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Suicide
What is the Buddhist theory on suicide? Were the monks that immolated themselves for a cause in the Vietnam War going against the Buddha's teachings? Is suicide by a lay person for personal reasons "wrong"? How so? Any references? Sorry, not trying to "stir up the pot" so to speak.
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Comments
Suicide is an extremely unwise and unskilful action, due to the repercussions it causes, in both grief and pain for others, and in the wanton destruction of a life.
This said, I know an eminent Theravada monk committed suicide due to unbearable physical pain and agony caused by an intestinal malady.
Jason would be able to provide more accurate information.
As for monks subjecting themselves to immolation - I don't consider tat suicide in the gravest light, personally, but they had reason in bringing attention to a cause in the most dramatic yet non-violent way they could think of.
I am undecided as to the skilful aspect of such an act, but it must have taken extreme calm presence of mind and concentration to have withstood such an ordeal.
I have a great degree of respect and admiration for a person willing to sacrifice their lives for the attention it will bring to the plight of others' suffering.
Buddhists generally undertake a commitment to refrain from taking life. This commitment includes one's own life.
Also, regarding the burning monks, I just learned the cause was not the Vietnam war. If the reasons are emotional, then the Buddhist view is suicide is unskilful. The reason for this is because suffering can be overcome and both understanding & good trustworthy friends can be found in this world.
The Buddha said to think suicide can bring peace is to 'over-reach'. He said, instead, it is wiser to investigate the causes of our suffering, both within us and, if necessary, outside of us.
Kind regards,
DDhatu
I have trouble seeing the merit in the Vietnamese monks' self-immolations - even if they indirectly promoted peace - because they seem like violent acts committed with the goal evoking horror in witnesses. However, I am not privy to the monks' intent.
V
Suicide is seen as a tragic event in Buddhism for all the reasons stated above. I can attest to the emotional suffering of the survivors as my older sister killed herself two years ago. It was not in an especially violent way, she drank herself to death over a period of about a year and a half. Nonetheless it has been a great challenge to her friends, her husband and children, and other members of my family, especially my oldest sister who found the dead body. I would never choose to kill myself for that reason alone. To inflict that kind of suffering on others is just something I could never do.
Having said that, if I was kidnapped and subjected to great physical/emotional torture to the point where I welcomed death, perhaps my consideration for others would vanish. I don't know. But as everyone has said, this issue must be considered on a case by case basis.
However I do know that all things are impermanent. One day we are acutely suffering and the next we are not. Suicide committed while the mind is in turmoil is a great tragedy because that turmoil could dissolve at any time.
Suicide committed in the way and for the reasons of the Vietnamese monks is an altogether different kettle of fish, in my humble opinion. As DD pointed out, those monks were not protesting the Vietnam war. There were protesting the government's crackdown on Buddhism, the monasteries, and the monks and nuns themselves. I can imagine what that threat must have meant to the monastics. It must have been seen as an attack on the Buddhadhamma itself.
The way they killed themselves, to me, was skillful. I've watched the grainy footage over and over and the expression on the monk's face as the fire ignites and burns never changes. I imagine the monk went quickly into a deep level of meditative concentration and may not have even felt the burning as something painful. I don't know. What I do know is that I saw those images as a child and being catholic and in love with the stories of the saints, those images affected me profoundly. I was horrified but amazed at their composure and sacrifice. I was inspired to develop the same kind of incredible strength and peace in the face of death. I had no idea how to go about it but I wanted it.
Having seen the footage so many times I no longer feel the horror that I did. I know now that it pointed me to a spiritual path that some monastics felt was precious and important enough to sacrifice their lives for. Seeing that monk's face in the flames, his utterly expressionless face, and how no part of his body seemed to move or reflexively try to get away from the fire, is concrete proof to me that meditation is more powerful than anything in this world. More powerful than fire. For my practice that means I've witnessed unshakable proof that what the Buddha taught was true and that's a powerful thing.
So I don't view those suicides as tragedies. They were sacrifices for sure, but as least one witness benefited greatly from them. When I see or hear about those actions now I feel an overwhelming gratitude to those monks and a renewed vigor in my practice.
But that's just me.
In a nutshell, I agree with the others here. I think suicide must be examined case by case. It can be an utterly selfish act or it can be an utterly unselfish act. It all depends upon the intent.
The short answer is that it depends on the specific circumstances involved. Suicide isn't seen as a skillful action and is strongly discouraged, although there are certain cases recorded in the Pali Canon where monks who committed suicide actually attained awakening and whose actions were considered blameless by the Buddha (e.g, MN 144).
Not knowing the mental states of the monks who immolated themselves during the Vietnam War, however, there's no way to know whether their actions were blameless.
Palzang
Speaking from my non-religious (but seeking) Western standpoint I think the monks protest of the Diem government's treatment of Buddhists was a noble cause but unfortunately it didn't change things, still today the Buddhist community is being persecuted in Vietnam, for example the recent events at Bat Nah Monastery.Thanks again for shedding some light on this subject for me. I've got more topics I need some help with, hopefully I won't become annoying!
-Bill