original word is the English term euthanasia which means to kill with a feeling of compassion or mercy killing.
Example-A person is suffering acute pain. He has gone beyond the scope of treatment. Even the best available medical means are unable to cure him or relieve his pain. Then that person requests his doctor to administer some poison and relieve the pain
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Antakriddasha Mahima
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