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CONDUCT
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Volantary Death :
The lay-votary as well as the ascetic courts voluntary death at the end of his life. This type of death is known as sallekhanā, samadhi-marana or pandita-marana. When there are situations which render the observance of vows impossible, one should court voluntary death. Such situations include acute famine, physical weakness, incurable disease, calamity, approach of death and so on. The performance of voluntary death begins with a progressive withdrawal of food. It culminates in complete abstinence from food and drink. Confession and expiation of one's faults and forgiveness of all offences committed against oneself make a man fit for voluntary death. He should spend his last moments in contemplation and meditation. In these critical moments he should be steadfast to withstand the assaults of various troubles. He is required to put aside all affection and enmity as well as attachment and acquisitiveness. He should abandon all dissatisfaction, sorrow, fear, dejection and the like. He should be free from all the passions.
Sallekhana or voluntary death cannot be called suicide, as there is no passion in it. Suicide is always committed under the sway of passion, whereas there is complete absence of passion in voluntary death. A person who kills himself by means of poison etc. is swayed by attachment, aversion or infatuation. But he who courts voluntary death is free from desire, anger and delusion. The absence of attachment and other passions is essential for the right performance of voluntary death. When some serious danger threatens the body, the votary tries to avert it in a righteous manner without violating his vows. In case it is not possible to avert danger to the body, he tries to safeguard his vows at least. Such a procedure cannot be called suicide. Ascetic's Vows :
An ascetic is required to observe five great vows. He is also enjoined to practise the vow of abstention from taking
