Swami on Euthanasia

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram dear Sai Family

In light of the emphasis that has been placed on the

Terri Schiavo case. I thought it would be helpful to

take note of what Sri Sathya Sai Baba has to say on

the subject of euthanasia.

 

These excerpts were taken from the book "Anandadayi -

Journey with Sai" by Karunamba Ramamurthy. The

conversations cover the period between 1946 - 1950.

 

"During another visit to Parthi, we were with Swami in

the Interview Room. Swami enquired about Radha's

family matters. The topic of bhakti came up again.

 

KANNAMMA: Swami, a devotee could not come to

Puttaparthi because her mother has broken her waist

and is bedridden.

 

SWAMI: (jokingly) Why should not an injection be given

to end her life immediately? What else, Ammayi, there

is no use in being alive like that.

 

KANNAMMA: Swami, You have kept her in that state.

Keeping her alive or not is in Your hands.

 

SWAMI: If they retain some karma of this life, they

will have to undergo it in their next life. People who

have lots of karma will have to suffer for a longer

time. How will you finish it without undergoing some

difficulties? I let them to get over it in this life

itself so that there will be nothing left. (He meant

that the slate would be wiped clean.)

 

KANNAMMA: Swami, all that we are undergoing, is it due

to our previous karma?

 

SWAMI: Yes. Let us assume that you break Radhamma's

hand. As a reaction she will break yours. You will

come to Me and say, "Swami, she broke my hand." You

will not know that you had broken her hand in the

previous birth. But I know that. Then what should be

done? If you console yourself that this difficulty has

befallen you because you might have hurt her

previously, your mind will be at peace and you will

get the strength to bear the difficulty.

 

KANNAMMA: Swami, if we undergo all our karma now, do

we attain a state of 'no birth' ?

 

SWAMI: Aha! Do you think that the state of 'no birth'

is so easily attainable?

 

KANNAMMA: What should we do to attain it?

 

SWAMI: You have to do sadhana with your mind. The body

experiences karma. The mind tries for birthlessness.

If all the karma has been gone through, you will be

born in a noble family. Due to inherited good

qualities you do not commit any more sins and will not

go against dharma. If people fear sin and willingly do

good deeds, they will not commit sin. No sin means no

birth.

 

KANNAMMA: Swami, should we have to undergo all the

karma?

 

SWAMI: Yes. (It is our karma which either hurts or

helps us. Actions of this birth are carried to the

next birth. They are around our neck like invisible

garlands. The pattern of our life is governed by what

the garland is made of — fragrant flowers or foul

smelling flowers. Swami has elaborated elsewhere that

suffering and misery are inescapable acts of the

cosmic drama. Man invites them by way of retribution

for his evil deeds. This is corrective punishment

which aids their evolution. It induces them to give up

the wrong path and return to the right path.)"