Articles
Inquiry. The Buddha on Suicide. The Golden Gate Bridge
Dharma Inquiry takes place two or three times in a weeklong retreat, lasting from a few minutes to 30 minutes or more. The meditator decides to come and sit beside me at the front of the Dharma Hall. Inquiry can take the form of questions or sharing of an experience, concerns and explorations of life on Earth. The participant or myself can say ‘Thank You’ to bring the Inquiry to a close at any time. The following is a transcribed/edited version of an Inquiry, occasionally with additional sentences to expand on the theme to support the reader’s experience. Inquiry took place in Germany in 2024. Permission given to transcribe.
The Buddha on Suicide
Q. I am interested in learning about the Buddhist tradition. I wish to learn about the Dharma view in relation to my work. I work with individuals experiencing severe depression and suicidal ideation.
Suicide net at Golden Gate bridge. San Francisco
CT. Chronically suicidal?
Q. Yes, at times. What is the view in the Buddhist tradition on suicide, on the deliberate act to take one’s own life? In Austria, the legal status of assisted suicide has undergone a transformation. The law ( since 2022)now provides support for those who wish to end their own lives. This represents a significant shift from the previous position. This is not the case in the country where I live. My question pertains to the Buddhist view on ending one’s life. I am aware of the Buddha’s teaching, which stated ‘life is suffering.’
CT. The Buddha did not state that life is suffering. He said suffering arises in life due to causes and conditions.
Q. In my initial interactions with depressed or suicidal citizens, I have found the initial step is to be fully present for them. I must concede that I am experiencing some difficulty in this regard. I am uncertain as to the best course of action. I am not attempting to persuade them to stop their desire for death. I focus on fostering a connection. I strive to convey love through my presence and intentions. My intention includes facilitating my own growth and understanding. Is there a more straightforward process? What can I implement?
CT. I am not in a position to speak on behalf of the Buddhist tradition. There are numerous traditions and within the traditions, a multitude of lineages, large and small. You can probably find a diversity of views on suicide. Compassion always takes priority for those who suffer to the point of self-harm. Some Buddhist traditions do not see suicide as a solution due to rebecoming of unresolved problems. I can say a few words on the Buddha’s priority. He emphasised care for life – personal, social, for all humanity, creatures and the natural world. Awareness, ethics, kindness form part of the body of his teachings. Two discourses refer specifically to the suicide of two monks. The monks shared their suicidal ideation and intentions. The Buddha did not offer a judgemental view, nor tried to persuade either to hold onto their life, nor regard suicide as a failure. In the teachings, death of the ego takes priority.
Q. What were the circumstances for a person wishing to commit suicide?
CT. It seems both individuals were enduring intense and unremitting pain. One monk said he wanted to “take to the knife” – probably meaning to cut his wrists, stab himself or take poison. It is important to note that such incidents occurred over 2,600 years ago. Significant advancements have been made in painkillers and pain relief.
The monk, Channa, spoke to Sariputta, a respected Dharma teacher in the Sangha, who asked Channa questions. The Buddha’s response showed Channa, who took to the knife, did not produce negative karma with negative consequences. He found no fault with his decision due Channa’s depth of wisdom and insights. This indicates the monk dwelt in calm and clarity of mind.
Another monk, Vakkali, who killed himself, suffered from a serious illness. The Buddha told the Sangha of practitioners that Vakkali abided free from any suffering in his mind. The Buddha neither endorsed suicide nor cricitised it. He respected the mental clarity of the two monks.
Give maximum support to a person on the edge of life and death. Some reach the point where self-harm is more than a thought. Is there a strong intention? Perhaps a person has engaged in self harm in a previous occasion. Develop a caring communication with a person who is suicidal, be aware of their circumstances. Stay receptive to the whole person. See the person in a non-dual way.
Q. What does non-dual mean?
CT. In most cases, your heart wishes to preserve the person’s life. If your desire comes across strongly, you will want the person to live. Some may respond to your wish but others can become more resistant to living. The person hears it as a pressure adding to the inner pressure present of desire for self-harm and self-extinction. Love and empathy matter. It isn’t easy in your work or in a personal situation to stay as calm and steady as possible, not caught up in the duality of life and death -not holding onto life and fighting death regardless of what you see or hear. Dwell without prejudice for life and against death or prejudice toward death and against life.
I remember two decades ago or more reading in a San Francisco newspaper about a suicidal doctor. She left a note on her table in her home in the city. As I recall, the note said, “I’m going to throw myself off the Golden Gate bridge. If anybody looks at me, and smiles, I won’t continue walking to the bridge and will go back home. A smile means a signal to go on living.”
Nobody smiled. Never underestimate the importance of warmth, empathy and kindness. Have no prejudice in the mind towards anybody, nor life, nor death. Stay true to empathy and kindness.
May all beings be at peace with themselves
May all beings be at peace with each other
May all beings live in peace and harmony.
PS. Around 2000 people, and possible many more, have committed suicide from the Golden Gate Bridge in California. A suicide prevention net was finally erected around the bridge in January 2024. This bridge has an international reputation as the world’s number one suicide location.
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Our beloved school in Bodh Gaya, India. A school report revealing happiness
Our beloved Prajna Vihar School (School of Wise Abiding) in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India provides classes for more than 500 children, plus meditation, the performing arts and steps to liberation from severe poverty.
Most of the children come from many of the poorest families in the area.
School includes prayer, singing, dance, mindfulness, meditation, sharing and giving. Pupils have an excellent record with learning/exams and winning local competitions from essays to the performing arts.
In 1992, the school took root in a modest way with around 40 children in a class in a monastery and gradually expanded over the years. Plenty of children attending our school were beggars on the streets of Bodh Gaya, a major place of pilgrimage for Buddhists worldwide. These same children went on to attend university, learn foreign languages to become tourists guides, work in Bollywood, manage hotels and are CEOs of their own growing businesses.
Education has the power to liberate young and old from desperate hardship.
Years ago, we used to have a sign hanging up in the school. “Boys learn for themselves. Girls go home and teach all their family reading, writing and arithmetic.” Some of the boys got the message!
You cannot imagine the happiness of the parents, many illiterate, who spent their life living in mediaeval poverty. They witness their children become confident citizens making a real contribution to India, to society, their community and their parents.
Prajna Vihar School (School of Abiding Wisdom) welcomes children of all backgrounds and religious faith. Our head teacher is a Catholic nun. Teachers and pupils are Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, secular and more.
School Report
This week our beloved school sent a report to supporters of the school from late December 2023 to late March 2024. Here is an edited version.
8th December 2023
We had farewell program for our 9th and 10th class students. It was a great joy for each one of us that they have completed their schooling in Prajna Vihar School for 10/12 years most of them. That they have received good knowledge/education & learned many things for their future. So, in remembrance of PVS (Prajna Vihar School) a small gift, a pocket Dictionary was given to them. And our wish is that pupils may have a long life, a better future and become good citizens.
23rd December 2023
We had today Christmas celebration in Jeevan Sangham with Inter -Religious people. Our students took part in the Christmas quiz competition, and our students won the Ist prize. Everyone congratulated them and they were very happy & thrilled with joy. They received the shield as a personal and in the name of the school. Wherever our students take part they always win the prize. We feel proud of them and thank God for our students.
6th January 2024
Three friends from France came on the 5th to our school and expressed the wish to distribute for our students a sweater and pen. We cannot forget their love towards our students, who were in great need. May God Bless them in their every endeavors.
26th January 2024
On this day we celebrated 76th Republic Day. We invited our Chief Guest Prof. Kailash Prasad, who willingly accepted our invitation and came. After hoisting the flag and playing the National Anthem there was March Past, P.T., Patriotic & action songs and dance performed well by our budding stars.
29th January 2024
Today from Corian Temple two Dhamma Buddha’s came with flowers and two Guava Plants which were planted in the campus. We are grateful for their generosity.
31st January 2024
Today the friends of Vietnamese came along with our old students. They distributed some eatable things for all the students. They brought and distributed Maggi packet, Rusk and Chocolate among our all students. Our students were excited with joy and the Vietnamese friends were also very much delighted.
1st – 3rd February 2024. In Mahabodhi Society there was 133rd Anniversary Celebration. They invited all the close by school students to take part in their celebration. They have kept 1st day Prayerful dance, 2nd day dance program outside and 3rd day a dance from Shri Lankan dancers performed. it was very excited to see. At the end, all the students and the teachers were given a small gift.
7th February 2024
Today in Mahabodhi Society there was Meditation training conducted by the Hyderabadi persons. Our students were called specially to join the meditation training for their future life. So, we sent the 7th and 8 class students for this training. We believe that this may help them to their lifelong journey.
12th March 2024
The Vietnamese group came on 11th March to find out with our old student Awdhesh Kumar from Mastipur Village. They asked what is needed at present for the children? So, we suggested them that if you give writing material. They asked us how many? We also asked: We asked, “Will you provide for all the students or some of them.” They replied enthusiastically that they will provide for all the students. So, we arranged with the shop keepers and brought the copies. The group distributed to the students at our school with delight. We were very grateful for their generosity of heart. May the Good Lord bless them in all what they do.
13th and 14th March 2024
Special Guest Radha Nicholson from NSW, Australia and Mr. Bryan Tucker from Boston, USA (two Dharma teachers) visited our school over several days. Mr. Bryan gave beautiful motivational stories, which Sapna Mam helped the children understand. The children were very happy to hear the stories.
16th March 2024
Today, we said farewell for the 8th class students. Beautiful prayer prayers were said by students and teaches for their successful future life. There was a small entertainment program and farewell song by the students of class 7th. After that Sr. Udita, the Principal appreciated the students being with us for 10 years or from 5-9 years. Snacks were served for the outgoing students and all those who were present for the program.
27th March 2024
Today we were filled with great joy, because being a Holi feast. We were untouched by any Holi color. We welcomed Radha Nicholson, Mr. Bryan and 27 friends from different countries like Australia, France, Israel, Sweden and India. We were very much exhilarated with joy. Our students were very. happy, active. Everybody danced and enjoyed together. And Mr. Bryan too played his musical instrument. People sang a song with much expression – (Raghupati Raghaw Raja Ram Patita Pawan Sita Ram.) We enjoyed singing together. We were thankful to everybody for their sacrificing spirit, mind and Heart.
May the Good Lord bless the students and keep them under his loving protection,
May they be able to continue the work which they are continuously doing.
May Good Lord fill them with Peace, joy and Happiness.
Some gave a donation for the running costs of the school.
Sr Udita, the Principal, acknowledge their presence among us.
May God bless you all.
To learn and see more about our school, look at our website.
You can also donate. See link at top of home page.
We plan to provide a brand-new website in the weeks ahead.
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Can We Develop Mindful Societies? Christopher Talk, Q&A, Sharing. 25 January. 19.00 – 20.30 CET
What does it mean? Practical Steps.
…
Join a Free Wellbeing Event on Saturday 6-Sunday 7 January 2024. A wide range of 50 minute sessions from 9 am to 6 pm.
Join a Free Wellbeing Event at
The Wise Lotus Centre (TWLC)
Letchworth Garden City
(Five minutes walk from station. 30 minutes train from Kings Cross, London)
Herts,
England.
Nshorna Davis is the founder of the TWLC. Nshorna and I teach the 12 month Mindfulness Teacher Training Course running from October 2023 – 2023.
