Fasting is when you abstain from food or drink for a period of time. Generally, it is done with a spiritual observance. Practically every religion has a form of fasting. During Lent, Christians fast, giving up meat and fish. Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan. In the Jewish culture, on the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, individuals fast and pray for 25 hours. Hindus have many days where they forsake food and focus on spiritual things. Jainism, a South Asian religion, has appeared in the news recently for its fasting practice as a way of ending life.
What Is Jainism?
Jainism is one of the oldest Indian religions. Its followers are known as Jains. Jains believe in ahisma, or nonviolence to all living beings, people, animals, and insects. They even try hard not to injure plants, although they do acknowledge that plants are necessary for human survival. Many Jains do not eat bulbs or root vegetables because of their vows. Jains also strongly believe in open-mindedness, or non-absolutism. The third principle of their religion is that of aparigraha, or non-possessiveness and non-materialism. Mahatma Gandhi was said to be influenced by these principles.
Jains take five major vows:
- Nonviolence
- Not lying
- Not stealing
- Chastity
- Non-attachment
Jainism and Death
Followers of Jainism believe in reincarnation and view death as the gateway to the new birth. It is not a mournful end, but a welcome path. Many Jains choose to fast at the time of their death to “detach from life” and purify the soul while they are preparing for the next life. It is called Santhara and is only performed when death is imminent. It’s thought that only around 200 Jains actually practice this, and most of them are monks or spiritual leaders.
In India, suicide is punishable under the law. In August, the High Court of Rajasthan banned the practice, but the Supreme Court froze the ban until a hearing can be scheduled. Jains are free to practice Santhara, even though it is most likely illegal. It may take years to have a full hearing because of the backlog in the court. There is no indication of how the court will rule, and a retired justice has stated that “no religious custom can violate statutory law.”
Religious Freedom
Jains believe that Eastern religions are being judged by Christian and Western standards. Santhara is the belief in the best way to leave this life and accommodate the body into the next life. There is no sense that God has a claim on your life, as with Christianity or Judaism. Jains look at fasting to death as a spiritual advancement. However, some younger Jains question the practice in the modern world. This makes one wonder how a nation can come together on the issue, when one of the smallest religious groups in India cannot agree on the practice.
This issue is also going on in Canada, and with many split on the issue of euthanasia, it might do some good to look at the practice of assisted suicide differently. Many hospitals and health care providers in that country are still drawing up policies for the December 10 deadline when patients can request a life-ending drug cocktail. Some hospitals do not have staff who will carry out patient wishes. How Quebec handles these issues will be instrumental in making changes across Canada.
It’s an age-old question that will be debated for years. Does the right to life include the right to die? While many Christians believe that God should determine the time you die, other religions do not have the same traditions. It would seem patients need to be accommodated in their own beliefs and have access to the care that they want.