________________
While in Euthanasia it is not failure but disease like AIDS, Cancer, which are irrevocatable & his life is in danger in near future he is going to die in few days or months he requests doctor to end his life or stops taking medicaments or life support system due to economic condition poverty who are unable to bear the cost of hospitalization end their as otherwise also their life is valueless & full of agony, pain & suffering. Pain due to incurable illness & death is in their own interest committing suicide is also in persons own interest it neither violates anyone else's right nor wrongs to anyone it does not make world worse place but it is wrong to assist suicide. Difference in Euthanasia & Sallekhana :;'
Both aims at ending the life. Both are intentional killing. In both there is consent & both are voluntary. Euthanasia is compassion - motivated, it is deliberate rapid-& painless termination of life. Someone afflicted with an incurable & progressive disease his life is ended by lethal injections or by stoping medical treatment. Euthanasia refer to any action where person is intentionally killed or allowed to die because it is believed that the individual would be better off dead than alive or else as when one is in irreversible coma at least no worse off what action morally acceptable & legally permitted? In voluntary euthanasia person undergoes has requested. In Sallekhana also person took vow requests & has feeling of detachment towards world. In both willingness to end life is there but in non-voluntay Euthanasia person is unable to indicate whether or not he wants to under go euthanasia e.g. person in coma who is permanently unconscious state or infants. In passive euthanasia withdrawal of life support acting & doing nothing. In Sallekhanan person concentrates his mind & body in religious mantras he not only stops medicament but also stops taking food & water. In both when patient is ill or due to old age life is burden. Only difference there is that Salleckhana is on religious ground allowed by consented by ascetic. Acharya Muni, euthanasia is assisted by doctor.
What is Sallekhana? - Sallekhana is penance when soul realizes truth determines to end & liberate itself, tries to curb the influx of Karmas by disciplining and controlling its mental, vocal, & bodily activity purify by giving up all passions, worldly pleasures, No stealing, No violence, no indulgence in physical pleasure No greed no harming others, No desires, No hopes, No pain, No name, no fame, No to everything except spiritual elevation. Even no food, no water, no welcome to death No desire of breath, a vow taken for fast unto death is Sallekhana, which is laudable.
136
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
