If someone commits suicide, can that be caused by their karma?
Podcast:
Question: Does one’s past karma lead to actions like suicide?
Answer: Our past karma, in general, primarily determines our situations, not our precise decisions. When I speak of “situations,” this encompasses not just physical circumstances but also psychological dispositions. However, simply having a particular disposition doesn’t mean one is compelled to make a specific decision. Yes, certain thoughts or inclinations might arise more frequently in some individuals than in others due to past karma. But we cannot definitively say that past karma forces us to take extreme actions like suicide.
Other factors always play a role. For instance, someone contemplating suicide might have suicidal thoughts, but they may also have engaged in actions that alienated them from others, leading to intense feelings of loneliness and persecution. Crucially, our actions in this life are generally prompted, but not forced, by our past karma. This distinction is where the concept of free will comes into play.
We always possess free will. The extent of that free will may vary from person to person, and it is certainly influenced by past karma, but free will itself is perpetually present. It’s akin to a person in jail: they have free will, but their freedom (the scope over which free will can be exercised) is restricted. They don’t have the freedom to travel to any part of the city, country, or world; they must remain within the jail cell or premises. Yet, even within those confines, they retain free will. They can choose to quarrel, fight, or, conversely, they can choose to read, learn a useful skill, and emerge wiser. They still have choices.
Some prisoners might be in a far more restricted cell, perhaps in solitary confinement, while others are allowed more movement within the prison walls. This variation in freedom depends largely on their past crimes and their conduct within the jail. Similarly, our past actions determine the degree of freedom we have, but they do not negate our free will. Free will is an intrinsic aspect of our being.
If someone reaches the point of committing suicide, it is undeniably a decision they make. We cannot attribute it solely to past karma. While past karma might make them more vulnerable or predisposed to certain psychological states, the ultimate act remains their choice.
This point is subtly illustrated, to some extent, by gender variations in suicide statistics. What is often observed is that women attempt suicide more frequently, while men commit suicide more often. This doesn’t perpetuate gender stereotypes, but broadly speaking, women tend to be more emotionally expressive than men. This emotional sensitivity is biologically significant, particularly in nurturing newborn babies; an overly rational approach might hinder effective childcare. However, this increased emotionality can sometimes lead to more frequent thoughts or attempts at suicide under emotional pressure, though perhaps less follow-through.
On the other hand, the male body is generally more disposed towards physical violence. Throughout history, men have predominantly engaged in warfare and physical combat. This inclination towards violence can be directed outwards towards others or inwards towards oneself. Hence the observation that women attempt suicide more, while men commit suicide more.
However, does this mean that men have to commit suicide or women have to attempt it? Absolutely not. While one’s gender may influence certain psychological or physical orientations, the act of suicide is ultimately a consciously made decision.