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Re: REQUEST : Suicide
Sankar Jayanarayanan <kartik@Eng.Auburn.EDU> writes:
>Shyam wrote:
>>
>> I was just curious to know what our philosophy says about suicide. Is it
>> immoral or bad karma?
>
Immoral or bad karma ? Hmm..I think you can not differentiate since
all morals (and immorals) have their karma, call it good or bad.
Whenever the body and mind is not engaged in the service of God, it
itself is suicide. However, suicide of the body just trying to escape the
pressures/failures of the material world is condemned by many saints.
>According to Sri Ramakrishna, one who commits suicide would have to suffer
>several births in order to expiate oneself of that sin.
>But Sri Ramakrishna also adds that on realizing God, one can give up the body
>(which may appear to be "suicide" in the eyes of laymen) and attain Mukti.
>-Kartik
Actually, one can argue that the jivanmukta is not aware of his
body to commit suicide since he no longer says 'I am the body/mind.'
As an example, one can look at people like Jnanadeva (who has
written a wonderful commentary on Bhagvad gita) who voluntarily gave up the
body at a young age (22-25).
>>It is explicitly stated in Christianity and others that
>> suicide is an unforgivable sin.
I personally don't think anything is unforgivable by God. After all,
it is human to err. Though you may say that suicide is the worst sin, I cannot
say God willing be unwilling to forgive a devotee, however stupid he/she is.
Namaste.
Giri
