Saskia Campert – the Netherlands
Saskia Campert
In recent years, the number of people in the Netherlands choosing to end their own lives has been rising. The reasoning often cited is a desire to avoid further suffering, a wish not to be a burden to others, and a failure to see the point of continuing to live. An additional factor is that the government facilitates this trend, even in cases involving young children. In the Netherlands, the term *zelfmoord* (suicide) has largely been replaced by the softer-sounding *zelfdoding* (self-killing). This is mere semantics; we all know what is meant: deciding to end one’s own life and taking action to do so. Before examining the growing issue of euthanasia from a Theosophical perspective, it is useful to place the subject in a broader context.
General perspective
Christianity has long held a clear view: self-killing conflicts with God’s sovereignty and is therefore condemned. Life is regarded as a gift from God for which one ought to be grateful. Consequently, Jesus’ commandment "Thou shalt not kill" applies not only to killing others but also to taking one’s own life. Historically, those who had committed suicide were not permitted burial in Christian cemeteries. Today, however, some Christians take a more nuanced view of the subject. Martyrdom or altruistic suicide, for instance, are matters for reflection, though there is no room for that discussion here. Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism all condemn self-killing. In short, diverse religious groups agree on this point: they reject the right to end one’s own life. While individuals may have their own reasons for doing so, the stance taken by these religions is clear and consistent. The majority of humanity would recognize this position.
Modern (medical) perspective
Those who view life as a brief, one-time sojourn on earth that ends definitively with death tend to have few objections to suicide. From this perspective, severe mental or physical suffering is pointless, making it rational to put an end to it. Moreover, the earth is overpopulated—with a population of 8,3 billion—and the sick or elderly represent a (financial) burden on society.
An added advantage is that medical science believes it possesses sufficient knowledge to make the exit from life seemingly painless. Apparently, using this exceptional medical knowledge to alleviate severe suffering—thereby causing the desire for death to vanish—is not considered an option.
Since the terms "suicide" or "self-killing" evoke a shudder in many people, the medical community has adopted the Greek word *euthanasia* (*eu* = good, *thanatos* = death). In classical antiquity, the word simply meant a sudden, painless death. It was only in modern times that it acquired its current meaning: a desired death brought about by a doctor's intervention.
Theosophy
The Theosophical worldview is based on several key themes, such as an unknowable source or demiurge (a guiding intelligence), eternal cycles, and the laws of karma and reincarnation. Human beings on earth are not new; rather, they are—through their immortal souls—continuations of previous incarnations during which they accumulated karma through their actions and thoughts. This life is intended to work off a portion of that past karma (*prarabdha karma*), while simultaneously creating new causes whose consequences will be experienced in future incarnations.
Escaping one's *prarabdha karma* is as impossible as trying to change the course of an arrow once it has been released; it simply cannot be done. From a Theosophical perspective, the only proper attitude is to accept the life that lies ahead and fulfill it to the best of one's ability. Does Jesus not speak in the Bible (Matthew 26:39) of the obligation to drink his cup to the dregs? What happens if you refuse those final sips? There is no hell or damnation involved; instead, the remaining *prarabdha karma* you fail to resolve is stored away. In your next incarnation, it resurfaces—added on top of the karma already destined for that new life. In short, your next incarnation becomes doubly burdensome. Not a pleasant prospect.
Answer to the question posed
In my opinion, there is effectively no difference. A minor distinction is that suicide leads to a desired death through an act performed by the individual themselves, whereas euthanasia leads to a desired death through an act performed by a physician. The underlying intent and the outcome are the same in both cases.
How physicians and nurses ought to feel when performing euthanasia remains an unanswered question for me. It seems to me very difficult to carry out euthanasia when one has been trained to care for and heal people. People who wish to die do not appear to factor this aspect into their decision.
Those who hold a religious or theosophical worldview will be taken aback by the positive attitude towards euthanasia (and, by extension, suicide) in the Western world—as if it were an established right that applies even to minors.
From a theosophical perspective, deliberately ending one’s life prematurely cannot be a solution, because no one can escape their destiny (karma). All religions recognize this and have long sought to dissuade their followers from suicide, whether committed alone or with the assistance of another. Their wise counsel is being heeded less and less in the Netherlands.
