Why commit suicide when peace is at hand

Since September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month I wanted to take a break from The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation to talk about Suicide Prevention. Since the emphasis of this blog is Self-Knowledge, we can bring a unique perspective to this subject.

If you have thoughts of suicide or feelings of depression, there are three things that you should know:

Life has surprising twists and turns
First you should know that if you continue to live, life will have many surprises in store for you. Life can turn on a dime. At one moment it can seem awful. In the next moment you can have revelations that can take you to the very source of happiness found at the core of your being. Although at times life can seem stressful, once you learn about your vast potential you will see that life in this world is a gift. So even if you feel depressed or out of sorts, have the perseverance to stick with life so you can find your real potential.
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Making Your Wisdom Come Alive is like a novel where you are the main character. It takes many surprising twist and turns, and in the end you find yourself standing in the place of wisdom and joy, where you always are,and always will be.

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The thought does not make it true

Secondly just because you think the thought, “I’m going to commit suicide”, doesn’t make that thought real. Although the thought may seem real when you think it, it is just as real as thinking, “I am a purple kangaroo.”  No matter how many times you think “I am a purple kangaroo” you will not become a purple kangaroo. In the same way if you think, “I’m going to commit suicide”, it doesn’t mean that you have to commit suicide.

Find heaven within you
And thirdly you should know that the reason you are here is to find an answer for suffering, to find "The kingdom of heaven that’s within you." If you can find this place of happiness, you will find a sense of peace that is not born and will not die. It is not affected by the condition of your mind or body. You find this peace by finding your real identity, the real meaning of the word I.

This is sometimes called, “The peace that passes all understanding.” The reason for this is that when you identify with your thoughts it seems as if this peace does not exist. But in reality you are not your thoughts and that includes the thought I. You are not the one who is caught in your thoughts either. Rather you are the Awareness that sees thoughts. The thoughts change but this Awareness remains the same.

You know Awareness because you are Awareness, not as a separate thing
Your thoughts cannot grasp this still Awareness. That’s because thoughts can only grasp that which changes. So you have to know Awareness in a different way. You know Awareness because you are Awareness; not by standing apart and thinking about Awareness.

To start on the path of Self-Knowledge, when thoughts come up, both good and bad, notice that you are the witness of these thoughts, not the one caught in them. They do not apply to you. Then you will see that you no longer have to fight with your thoughts. Just remain in your rightful place as Awareness and let your thoughts be. Then even when the “bad thoughts” come up, you will remain at peace.

Your identity is not the thought I
Furthermore when you think, “I’m going to commit suicide”, you will know that neither the I nor the suicide applies to your real identity. Then you will be able to laugh and remain at peace. That’s because you will have let go of the limited thought, I, which the mind seems to capture as your identity, and you will remain in your true state as eternal and boundless Peace and Awareness.

Killing the body is not the answer
When you feel depressed and miserable, you should know that you can find an answer for this suffering. Killing the body is not the answer because the body is not the cause of suffering; after all the body is just inert. Rather the slightest shift in your identity from a thought in your mind called I, to your innate Awareness will cause a complete change in your experience.

Standing here you will no longer believe in your thoughts.  That's because you will find peace and joy that is much more solid than the thoughts you took to be true.

So don’t cut your life short and deny yourself the opportunity to find your real identity. Instead dedicate your life to waking up to the real meaning of the word I, and finding The peace that passes all understanding.

Feel free to ask questions
Now I want you to experience your Self-Nature in its full glory. So please feel free to continue asking questions. I’m always glad to hear your reactions and clarify my answers. Unlike the path of faith, on the path of Self-Knowledge it is curiosity that destroys limitation and allows you to abide in your natural freedom.

If the comment section of this blog doesn't work, please send your questions and comments to michael@ananya.com. To find out more go to, www.light-up-your-life.com. And finally, if you enjoy these blogs please tell your friend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
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                                                                     Michael Gluckman