going through a temporary anguish, such as loss of loved ones, a physicalinjury, a financial loss or the failure to pass an exam and the fear ofan angry thrashing from parents when they find out. That is called life.It is not enough that we are filled with sorrow. None of these reasons isenough to justify suicide, and thus it is in such cases an ignoble act. It isnot necessarily even enough we are suffering a serious, terminal illness,one of the thousands that beset human beings on this planet.SaturdayLESSON 230ExpiringBy FastingIn their love, their wisdom of the meaning and purpose oflife, the ishis, the divine law makers, provided an alternativefor extraordinary human suffering. They knew thatexcruciating suffering with no possible end in view is notconducive to spiritual progress and that it is best to havea fully conscious death in a joyous, religious mood, meditating or listeningto scripture and sacred songs to the Gods. So, the Vedic ishis gave, inrare circumstances, the anguished embodied soul a way to systematically,nobly and acceptably, even to loved ones, release itself from embodimentthrough fasting. They knew, too, that life is more than a body, that the soulis immortal, that a proper exit can, in fact, be elevating. Death for Hindusis a most exalted human experience, a grand and important departure,424 LIVING WITH IVAmah prasthna. The person making such a decision declares it publicly,which allows for community regulation and distinguishes the act fromsuicide committed privately in traumatic emotional states of anguish anddespair. Ancient lawgivers cited various stipulations: inability to performnormal bodily purification; death appears imminent or the condition isso bad that life's pleasures are nil; and such extraordinary action must bedone under community regulation. The gradual nature of pryopaveais a key factor distinguishing it from sudden suicide, svadehaghata, forit allows time for the individual to settle all differences with others, toponder life and draw close to God, even to change his mind and resumeeating, as well as for loved ones to oversee his gradual exit from the physicalworld. One begins this highly ritualized practice by obtaining forgivenessand giving forgiveness. Next a formal vow, mahvrata maraa, greatvow of death, is taken before one's guru, following a full discussion ofall karmas of this life, especially confessing one's wrongdoings fully andopenly. Thereafter, attention is focused on scripture and the guru's nobleteachings. Med itation on the innermost, immortal Self becomes the fullfocus as one gradually abstains from food. At the very end, as the soulreleases itself from the body, the sacred mantra is repeated as instructedby the preceptor. To leave the body in the right frame of mind, in theright consciousness, through the highest possible chakra, is a key to spiritualprogress. The seers did not want unrelenting pain and hopelessnessto be the only possibilities facing a soul whose body was failing, whoseonly experience was pain without reprieve. So they prescribed a kindlyway, a reasonable way, especially for the pain-riddled, disabled elderly andthe terminally diseased, to choose a righteous release. What wonderfulwisdom. No killer drugs. No violence. No involvement of another humanbeing, with all the karmic en tanglements that inevitably produces. Nolife-support systems. No loss of the family wealth for prolonged healthcare or into the hands of unscrupulous doctors. No lapsing into unconsciouscoma. No loss of dignity. No unbearable anguish. And no suddenor impulsive decisioninstead, a quiet, slow, natural exit from the body,coupled with spiritual practices, with mantras and tantras, with scripturalreadings, deep meditation, reflection and listening to favorite religioussongs, with joyous release, with all affairs settled, with full self-awarenessand with recog nition and support from friends and relations. But don'ttry it unless you meet up to the qualifications and, above all, have communitysupport.CHAPTER 33: BIRTH, ABORTION AND SUICIDE 425SundayLESSON 231Thirty-One-Day RetreatsFrom our cyberspace c