Jain Moral Doctrine

Author(s): Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Jain Sahitya Vikas Mandal

Page 76

CARDINAL VIRTUES
house; that it is in the same manner that a good man never wants to put an end to his body; that he tries to save his body when disease and other ailments threaten to destroy it; but that when all attempts to save the body prove to be finally unavailing, he dissociates himself from it and establishes himself exclusively upon his essential self. This is Sallekhanā or peaceful contemplative death, which is essentially different from any form of suicide. It is clear that the calm and faultless character of the Sallekhanā is destroyed and its practice becomes condemnable, if there is in the dying man, ‘Jivitāsamśā' or a desire to live, Maranāsamśā or a desire to hasten death; Mitrāņuräga or a lasting feeling of attachment for his friends; ‘Sukhānubandha' or a longing fond remembrance of the occasions of past enjoyments or ‘Nidāna or an expectant desire for enjoyments in the next world,
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