Guest guest Posted December 21, 2001 Report Share Posted December 21, 2001 Brad, that was good. This subject of euthenesia is important to me as I am an oncologist. I am still not sure if it may not get abused in todays world. Many older people may feel silent but palpable pressure from their family, especially if their care is costing them money. Anup - " Brad Stephan " <brad " The Ramakrishna List " <ramakrishna > Tuesday, December 18, 2001 8:56 AM [sri Ramakrishna] Re: Euthanasia > Greetings: > > I found the following at www.himalayanacademy.com : > > 1) " Before dying, Hindus diligently fulfill obligations, make amends and > resolve differences by forgiving themselves and others, lest unresolved > karmas bear fruit in future births. That done, we turn to God through > meditation, surrender and scriptural study. As a conscious death is our > ideal, we avoid drugs, artificial life-extension and suicide. Suicide only > postpones and intensifies the karma one seeks escape from, requiring several > lives to return to the evolutionary point that existed at the moment of > suicide. In cases of terminal illness, under strict community regulation, > tradition does allow prayopavesha, self-willed religious death by fasting. > When nearing transition, if hospitalized, we return home to be among loved > ones. In the final hours of life, we seek the Self God within and focus on > our mantra as kindred keep prayerful vigil. At death, we leave the body > through the crown chakra, entering the clear white light and beyond in quest > of videhamukti. The Vedas affirm, " When a person comes to weakness, be it > through old age or disease, he frees himself from these limbs just as a > mango, a fig or a berry releases itself from its stalk. Aum Namah Sivaya. " > > 2) " Suicide has traditionally been condemned in Hindu scripture because, > being an abrupt escape from life, it creates unseemly karma to face in the > future. However, in cases of terminal disease or great disability, religious > self-willed death through fasting--prayopavesha--is permitted. The person > making such a decision declares it publicly, which allows for community > regulation and distinguishes the act from suicide performed privately in > traumatic emotional states of anguish and despair. Ancient lawgivers cite > various stipulations: 1) inability to perform normal bodily purification; 2) > death appears imminent or the condition is so bad that life's pleasures are > nil; 3) the action must be done under community regulation. The gradual > nature of prayopavesha is a key factor distinguishing it from sudden > suicide, svadehaghata ( " murdering one's body " ), for it allows time for the > individual to settle all differences with others, to ponder life and draw > close to God, as well as for loved ones to oversee the person's gradual exit > from the physical world. In the ideal, highly ritualized practice, one > begins by obtaining forgiveness and giving forgiveness. Next a formal vow, > mahavrata-marana, " great vow of death, " is given to one's guru, following a > full discussion of all karmas of this life, especially fully and openly > confessing one's wrongdoings. Thereafter, attention is to be focused on > scripture and the guru's noble teachings. Meditation on the innermost, > immortal Self becomes the full focus as one gradually abstains from food. At > the very end, as the soul releases itself from the body, the sacred mantra > is repeated as instructed by the preceptor. " > > Lastly, on page 164 of " The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, " Sri Ramakrishna has > this to say: > > " Suicide is a heinous sin, undoubtedly. A man who kills himself must retrun > again and again to this world and suffer its agony. But I don't call it > suicide if a person leaves his body after having the vision of God. There is > no harm in giving up one's body that way. After attaining Knowledge some > people give up their bodies. After the gold image has been cast in the clay > mould, you may either preseve the mould or break it. " > > God Bless, > Brad > > > > > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.vivekananda.co.uk > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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