When we hear news of suicide, sometimes there's little we can do to help because the person has already departed from this world. It's saddening and empathetic. Those who have passed away have lost the opportunity to create beautiful things for life. We can only speculate about what they could have done.

However, such incidents can serve as reminders for us. They remind us of how we should live our lives, what mistakes to avoid, and how not to succumb to disappointment. No matter what challenges we face, no matter how disappointed we are, we must persevere, endure, and keep going until our natural breath runs out. We should not rush death, nor should we run after it. When the time comes, whether for us or anyone else, death is inevitable.

Frequent reports of suicide serve as a reminder for us to understand their causes. But we should not imitate or follow them. Instead, we should use such incidents to remind and reinforce within ourselves that:

"We are born to create beautiful things for the world, for society, for fellow humans, and for ourselves alone. We are not born just to eat, travel, play, have fun, boast, or show off our wealth. We are not born to end our lives prematurely. We are not born to create enemies or cause trouble.

In our lives, no matter the challenges or disappointments we face, we must fight on, endure, and not flee from problems by resorting to suicide. We must remain steadfast, ready to face reality, solve problems according to the truth, whether it pleases us or not. We must accept and respect it and address the issues appropriately.

Even if we are physically disabled or suffer from severe illnesses and hardships, we should not resort to suicide. We should accept, understand, endure, and peacefully deal with any difficulties that arise. We should not resent or harbor anger towards our bodies, nor should we be upset or annoyed by the thoughts or feelings that arise. We must learn to let go and understand the causes that lead to such situations.

When we work, engage in business, or face financial losses or setbacks, even if we lose vast amounts of money or possessions, we should remember that money and possessions are external to our bodies. They are temporary. Even without them, we can find our way, even if it's meager. Even if we're not wealthy, we can still live. Even without riches, we can still thrive. With diligence, perseverance, and the right methods, we can find what we need.

We are born as human beings, a tremendous opportunity. Before our last breath, we should use this human body to create something beautiful, to nourish, maintain virtuous conduct, and cultivate mindfulness to the best of our abilities.

As Buddhists, we must awaken ourselves, constantly train our minds to think and act in this way."

Buddhist Hotline Thailand
www.buddhisthotline.com