Santhara - Rationale of Starvation

Rationale of Starvation

Jainism believes that each and every action (eating included) may or may not become karma or reaction. Jains are strictly vegetarian, but a tree, even if it has only one sense, has life, and hence taking away a piece of it (vegetable, fruit, leaf) hurts it—thereby adding a negative karma to all who encourage this process. Besides, there may be living organisms surviving in that fruit/vegetable/leaf that one eats. So by eating, one hurts the tree/plant and also possibly kills organisms living in it. In fact, since water also has microscopic organisms, even drinking water adds to one's karma.

The basic idea in different kinds of Jain fasting is to acquire a lowest possible negative karma and purify oneself in the process. Santhara, in this sense, is the best way to purification. This is practiced only by those who have finished living and wish to go on to another existence: it is not done out of desperation or the pain of illness or sorrow.

Jains claim that Santhara or Sallekhana is the most ideal, peaceful, and satisfying form of death. It is done in full consciousness, not suddenly, sadly or ignorantly. Jains acknowledge the suffering one endures while in the process of starving but state that it allows for a better understanding of the inherently painful and flawed nature of earthly existence. To further explain the rationale, Jains claim this stops sustaining their own life at the cost of the other life forms they might otherwise consume. The supreme goal is to minimize the damage one does to their environment. Asceticism is revered and practicing ascetics are admired and appreciated.