Sallekhana: Jain Perspective on End-of-Life Practices

Summary

The text discusses the Jain concept of sallekhana, a practice considered the zenith of human life, particularly for householders approaching death. It clarifies that sallekhana involves gradually abandoning physical and internal passions as death nears, leading to a voluntary severance of life. The author argues that this practice is not suicide, as it is performed without passion, attachment, or delusion, unlike self-harm driven by negative emotions. The text references Pujyapida’s Sarvirthasiddhi, emphasizing that the absence of passions constitutes non-injury, while their presence leads to harm. A metaphor of a merchant safeguarding his storehouse illustrates the undesirability of destruction, contrasting it with the disciplined, passion-free nature of sallekhana. The article is part of an interdisciplinary exploration of end-of-life practices, co-edited by Dr. Shugan Chand Jain and Dr. Christopher Chapple, and is available in a 342-page hardcover book published by DK Print World. The author, Vijay K. Jain, is an independent researcher, management graduate, and proprietor of a publishing firm, with expertise in Jain scriptures. A review of the book is available in the November 2020 issue of Jain Avenue Magazine.