Guest guest Posted March 27, 2005 Report Share Posted March 27, 2005 In a message dated 3/27/2005 6:53:55 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Ammachi writes: Assisted suicide is therefore clearly wrong. If someone clearly wants to die and is not being forced fed I believe that not taking food (and even water) is not that difficult. wouldn't that be suicide? avram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2005 Report Share Posted March 27, 2005 OM! Dear avram, Very observant. In a sense it certainly is. In India, refraining from food and sometimes water is sometimes seen as something different because fasting is understood as a powerful way of getting closer to God. Sometimes, a religious aspirant who is "infinitely" frustrated by not having attained God after intense, long and arduous years of sadhana may decide to end his life by fasting. As his body is slowly moving away from the grosser aspects of physical existence he may attain God or get needed guidance. Upasani Baba was known as the suffering saint. Life was very painful for him. When he tried to fast to death while taking the Name of God he ended up--after a lengthy period of time--coming out of a trance in a most purified state. So fasting to death is different than putting a bullet in one's head because not only is there added time, but the endurance of going without food is a kind of test and purification of the person's conviction. Also, Gandhi would fast as a protest. He wouldn't, for example, play Russian roulette until he won people over. Fasting can be used more like putting your fate into God's hands. Therefore, while I would try to stop someone from shooting himself or taking poison, I would not forcibly attempt to stop someone from fasting to death. God sustained Upasani Baba for a whole year without food. Ammachi, sprose1@a... wrote: > > In a message dated 3/27/2005 6:53:55 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, > Ammachi writes: > > Assisted suicide is therefore clearly wrong. If someone clearly > wants to die and is not being forced fed I believe that not taking > food (and even water) is not that difficult. > > > > wouldn't that be suicide? avram > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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