At our class held on August 9, someone asked about suicide–whether people who commit suicide go to hell and, if so, will they be there forever? My response was, as I understand it, yes and no. Yes, they do go to hell as suicide is considered one of the five cardinal sins or most serious offenses in Buddhism. Why? Because you are killing a Buddha and even injuring or shedding the blood of a Buddha is one of the five. The other four are killing one’s father, killing one’s mother, killing an arhat or bodhisattva (saint), and causing disunity or a schism in the sangha. No, it is not forever, because all things are impermanent, you can eventually get out of hell. I think this is something we should all ponder. How could it be otherwise given the nature of the fundamental laws of cause and effect and impermanence?
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