My really kind aunt commited suicide, is there any chance she can go to heaven and can I do something ? Is she forced to redo the painful act daily at the moment she passed away ?
I have a very kind-hearted and sweet aunt but her fate is far from good as despite ending up with a irresponsible and unemployed husband then having to raise her son up to college by her own, her financial state is not very well recently and then she even get cheated on by her husband. Many things occured and just some days ago, I received the news that she commited suicide, all alone in her house. I have always felt bad for her and I love her a lot, i know suicide is one of the worst sin and there may be a lot of consequences to her action but can i do anything to help her let go from her sadness and torment ? She got treated very badly and she was also diagnosed with depression but unfortunately her family didn't offer her the help she needed, I really hope she doesnt get punished badly.
yes there is a chance. but honestly IMO, most people here in this world go to a bad destination.
no suicide is not one of the worst sins
its not about punishment either, its karma. one can indeed possibly hack the system and trash this human life for a happy life in heavens. sometimes even a life as an animal is much better than the things we see in this world
Neither endless heaven nor endless torment are Buddhist concepts.
Even the idea of cosmic punishment isn't particularly Buddhist.
Most likely the reason no one responded is there's really no way to know for certain what will happen after.
However, you can cultivate merits and dedicate them to her for better rebirth.
I don't think this is a thing in Buddhism.
I think your aunt created a lot of good merit in her life. Despite being given hard situations, she seems to have faced them with a neutral or positive attitude. From what you say, she didnโt resort to anger. The biggest sign is that you love her and see her as being genuine.
Karma is very deep and has a long history. This could account for why she had so many negative situations to work through. Additionally, like someone else said, it is impossible to tell what her overall situation is. If she acted in a wholesome manner in this life, she will have created positive karma. When that karma ripens, once again depends on conditions.
In my experience, anytime someone passes, the best thing we can do is remember their good qualities, and learn from their experience.
Life is overwhelmingly hard. Sometimes itโs more than a person can bear. No just deity could consign someone whose very existence was so unbearable to eternal punishment.
Itโs not a sin, itโs the ultimate response to sadness, loneliness, and despair.
I'm so sorry for your loss...
I had an uncle who passed in the same kind of way. I immediately sought out the guidance of my teacher: what would happen? What could I do?
In sum, what he taught was that there isn't a way to know what comes next after their death, but that whatever may remain would be confused and needs guidance to the next stage. The best thing was to be with him through the funerary process, recite the Heart Sutra, and transfer the merit to him.
Condolences ๐๐ป.
In the case of suicide I would personally extend what's written below from 49 days into a lifetime practice on behalf of your Aunt or to atleast one receives some signs of success.
You can perform good deeds & dedicate merit to your Aunt over the 49 days period since her passing.
Some temples/monasteries provide online registration & donations for such services.
Amitabha's name is very accessible as it doesn't require any empowerments & Amitabha's 48 great vows are vast & wide (familiarize yourself with his 48 great vows as it will increase one's sencerity)
You can also mentally call the persons full name & date if birth & address & explain who you are (name & relationship to the deceased, inform them that they have passed away and not to worry about the affairs of their previous life but instead encourage then to focus single pointedly on reciting Amitabha's name as much as possible throughout the 49 day period, explain Amitabha's 48 great vows.
Best wishes & great attainments!
๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป
iโm so sorry for the loss of your aunt.
Are you forced to believe that eternity will pass like this?
As you have been told, in Buddhism there is no heaven or hell. For me, reincarnation doesn't even exist. I think we last as long as our footprint lasts, one or maybe two generations in the people who remember us.
If you want to honor her memory, keep alive in your memory everything that made your aunt so beloved, and be sure to pass it on to anyone who was not lucky enough to know her.
You may not be able to "save" his soul (if that's what you're trying to do) but you can preserve his memory and the legacy he left in you.
A hug.
Sorry for your loss. Yes, you can do something to help her. You should recite the Akshobya dharani 1,000 times and dedicate for her better rebirth. This method to help someone to get a higher rebirth is taught in the sutra itself. (Purifying All Karmic Obscurations sutra)
Edit: spelling and clarification
Ajahn Sona's opinion is that someone who commits suicide isn't guaranteed to go to hell and could be reborn as a human. If she's a preta (hungry ghost), you could make a donation to the monastic sangha in her name and that would help her. I think you want to give items not just money: robes, water, and food, but I am not sure.
https://index.readingfaithfully.org/#departed-relatives
Even if she had taken her own life, her lifelong kindness, patience, and love would very likely have carried her to a heavenly realm or good human rebirth. Depression clouds the mind, so the full โmurderousโ kamma usually doesnโt ripen for kind people (Theravฤda teachers agree on this).
If youโre still worried, hereโs exactly what S.N. Goenka taught (shortened):
โImagine a glass jar half-full of water, with a layer of oil/ghee floating on top. A departed loved one is like a tiny drop of water trapped in the oil โ thirsty, but canโt reach the water below.
When you do a good deed (dฤna, sฤซla, meditation) with a pure mind full of love and no craving, the merit reaches them. The drop feels it, rejoices, becomes a little heavier, and gently sinks into the clean water โ now it can drink and find peace.
But if the same action is done with ego, fear, or craving (โI must save her!โ), the vibration is polluted. The drop gets agitated and stays trapped โ no help reaches.
So every day, just sit quietly, generate strong mettฤ, and say:
โMay all the merit of my good deeds go to my dear aunt [name].
May she be happy, peaceful, and liberated.โ
Do it with an open heart, no clinging. Then the benefit truly reaches her โ and youโll feel lighter too.โ
You can use the Dharani of Namgyalma to bless mustard seeds by reciting it 21 times and blowing on the seeds after. You can sprinkle these on her bones or use her ashes and mix them with clay to make tse tse, put six mustard seeds in each. This Dharani is so powerful that even very heavy karmas can be purified. I sprinkled them on the remains of a goat and he appeared in a pure land.