Jinamanjari 2001 09 No 24

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 47

Dr. P.D. Padmakumar suggested it is possible for a scholar or educated Jain to develop this "spiritually elevated soul", Rajesh M.N. contended that it is improbable and will only be reached by monks. Finally, the Bhattāraka emphasized that one should not predict one's individual death. He recalled a guru's advice that one should "everyday be cautious, tomorrow is not yours."
Sri Sahamuniji Maharaj is a Jain monk who holds the world record for fasting consecutive 365 days. Undoubtedly, he embodies the idea of the "spiritually elevated soul". However, in my interview with him, he argued that even he doesn't know if he is capable of anticipating his own death and consequently, observing sallekhana until he is in the situation of being ill. Students H Vasant Kumar and Sumati Kumar asked "how can we know when we are going to die?" Vasant Kumar further argued that if everybody knows when death is approaching, nobody would believe in the Tithankaras and that those who follow sallekhana do not believe in god-hood.
The interpretation of the "old age" circumstance has swung the opposite direction as well. If one is old or sick, the decision to observe sallekhana is often put in the hands of doctors, families, or friends, however not without the consent of the patient. All the Jains I interviewed unanimously agreed that there is no pressure to observe sallekhana; it is a decision left to the individual. However, Chandrakeerti pointed out there are situations in which a person is physically unable to make a decision about how to die, that the vow of sallekhana is recommended by a doctor, family member or friend. In other words, the individual who is sick is often the passive recipient of the decision to take the vow of sallekhana. Chandrakeerti provided the rationalization that one should not spend so much money on hospitals and doctors, accept that death is inevitable and observe sallekhana. Dr. P.D. Padmakumar agreed that sallekhana is often a sort of prescription for the patient but ultimately, left to the patient's choice. The Bhattāraka disagreed, saying that if one is in the hospital and ill and recommended to observe sallekhana, then it is not sallekhana.
The internal logic is wedged on these two topics and a complex host of variables are introduced. In response to those who believe one can anticipate one's own death, I ask: is a "spiritually elevated soul" strong enough to predict one's own
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