Curious about self-immolation

ClayTheScribe

I was always curious of how one gets to a point in their practice to be able to set themselves on fire without feeling pain as several Buddhist monks have and continue to do as protest. I certainly don't ever want to try it--I think suicide as a form of protest is a bit drastic to say the least--but it fascinates me because whenever you see a monk having set themselves on fire they aren't screaming in pain. Is that just because once you've known the depths of suffering, you can transcend it? It fascinates me because burning to death is one of my greatest fears.

seeker242

Oh trust me, they feel pain. It would be impossible not to. It is just that there is no mental resisting of it, which is why they can sit still and not flinch. They still feel tremendous pain. This kind of "non-resistance" skill is one of the benefits of meditation. and can be applied to all areas of life. Lose your job? No resist = no suffering! Car breaks? no resist = no suffering! Home burns down? No resist = no suffering!

Cinorjer

From what I have learned as a medic in the military when we covered battlefield burns, extensive burning like this has some initial pain, but quickly burns away the nerve endings and the part already torched no longer feels pain. That does not mean it would be pleasant, by any measure. People run and scream in panic once they realize they're on fire, but might actually have to be told they are on fire before that.

I try not to think about it. After all, what sort of mindset allows someone to point a gun at their own head and pull the trigger? When a mind turns on itself, it is just unimaginable to me.

ClayTheScribe

@Cinorjer, all humans have the self-destructive streak in them, it just manifests itself in different ways. However, often suicide has more to do with desperation than anything else. When people think there is no way out of their situation, they may kill themselves, or if their tolerance for pain is lower than others. I think monks setting themselves on fire as protest is a whole other matter. It's the same thing that motivates suicide bombers: it's partly desperation, but it's also a strong sense of self-sacrifice for something greater. That sometimes can override the self-preservation instinct, but requires a lot of mental work.

I once planned to commit suicide once and stopped taking my medications for a few weeks, but I couldn't think of the perfect, most successful, painless way to do it. In this case my perfectionism saved my life and I went and got help. I can understand that desperation in other people well and I never want to feel it again. Through my practice, I believe if it does come back, I will know how to deal with it.

taiyaki

nirvikalpa samadhi.

concentration states!