Have you heard of Paul Logan? He's a youtube vlogger/content creator. I'm an avid fan of vloggers - my idea of unwinding/relaxing is binge-watching some of my favorite vloggers. I've heard of Paul before, but never watched any of his videos from beginning to end. I only became curious when his controversial Japan vlog came out early this year. I didn't get to watch the whole video (because it was forced down quickly), but I saw bits of it in PewDiePie's reaction video. He was heavily criticized by news companies and netizens for the insensitive video. In case you're not following, in his Japan video he went to the Suicide forest, saw a dead corpse and as you can imagine, he didn't edit it out.
Anyways, a few weeks later, he made a come back with a video addressing the issue of suicide. Now, I'm not concerned with whether this was a sincere video or it's just for show, but I'm very impressed with how he's turned his mistake into making a positive impact by bring to light this issue. Suicide. Take a few minutes to watch his video:
Anyways, a few weeks later, he made a come back with a video addressing the issue of suicide. Now, I'm not concerned with whether this was a sincere video or it's just for show, but I'm very impressed with how he's turned his mistake into making a positive impact by bring to light this issue. Suicide. Take a few minutes to watch his video:
In his interview, he was asked "don't you know anyone who has committed suicide?" and his answer was no, even though he's from Ohio (a state where suicide is the second leading causes of death). I asked myself the same question - and the answer is also no. I've never known anyone who had committed suicide. I did a bit of research, and my three countries (Philippines, Nigeria, Iran) are low in the suicide rate list, so that's no wonder this issue is hardly ever on the news. But that doesn't mean it never happens. We shouldn't wait for it to become an issue before educate ourselves or address it.
I looked up 'suicide in the Philippines' and learnt that there's actually something called "World Suicide Prevention Day" and it was reported last year that while there are approximately 800,000 deaths (worldwide) every year, caused by suicide, there are even more people who attempt suicide every year (but fail).
It's very easy for us to just sit and watch and say things like anyone who tries to take their lives is very selfish. Selfish because they don't consider the feelings or what would be the feelings of those they leave behind. Selfish because there are a million others who have more difficult lives (hence, they should learn to be more grateful). But these things are easier said than done. Paul sat down with a survivor (Kevin), and asked him "looking back, if there was something you could tell your younger self, what would it be?" Ken said he'd tell himself "I'm here for you."
That got me thinking, I really need to educate myself more about this. What if I ever come across a friend who I find out has been contemplating suicide? How do I talk to them? Or what if I meet someone who attempted suicide but failed, how do I reach out to them? How do you start the conversation? What do you say!? I can imagine it would be scary because I'd worry that if I said something that might upset them, it might make them more sensitive.
So I decided to turn to the Bahá'i Holy Writings and see what it says about these topics.
Tests and Difficulties:
"...No comfort can be secured by any soul in this world, from monarch down to the most humble commoner. If once this life should offer a man a sweet cup, a hundred bitter ones will follow; such is the condition of this world. The wise man, therefore, doth not attach himself to this mortal life and doth not depend upon it; at some moments, even, he eagerly wisheth for death that he may thereby be free from these sorrows and afflictions. Thus it is seen that some, under extreme pressure of anguish, have committed suicide..."
The next part is about how we can never truly know how God will deal with us in the next worlds. But of course, we know that God is the All-Merciful, the Ever-Forgiving. So the quotation continues:
"As to him rest assured; he will be immersed in the ocean of pardon and forgiveness and will become the recipient of bounty and favor."(Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 200)
It's interesting to see that while suicide is strongly condemned (direct quotation in the next few paragraphs), it does not mean those who commit it will be severely punished in the next world. In the Bahá'i Faith we believe that our souls will continue to progress in the all the worlds of God, but for that to really happen, we need to also pray for those souls. Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá have revealed several prayers for the departed, but we mustn't only wait until they've passed for us to remember them in our prayers. While we know of people right now who are going through a lot of tests and difficulties, let us remember to pray for them.
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"While a man is happy he may forget his God; but when grief comes and sorrows overwhelm him, then will he remember his Father Who is in Heaven, and Who is able to deliver him from his humiliations. Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit." (Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 50-51)
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A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer (30 June 1923)
"As to the inconveniences you have experienced during the last ten years, the best consolation I can imagine for you is your own quotation of the Hidden Words, 'My calamity is my providence.' We must bear with one another. It is only through suffering that the nobility of character can make itself manifest....the lives of Bahá'u'lláh and Abdu'l-Bahá are the best examples for this. Sacrifices in the path of one's religion produce always immortal results, 'Out of the ashes rises the phoenix'." (Lights of Guidance, No. 2048)
Suicide:
"You must not injure yourselves or commit suicide... Should anyone at any time encounter hard and perplexing times, he must say to himself, "This will soon pass." Then will he be calm and quiet. In all my calamity and difficulties I used to say to myself, "This will pass away". Then I become patient." (Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 12, No. 181, P. 280)
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A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of the USA and Canada 29 March 1945:
"Although suicide is so strongly condemned in the teachings, it does not mean that a person has ceased to be a Bahá'i because he killed himself; he should therefore, be mentioned, the same as other believers, in this section." (Lights of Guidance, No. 674)
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Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, 7 June 1979:
"Suicide is forbidden in the Cause. God Who is the Author of all life can alone take it away, and dispose of it in the way He deems best. Whoever commits suicide endangers his soul, and will suffer spiritually as a result in the other Worlds. The House of Justice admonishes you to put all thought of suicide and death out of your mind and concentrate on prayer and effort to serve the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh". (Lights of Guidance, No. 677)
While God assures us that the tests and difficulties we all face are intended for our own good, and He assures us that things will be better.
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| Taken from the internet |
While the quote above might tempt someone to end their life because they're eager to partake of the better world ahead, we know from the Writings of life after death that it's not an 'automatic upgrade'. We shouldn't forget why we were put on this world in the first place (to prepare for the next world). We shape our characters by the way the "dance through the storm". It is through tests and difficulties that we have the opportunity to develop the virtues of love, forgiveness, justice and humility...all of which are needed for our souls to grow and then progress after we pass on from this moral world.
Bahá'u'lláh assures us that we are not given more than we can handle "He will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its power. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Merciful." (Gleanings, p.106)
Bahá'u'lláh assures us that we are not given more than we can handle "He will never deal unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul beyond its power. He, verily, is the Compassionate, the All-Merciful." (Gleanings, p.106)
After learning all this, I don't think it's enough to just pass Holy Writings to friends/people you know who are contemplating suicide or are recovering from attempts. I believe there are people who are aware of what their Sacred Scriptures have to say, but still go ahead and do what's contrary. However, we can take it a step forward and be a good friend. When we engage with such people, our role shouldn't be to just talk, or to sermon them right from wrong. Sometimes we can be more helpful by just listening. It gives them a chance to actually hear their own thoughts out loud and sometimes that's all they even need. The least they need is judgement. That's why Abdu'l-Bahá reminds us:
"True friends are even as skilled physicians, and the Teachings of God are as healing balm, a medicine for the conscience of man. They clear the head, so that a man can breathe them in a delight in their sweet fragrance. They waken those who sleep. They bring awareness to the unheeding, and a portion to the outcast, and to the hopeless, hope."