Hi,
This really has nothing to do with religion, but is a personal message by someone who happens to be a Buddhist.
The important part of this post is the advice of the writer, based on his own near-suicide attempt, and not Buddhism, which has little opinion on the matter, at least in terms of a coherent theology.
Honestly, I wish I would have found this 20 years ago, but it may help some people, and even the way things are for me now, it has made me stop and think a little more.
bz
2 comments
I read the article. I practice Zen and I agree with his perspective on suicide. There are four great vows and the first is “Sentient beings are numberless, we vow to save them all.” You must count yourself as a sentient being to be saved.
We don’t even know…really know..what happens after death..or I don’t know. There are some people who’ve had near death experiences where they will tell you exactly how it is after death. There is the Tibetan Book of the Dead where it will give you all the teachings on death, all the levels, the interval between death and rebirth called bardos but personally, I don’t know and even if I knew how does that help me live NOW. I need to know how to end suffering in this life.
So, ya, the assumption is that by committing suicide you’ll be reborn a snake or something lower. Don’t know!!
I don’t believe in reincarnation. But this was the best thing I have ever read on dealing with suicidal ideation.