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Jainism and Sallekbanā
of ignorant men, and it happens (to the same individual) many times. Death with one's will is that of wisemen, and at best it happens but once."..." Then when death comes at last, the fool trembles in fear; and dies the death against his will” (having lost his chance ) like a gambler vanquished by Kali. ”.."...hear from me the wise man's death with one's will’.” “ Full of peace and without injury to any one is, as I have heard (from my teachers ) the death of the virtuous who control themselves and subdue their senses." “Such a death does not fall to the lot of every monk, nor of every householder;....the virtuous and the learned do not tremble in the hour of death.” “A wise man having weighed (both kinds of death ) and chosen the better one (taught in ) the Law of Compassion, will become calm through patience, with an undisturbed mind (at the time of his death)...” “When the right time (to prepare for death) has arrived, a faithful (monk ) should in the presence (of his teacher) suppress all emotions (of fear or joy) and wait for the dissolution of his body."
The principle underlying the vow is that a householder or a sage should, while 'quitting flesh and bones ', have complete peace of mind after voluntary acceptance of the vow, consistently with the pious life of self-restraint and austerities. Calmness, patience and mind undisturbed by emotions of joy or fear will conduce to purgation of Karmas. It is mental peace that will lead to liberation from the Karmas in life; so at death, one should have equanimity of mind and die while engrossed in deep meditation. Jainism prescribes Sallekhanā as the final step for further liberation from the bondage of Karma even in the hour of death and in the manner of dying.
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