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Why not suicide?
I understand this can be an emotionally complicated topic, but I feel its a legitimate and logical question.
If we should not be attached to anything, if this life and all this pain is an illusion, if the ultimate goal is something beyond the physical and tangible, why live at all? If our goal is to transcend existence, if this physical world truly has nothing worth holding onto, why hold onto life?
Fine, lets say the purpose in life is to reach enlightenment, that is a worthy reason to live. Once enlightenment has been reached, once all ties to worldly things have been severed, why continue to exist in the world? When one has reached enlightenment, wouldn't the final string to sever be life itself, wouldn't it bring us to whatever the next step is?
Personally, I think life is worth living to bring enlightenment to others, to help others see the path. What say you?
If we should not be attached to anything, if this life and all this pain is an illusion, if the ultimate goal is something beyond the physical and tangible, why live at all? If our goal is to transcend existence, if this physical world truly has nothing worth holding onto, why hold onto life?
Fine, lets say the purpose in life is to reach enlightenment, that is a worthy reason to live. Once enlightenment has been reached, once all ties to worldly things have been severed, why continue to exist in the world? When one has reached enlightenment, wouldn't the final string to sever be life itself, wouldn't it bring us to whatever the next step is?
Personally, I think life is worth living to bring enlightenment to others, to help others see the path. What say you?
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unimaginable suffering is thrust upon all those who know and love you. Ultimately, suicide is a very, very selfish thing to do. Of course there are some situations that call for it (being subjected to fates worse than death, or suffering from a very slow and horribly painful death with no way out) and other such things.
The realm of existence we'll go to depends on the state of our mind and the store of merits we have accumulated for ourselves in this lifetime and our past lives.
Suicide causes demerit and darkness to accrue in the mind of the suicder. And that demerit will drag his consciousness to hell.
How is it possible for a person who resort to suicide be able to be reborn in a heavenly plane of existence or any pleasant plane of existence ?
Your forum name is notanotherphase. Does this mean that you are protesting that Buddhism is not just another phase you are going through? If it isn't, you should listen to the responses you are getting, before talking about bringing Enlightenment to others. You sound like you are reading about Buddhism and getting ideas, but not actually practicing, certainly not practicing with Sangha.
It is just the impression I get from the ideas you are putting forward. Sorry if I'm wrong about that. Regarding the OP, Killing yourself because you're Enlightened is an off the wall idea. I wouldn't know where to begin. .
It's about going good stuff to yourself and others, right here and now....there's nothing more then that.
Firstly we exist as human beings on this planet, so life isn't an illusion. Pain isn't an illusion, our bodies experience it and its how we process and deal with it mentally that's important.
Enlightenment isn't some kind of total annihilation.The goal isn't to 'transcend existence' its to be free from discontent as well as all the delusional attitudes constantly filling our minds. When one is free oneself, then one can possibly teach other people how to overcome their emotional difficulties, if the opportunity arises -- or at least lead a useful life free from causing any distress to other sentient beings in general.
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I Agree, Compassion is a must do when training on the path, To Mahayana Solitary peace is something to be avoided when there are all these countless kind mothers are still stuck in samsara, If the Buddhas had no compassion they would not continually eminate forms to help us, If they didnt have Great compassion they wouldnt be Buddhas.
And so we can enjoy ourselves. Party! (j/k)
We don't have to worry about losing, pain, blame, and so forth. We just accept and enjoy whatever is there.
Also we can help others. But we do so spontaneously out of unconditioned good heart rather than out of a habitual response.
But if you're doing it to escape you'll probably end up somewhere much worse.
Take it from me... I attempted suicide when I was younger. I came this close to dying for real. IT WAS TERRIBLE. Believe you me.
Makes me wonder about the monks who committed self-immolation as a method of protest.
There are no more strings to sever. There is no more "next step". The final step has already been taken and the work is finished. So what need is there to do anything more for oneself? There isn't. The only work to be done after that is to teach others about it, and you can't do that if your dead.
Life severs by its own whether you are enlightened or not.
Its the aversion of suffering, and the desire to get rid of it by ending ones life. And its the ignorance that fail to realize true existence, and thereby strengthens ones grasping to a false sense of self.
Much love
Samten
Why live at all?.....You call this living?......
If there is a next step after enlightenment then that wasn't enlightenment...
If you think life is worth living for any reason - that's good enough....
If you want to think about suicide maybe a reasonable suggestion is to think of it in terms of ending your delusional life and die metaphorically to samsara - let your doubt die - it will arise again as do we all live and die in each moment. Ending physical life volitionally is as they say, "A permanent solution to a temporary problem..." Never give up.
Never Give Up
<abbr class="published" title="2007-12-26T19:15:37Z">Wednesday 26 December 2007</abbr>, by HH the XIV Dalai Lama
Never give up
No matter what is going on
Never give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country
Is spent developing the mind
Instead of the heart
Develop the heart
Be compassionate
Not just with your friends
But with everyone
Be compassionate
Work for peace
In your heart
And in the world
Work for peace
And I say again
Never give up
No matter what is going on around you
Never give up
I do know for a fact that this earth is gorgeous. This life, whatever it is and whatever form it takes, is a HUGE blessing and a gift. We can still have loving relationships that we enjoy without attachment.
I hope that you can find something beautiful and find your blessing.
Now, no. At times I have asked myself "why not?". I feel it is an idea many wrestle with at some point in their life. I was curious about what the Buddhist perspective would be.
I wouldn't have posted that if the OP were in a suicide crisis. But the OP replied and said he had only been curious about the buddhist position on suicide. I thought a little humor was called for. Though of course if it had been a crisis I would have acted differently.
You should watch the video if only to see its not a porno haha.
Reminds me that I need to show this movie to my daughters and nieces though so thanks!!
Ananda I hope you are serious I am a little anxious. It is a good movie I would approve for ages 8 and up.
Thank you.
I will try to make an analogy because I like analogies.
Say a shepherd keeps his sheep in a barn. And this shepherd wants as many sheep as possible. So he is always diligent about watching the barn doors, to minimize how many sheep exit the barn, and herds sheep towards the barn to maximize how many sheep enter the barn.
Say there is another shepherd who also keeps his sheep in a barn, and also wants as many sheep as possible, but is not diligent about watching the barn doors, or herding sheep towards the barn. Some sheep exit the barn, and not too many sheep enter the barn by chance.
Which shepherd will be more successful? Obviously the one that is diligent about monitoring the sheep's exiting and entering the barn. Why? Because he was careful not to let happen that which would bring him further from his goal. And because he was careful to cause that which would bring him closer to his goal.
I think that anything which might condition the mind in a negative way should be avoided. Even if it is something little. We should also seek things that condition the mind in a positive way (the three jewels). This is the way to success. The path can only be traveled with little steps. Progress is precious, and I think we must be very careful not to let happen that which would bring us further from our goal. And be careful to cause that which would bring us closer to our goal.