When someone kills themselves, they aren’t calmly aware; they’re being pushed by pain and panic, not choosing with a clear, steady mind.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Osho, a person who commits suicide also tries, of his own free will, to kill himself. And until he actually dies, he remains aware of the process of dying—“now it’s getting cold, colder, colder.” But he does not return from the final state. So isn’t suicide too an experiment in arranging death voluntarily?
So Mahavira sanctioned Santhara—the self-willed death—for the sake of spiritual practice, so that if someone wishes to test himself on the ultimate touchstone, even in death, he may do so. This is a weighty matter and one to be pondered, for Mahavira alone on this whole earth gives such a permission. There are two reasons. First, Mahavira has a firm certainty that no one dies; therefore there is no need to be overly anxious about “dying.” With that certainty that no one dies, there is no harm—make an experiment. Second, he has the experience and the firm certainty that for a person to desire death, without doubt and with unwavering intent, for fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, a hundred days—this is such a great event that it is no ordinary thing. For a moment or two, the thought of dying comes to all of us. It is hard to find…
A friend has asked: Osho, some people commit suicide—what do you say about them? Are they not afraid of death?
Now I suggest: experience along with me. The body is becoming relaxed… feel it: the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed. Keep letting go; feel: the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed. The body is becoming relaxed… it is going toward death… going toward death. We are slipping inward… to where life is. Let go… let go… leave the wave; become the ocean. Leave the body completely… if it falls, let it fall; do not worry about it. Do not hold it back… do not cling… let go. The body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed. The body is becoming completely relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed… the body is becoming relaxed. Let go… as if it…
One who commits suicide also tries to kill himself voluntarily. And until he is dead completely, he remains aware of the process of dying too: that the body is becoming cold, or the life energy is shrinking, and so on. But he cannot come back in the body after having reached the final state. Isn't suicide similar to the experiment in voluntary death?
We all think of dying many times, but not for the sake of dying really. The idea comes to us because there is some problem in our life. We think of ending our lives because we lack resolution. Just a little trouble, a little difficulty, and one rushes to end it all. One who wants to meet death because he can't face the problems of life is not a man of will. However, if a man sets out to have a direct, positive experience of death, if he is on his way to know what death is with a positive attitude, if he has no conflict with life, if he is not against life, then even in death this man is searching for life. This is a totally different thing. There is yet another significant factor involved in this matter. Ordinarily, we cannot determine our birth. Although ultimately we do…
A friend has asked: some people commit suicide. What do you have to say about them? Are these people not afraid of death?
Mind has become completely empty... mind has become empty... mind has become empty. Only a flame has remained burning... a flame of knowing... of seeing. For all the rest, as if death has happened... the body will be seen lying at a distance... your own body will be seen so far away... your own breathing will seem to be so far away. Inside... more inside... drown... let go completely... do not keep any grip... let go... let go... let go completely. Let go totally. If the body wants to drop, let it drop... let go completely... become a void... become a void completely. Mind has become a void... mind has become a void... only a flame of knowing has remained inside... everthing elso has become a void... eveything has disappeared. Let go... let go completely... show the courage to die... die completely from outside. The body has become lifeless... we…
I no longer have the desire to do anything. Nothing seems to matter to me anymore. Life is so much effort: the body requires food and suffers constant physical discomfort. The ego wants attention, the mind continues its constant movement. I often think about how nice it would be to die. Is committing suicide just an escape from life? Is there any reason why one should not commit suicide?
If you want to commit suicide, think whether it is because of desirelessness or not. If it is because of desirelessness, then from where is the desire to commit suicide arising? And if it is because of desirelessness you will not ask me, you will simply do it. If you have really lived, then you are fulfilled; then will you take the trouble to come here and ask me? For what? Maybe you are frustrated and you would like something to console you or somebody to console you. Maybe you are afraid of the very idea of committing suicide so you want me to say, 'No, don't do it,' so the responsibility is with me, not with you. But I am not that type of man. I say: If you really want to commit suicide then do it -- but then why are you here to ask me? A young…