COMMITTING SUICIDE: A BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Death is the most frightening for ordinary people. Even death is scary, there are still several people decide to commit suicide. That shows that, for them, death is not the most frightening thing. There is something more terrifying than death, so they decide to end their lives. In Buddhism, there are more implications than it is generally known. Therefore, it is a matter worthy for the study. The results of the study are: 1) There is a kind of suicide to escape from suffering and boredom. 2) Suicide occurred due to insane delusion or Saññā vippalāsa (distortion of perception). 3) Suicide is committed as a method of achieving a specific goal or a special method. 4) Suicide is considered a means of death of some Arahants. 5) Suicide is believed to be the highest act of worship that may help one become a Buddha in the future. In all of these, ordinary people may fall into suffering, but only the noble ones do not suffer from any kind of suffering. As for direct teaching on suicide prevention, it has been found yet. In the cause of setting forth the third code of conduct in Pārājika, the Buddha criticized the suicide as something that should not be done, but there are teachings that mitigate and eliminate suffering, such as the teaching not to have attachment, the teaching on how to consider the disappointment of separation as a normal condition. That can be considered as an indirect teaching to prevent committing suicide.