[Buddha-l] Nirvana Sutra Chapter 19

[Dan Lusthaus]

Lance,

> I think this is quite wrong. [...] There are a few exceptional cases where 
> someone reaches nirvāṇa after taking their own life, but suicide is 
> generally seen as a form of taking life, bound to lead to a bad rebirth.

According to the mythos of the Pali texts, the Buddha himself, soon after 
his Awakening, considered that he had done what needed to be done, and was 
ready to kill himself to pass into nirvana. It was Brahma who talks him out 
of it, telling him that he needs to teach others. The argument is not that 
killing himself would be morally wrong. After all, he's just achieved 
Awakening -- he should know right and wrong, yes?

Jatakas also extol the bodhisattvas who sacrifice their own lives, assisted 
suicide if you will (the starving tigress with cubs, etc.). I could go on.

You are right that the codified position eventually wraps it with the notion 
of ahimsa, but the early Pali texts are much more complicated. The Mahayana 
attitudes even moreso.

Dan