A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
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Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#2A thread from 2014: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8114547
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#32019 update: Japan Records Lowest Suicide Rate Since Statistics Were First Kept in 1978 https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h00381/japan-records-lo...
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#4A incredible read.
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#5This is one of my favourite New Yorker articles. I wish they published more articles like this.
Suicidal thoughts are a really tough thing to deal with. I've struggled with them for my entire adult life -- more than 20 years now, and counting. They're also deeply personal, and it's hard to find a one-size-fits-all method of helping people through them.
In my case, I find them perversely soothing. Planning it out, and planning out the accompanying clean-up, is strangely calming for me; I suspect at least part of it is because it's applying a feeling of control and structure to otherwise chaotic, painful, or confusing situations. As I run through details in my head, the feelings that incited the thoughts begin to dimish.
I know, rationally, that it would be devastating for those left behind. I know, rationally, that no amount of preparation or planning will make it easier or less painful for them. I know, rationally, that suicide is not a solution for anything.
But it feels like all of the above. It feels like a release, like a perfect, lasting solution to pain and confusion and distress I've carried with me for so long.
I'm lucky that I've found some kind of equilibrium that's allowed me to work through them when they occur, relatively harmlessly. I know others who aren't so lucky, and who haven't found something that works for them. Some of thoem have died; others have survived, but aren't whole since.
It's something that's hard for us to talk about, and current society doesn't seem predisposed to talk about. Many of those suffering the most are faced by a media climate that's not helpful or supportive, and makes it hard for some of the most emotionally and psychologically vulnerable to seek help because of who they were born.
If you've ever had thoughts, please don't suffer in silence: try to find someone, anyone, to talk to. In the UK, we have the Samaritans[1] on 116123 (free to call). There's also Breathing Space Scotland[2] on 0800 83 85 87 (also free).
[1]: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan...
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#6This is one of my favourite New Yorker articles. I wish they published more articles like this. Suicidal thoughts are a really tough thing to deal with. I've struggled with them for my entire adult life -- more than 20 years now, and counting. They're also deeply personal, and it's hard to find a one-size-fits-all method of helping people through them. In my case, I find them perversely soothing. Planning it out, and…
Buddhism has an explanation for why these thoughts are soothing. It comes down to thinking provides a level of control and an appearance of a illusion you feel in control of. But alas this is illusion. The mind simply likes thinking. In fact Buddhists off camera will say your addicted to thinking. I believe this will be shown to be true. The default mode network may be the “addiction to thinking.”
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#7One of the techniques of what Westerners call Stoicism is the negative visualization that Nemoto has his patients/clients undergo - imagining you only have a few weeks to live, that you've lost your material wealth, that you've lost someone important to you, thinking about your death. Also, intentional self-deprivation.
"A Guide to the Good Life: the Ancient Art of Stoic Joy" was well worth reading and has a whole chapter on negative visualization as a means for overall more positive thinking.
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#8[deleted]
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#9Ittetsu Nemoto is the subject of a wonderfully quiet documentary on this selfsame topic, The Departure, directed by Lana Wilson. (It is available on Amazon Prime Video.)
Re: A Buddhist monk confronts Japan's suicide culture (2013)
#10This is one of my favourite New Yorker articles. I wish they published more articles like this. Suicidal thoughts are a really tough thing to deal with. I've struggled with them for my entire adult life -- more than 20 years now, and counting. They're also deeply personal, and it's hard to find a one-size-fits-all method of helping people through them. In my case, I find them perversely soothing. Planning it out, and…
Buddhism has an explanation for why these thoughts are soothing. It comes down to thinking provides a level of control and an appearance of a illusion you feel in control of. But alas this is illusion. The mind simply likes thinking. In fact Buddhists off camera will say your addicted to thinking. I believe this will be shown to be true. The default mode network may be the “addiction to thinking.”
I haven't ever heard of the explanation you offer for why thoughts are helpful (having the appearance of control over an apparent illusion?).
Thinking is required in buddhist practise, it's just not thinking about anything you please.
Also, one usually deals with the coarser forms of suffering first, and no special esoteric philosophies and techniques are needed to address them, usually just clear thinking and problem solving is required.