The topic of suicide has recently been the talk of the town, but we all know that this has been an ongoing issue for several decades, and as a result of this pandemic, the number of people who commit suicide has skyrocketed.
Suicide is frequently viewed as an act of cowardice or stupidity, and those who are not brave enough to face obstacles are the ones who end up taking their own lives, but do you believe labelling them a coward or other words will ever put an end to this issue?
According to Malaysiakini, Malaysia recorded 468 suicide cases in the first five months of 2021, up from 631 cases in 2020 and 609 in 2019. Thus, discussing and raising awareness about this issue is critical, especially at this time.
In this week’s Thursdays With Sadhguru, let’s learn how we as a society can contribute in the process of preventing suicides.
“One’s human experience should not be mortgaged to what we have gathered; (it) should be related to the fundamental aspects of Life,” said Sadhguru, during an online interaction with IPS and gazetted officers from around the country to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
The interaction was hosted by the Central Academy for Police Training (Bhopal) (Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs) as part of the ‘In Challenging Times with Sadhguru’ series.
Responding to panellists’ queries on suicide prevention among prison inmates as well as law enforcement officers, Sadhguru stressed the need “to create a culture, society and individual human beings” whose “highest value is Life.”
Isha Foundation has been offering structured programs for inner wellbeing to inmates and wardens of prisons in Tamil Nadu for nearly three decades with significant success.
Sadhguru said that everyone could be taught to create a “chemistry of joyfulness” within themselves which can insulate them from emotional instability caused by pressure to conform to social standards of success. He said Isha could offer such programs on a national level for all law enforcement agencies, officers and prison inmates for interested administrations.
Stating that suicide was the “worst manifestation of your intelligence turning against you”, Sadhguru added that everyone can be taught “simple processes” to create the “kind of chemistry you want” within oneself. While acknowledging that the “law of the land can control but cannot transform” those who break the law, he also suggested that introducing a gentler ambience by bringing in aspects of art and culture into prisons can have a significant impact on the incarcerated.
Law enforcement agencies could explore ways to ensure their personnel get time period to invest in enhancing their own wellbeing through structured programs.
The online interaction was moderated by Shri Balaji Srivastava, IPS, DG, Bureau of Police Research & Development. Panellists included Shri Kuldiep Singh, IPS, DG-CRPF; Shri Mukul Goyal, IPS, DG-UP; Smt. G Vyjayanthi, Director, Prosecution, Telangana; Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, IPS, DGP/ Director General of Prisons & Correctional Services, TN; and Shri Mithilesh Mishra, IAS, IG Prisons, Bihar.
For more enlightening wisdom from the guru, follow him on Instagram and Facebook, or visit his website here. To obtain a greater understanding of Sadhguru’s sage advice on the above topic, we recommend watching this video where he discusses further on “How To Overcome Suicidal Thoughts”.
Engineer yourself as a next step. Inner Engineering is available in a variety of course formats both online and in-person. Visit https://www.innerengineering.com/ for more information regarding Sadhguru’s Inner Engineering program.
