ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 433

6.0.h
Relevance of Sallekhan in Today's Society and Euthanasia Dr. D. S. Baya
1.0 Introduction
The literature in all languages, the scriptures of all religions and preachers of all faiths have vexed themselves eloquent to emphasize the inevitability of death but, at the same time they have also said that the death is one of the most fearsome, painful, sorrowful, miserable and frightening happening. The Uttar dhyayanasutra says that birth, death, decay and disease are sorrows; the mundane existence itself is full of sorrow, where the living beings feel miserable. [1] In the same vein di ankar c rya says that repeated births and deaths and lying in the wombs of mothers are very painful. [2
It has, therefore, been the endeavor of all the great and noble saints and prophets down the ages to find a way to free the living beings in general and the humanity in particular from this pain, sorrow and misery. Sallekhan is one of such means to meet death squarely without fear or misery.
Presentation and Discussion
The presentation and discussion are proposed to centre on the following points:
1. Inevitability of death and the fear of death.
2. Can fear and misery associated with death be overcome? If yes, how?
3. The concept and practice of Sallekhan.
4. Sallekhan as 'Voluntary Peaceful Death' or the death sans fear and misery.
5. Relevance of Sallekhan in today's society.
6. Euthanasia: comparison with Sallekhan.
1.1 Inevitability and Fear of Death
That the Death is inevitable needs no proof. We all see people dying around us all the time. All that are born have to die, sooner or later. Bhagvadg t says, "One who takes birth must die some day and one who dies must be reborn somewhere. [3] However, it is not the death but the fear of death that is the point of discussion here. Though death is so natural that it comes to all without any distinction, the dying very seldom take it so naturally. The reason behind the fear of death, basically, lies in two things:
1. The love for life,
2.
The uncertainty associated with the afterlife.
The love for life: No matter what the quality of life that a living being enjoys or suffers, it does not wish to die but to live on. Even the poor and the miserable who can be heard as wishing to die all the time, back out when the death stares them in the face and beg to live on. Life is the dearest thing and one wants to hold on to it as long as possible. As death means dissociation from life or the termination of life, it frightens.
Uncertainty Associated with Afterlife: One is never sure of what lies in store for him in the afterlife. This uncertainty is also a potent cause of the fear of death.
1.2 Can the Fear and Misery associated with Death be overcome?
The fear and misery associated with death can be overcome if we can address the causes that result in such fear and misery.
Firstly, the love of life and the desire to live on springs from a lack of appreciation of the purpose of life as well as a lack of belief in a life after death. The believers of rebirth and afterlife, to that extent, feel less frightened and miserable as compared to those who believe that there is nothing but perpetual darkness after this life. Also, an appreciation of the purpose of life gives one a balanced outlook towards life and when one feels that, due to a variety of reasons, the body is unable to fulfil the purpose of life, one is prepared to face death with dignity in the hope of a suitable rebirth and of regaining a body capable of achieving the purpose of life better in the next birth. For such believers, present life is one in a continuum of lives in which the purpose of life is to be fulfilled. For such believers the death ceases to be frightening.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0