Jain Philosophy

Ottilingam Somasundaram et al. (2016) · Indian journal of psychiatry

This paper examines Sallekhana (also called Santhara), a Jain religious practice of ritually fasting to death, and explains why understanding it matters for psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Jainism is one of India's oldest religions, and Sallekhana has been documented since at least the 4th–3rd century BCE. The authors' core argument is that Sallekhana is philosophically and legally distinct from suicide, and that clinicians unfamiliar with its religious context risk misreading a practice that some of their Jain patients or patients' families may encounter or discuss. Rather than a clinical trial, this is a historical and textual analysis. The authors draw on Jain scripture, secular Tamil literature from the Sangam era (roughly the first centuries BCE/CE), scholarly legal commentary, Indian census data, and 2015 Indian court rulings to trace Sallekhana's history, criteria, and modern legal status. Sallekhana is permitted only for specific reasons — intolerable suffering, old age, or incurable illness — and traditionally requires a person to be examined by learned Jain teachers who confirm the motive is spiritual liberation, not despair, before the practice is sanctioned. The paper distinguishes Sallekhana from vadakirutthal, a similar-looking but genuinely suicidal fasting-death practice recorded in secular (non-Jain) Tamil literature of the same era. It also recounts a real 2015 legal controversy: India's Rajasthan High Court ruled Sallekhana illegal and equated it with suicide, but the Supreme Court stayed that ruling within a month as unconstitutional, after which at least two elderly Jain women in Tamil Nadu reportedly undertook the practice. The authors summarize Jainism's five core ethical vows (nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity, and non-possessiveness) and its three-part path to liberation (right knowledge, faith, and action) as the philosophical backdrop that gives Sallekhana its meaning within the tradition. The authors argue Sallekhana should not be automatically classified as suicide by clinicians or courts, and that this topic deserves more attention in psychiatric training, especially for professionals working with Jain communities. Because this is a historical and ethical review rather than a clinical study, it offers no patient outcomes, treatment data, or statistics — its value is in cultural context for mental health practice, not in evidence of a therapeutic intervention.

Shamini Jain et al. (2015) · Global advances in health and medicine

This study explores the concepts of consciousness and subtle energy within Indo-Tibetan philosophical and medical systems, aiming to enhance cross-cultural dialogue on the biofield. By examining the similarities and differences among Vedic, Jain, and Tibetan traditions, the research seeks to inform contemporary biofield science and improve understanding of health and healing practices. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods is emphasized as a means to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary health sciences. The study employs a descriptive analysis to investigate the relationship between ancient Indo-Tibetan systems and modern biofield science. It does not involve a specific intervention or treatment but rather focuses on the philosophical concepts related to consciousness and subtle energy. The research highlights the importance of introspective inquiry in these ancient systems, paralleling modern scientific findings in health and wellness. The objective is to foster deeper cross-cultural dialogue and enhance understanding of biofields through the exploration of these traditional concepts. The findings indicate that there are significant similarities and differences in the understanding of biofields across the three traditions studied. The authors suggest that integrating traditional diagnostic methods with contemporary biomarkers could inform treatment options and improve health outcomes. However, limitations include the need for more empirical studies to validate the proposed connections and the challenges of integrating diverse methodologies. The study aligns with previous research that has explored genetic and metabolic differences associated with traditional medicine systems, suggesting a valuable intersection between traditional and modern approaches. The implications of this research are significant for practitioners and researchers in health and healing. By incorporating holistic approaches and traditional diagnostic methods alongside modern biomarkers, practitioners may enhance health assessments and treatment options. Key limitations include the necessity for empirical validation of the proposed links and the challenges in integrating methodologies from Eastern and Western perspectives. Future research should focus on empirical investigations of biofield practices and their effects on health outcomes, particularly regarding the mechanisms of subtle energy interactions.