Theos-Talk Archives (November 2002 Message tt00883)

Mic:



> -----Original Message-----

> From: Mic Forster [mailto:micforster@yahoo.com]

> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 5:49 PM

> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com

> Subject: Theos-World tricky situation for a theosophist

> 

> I was working in some bushland in

> Western Sydney yesterday morning and I decided to

> knock off when the temperature hit 40 degrees celcius.

> Fortunately I did this because shortly after a HUGE

> fire broke out right where I was working. And when I

> say huge I mean HUGE. Just that whole situation got me

> thinking.



It sounds like someone is looking out for you. When something harmful
comes our way, we somehow know to avoid it if it is not our time to pass
on.



> So what is this tricky

> situation for a theosophist? Well recently a woman ...

> was diagnosed with an illness ... not life

> threatening but debilitating enough to require

> extensive care from family and friends. This woman

> took her life because she did not want to be a burden

> on those whom she loved.

> 

> should a theosophist support

> suicide when there is a benficial outcome involved?



I do not think that any of us is in the position to judge when a life
has value and should continue or if a life should be terminated. One
could ask if an embryo identified as having some genetic disorder should
be aborted because it would come into the world deformed. One could
decide what to do with older people in nursing homes, those who are
severely disabled, comatose, or psychologically out of it. Should they
be helped on, or required to live to their last natural breath?



Someone with special needs should have an equal right to live, even if
they require more time, care, and attention than others do. They should
not have to decide if their request for help and support is a burden or
not. Friends, family, and others give what support they can. Perhaps
being required to be more caring and supportive by the needs of a close
family member is a spiritual blessing in disguise for the person
compelled to practice compassion and be more giving.



The idea that one should not exist because it would just be a burden to
others may be a rationalization. It may not be the real reason. True
soul searching is required to find out the true "why's" behind one's
desires. One could simply be thinking that life is too much trouble,
feel bitter at wanting things to be different and finding that life
coldly says, "No, you have to life in these circumstances, not in those
you'd more fondly desire." Feeling so, one might be saying one wants to
do something for others, by being less of a burden, whereas one really
feels that life is unfair, one is cheated, and simply wants out. But
life is not trying to be unfair, the problem and source of the pain is
in the denial. One denies one's circumstances in life, and creates a
false sense of misery by wanting things different than they are and
failing to accept life as it actually is.



One of the lessons of old age is accepting life with happiness. One is
happy to simply be alive. Looking good, being in top health and physical
beauty, having wealth, being famous, and all other sorts of things are
not important any more. One is glad to wake up each day, step out one's
door, and walk down the sidewalk, seeing the houses, flowers and trees,
children at play, and puffy white clouds in the sky. The little things
of life take on special meaning. Every day is an adventure, because the
discord between one's mental image of how things should be and how
things actually are has ended. One is at peace and happy with what
happens, and simply goes day to day doing what comes naturally to one.
There may or may not be physical pain and suffering. Even if so, there
are many things that keep making life valuable, even if it's one last
day to squeeze one's grandchildren's hands, as one lies in bed in one's
last few days of dying of cancer. Not all endings are painful or sad,
but every moment has its special value that should not be thrown away. 



The solution to the problem of wanting out of life is the same solution
that we seek on the spiritual path. First, there comes thoughts of
escape from the limitations and suffering of the world. Then one ceases
to reject the world, but embraces it with the same love one embraces the
spiritual side of things. Then one changes from being a receiver of
blessings and benefits to a producer of good things. One transforms from
a consumer of the light of others to being a light in the world. In that
role, one finds the highest happiness.



-- Eldon



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