by Jack Epner

Created on: October 24, 2009   Last Updated: October 25, 2009

This is a rather complicated question. I, myself, have tried committing suicide more times than I care to recall. I learned it's all about changing your mind. We are in control of our lives, how we feel about our lives, who we let into our lives, etc. That being said, I think committing suicide in general is the wrong approach. I once read that suicidality is the result of no longer being able to cope with the situation.

It's when problems outweigh your coping resources. From a moral standpoint, we all have different views on spirituality and I will not tell you what to believe. I think the question of suicide being morally acceptable comes down to your spiritual beliefs as it is death caused by self. What do you believe about death? What do you believe about taking a life? From the Buddhist perspective, suicide is only morally acceptable if you have attained enlightenment and therefore are FULLY AWARE of your actions and the consequences they bring to you and the universe. We all feed into the energy of the universe.

So like it or not, whether or not you have anyone close to you in your life (maybe you're even a complete loner like myself - I simply prefer it), you ultimately affect the greater world when you take action. I do think things tend to unfold as they should. There is a reason I'm not dead no matter how many times I tried. Something kept me alive each time, and I believe there is more I have to contribute to the universe. If you're thinking about killing yourself, here is my genuine suggestion. Don't call one of those stupid help lines. Tell someone you know. Or stop and think some more. Or talk to a stranger in person. The help line is rather impersonal.

Take some action that allows you to interact with someone face to face. It will make you feel better for sure. And the other thing is just think some more. Whatever situation is causing you to feel that way, is there another solution? Can you cope if you had something more to live for? Because I've learned many times tomorrow really is a new day. I've gone from homeless in Phoenix, AZ to housed, fed, and cared for in Denver, CO in a matter of days because of the actions I chose to take. Things change. Your mind can change. Good luck!

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