Yesterday I received word via Facebook, from my sister, that a the brother of a close family friend had committed suicide this week. I did not know said brother, but the friend of ours is practically an honorary member of our family and as such, I cannot imagine what he must be going through right now. No doubt he's filled with questions, anguish and grief about the whole thing, as I imagine any relative of someone who commits suicide must feel. Although I am given to understand that a note was left at the scene, still, it probably does not answer many questions that must be lingering over why this individual took his own life. I've known several people in recent years who have committed suicide and it does leave me wondering why they did it and didn't seek help for their depression. There are plenty of suicide prevention resources out there but perhaps some folks feel so beyond help that their suicides are a bit of a final cry for help that comes too late, a way to make a statement that they had reached the bottom and could not see the way to climb out into the light again. I can't say I understand depression so deep that it causes someone to decide to take themselves out of this world. I've been depressed before, deeply depressed, but not enough to want to end it all. I tell myself, well, this, too, shall pass, there will come a brighter day, even though right now I cannot necessarily see it, I know it's there, and if I am just patient, if I just bide my time, it will come. Having an excellent support network is crucial to feeling like you can get through the rough patches in your life.
As I understand it, this gentle soul who took his own life was a Buddhist who also practiced Kirtan Yoga. I guess this is some form of yoga that also involves chanting of some kind. Yoga is a very peaceful and de-stressing exercise and Buddhism preaches the idea that "May all that have life be delivered from suffering." Well, perhaps this brother of our friend felt that by taking his own life that maybe he was delivering himself from some sort of inner suffering, but it seems to me that anyone who practices Buddhism and Yoga would be able to find some sort of inner peace via their spiritual practice. But then, I did not know him, although I do think I met him but once, and perhaps he had some inner demons that he could never reconcile or something. Who knows. I don't know that anyone will ever know why he did this. It's all so sad and I grieve for our friend and how he must be feeling with this having happened. Words are never adequate to express sorrow and condolences, and I am glad that he has many friends and our family there to support him during this difficult time where he is going to need people to lean on as he copes with this tragic loss. Whenever anyone commits suicide, it leaves so many unanswered questions among those left behind. As my sister said, it shuts a door that can never be opened. To lose a loved one is hard enough when it is either an accident or an illness, but to lose someone who took themselves out by their own hand is doubly tragic, and for our family friend who is left behind to grieve and to mourn his brother's sudden departure, I can only hope that our family can provide the sort of support he is going to need right now as he goes through all of the stages of grief, sorrow and questioning. May he someday find an acceptance of it all and know that whatever happens, his brother is in a better place now, perhaps at peace at long last. One can only hope that this is so.
Yesterday I received word via Facebook, from my sister, that a the brother of a close family friend had committed suicide this week. I did not know said brother, but the friend of ours is practically an honorary member of our family and as such, I cannot imagine what he must be going through right now. No doubt he's filled with questions, anguish and grief about the whole thing, as I imagine any relative of someone who commits suicide must feel. Although I am given to understand that a note was left at the scene, still, it probably does not answer many questions that must be lingering over why this individual took his own life. I've known several people in recent years who have committed suicide and it does leave me wondering why they did it and didn't seek help for their depression. There are plenty of suicide prevention resources out there but perhaps some folks feel so beyond help that their suicides are a bit of a final cry for help that comes too late, a way to make a statement that they had reached the bottom and could not see the way to climb out into the light again. I can't say I understand depression so deep that it causes someone to decide to take themselves out of this world. I've been depressed before, deeply depressed, but not enough to want to end it all. I tell myself, well, this, too, shall pass, there will come a brighter day, even though right now I cannot necessarily see it, I know it's there, and if I am just patient, if I just bide my time, it will come. Having an excellent support network is crucial to feeling like you can get through the rough patches in your life.
As I understand it, this gentle soul who took his own life was a Buddhist who also practiced Kirtan Yoga. I guess this is some form of yoga that also involves chanting of some kind. Yoga is a very peaceful and de-stressing exercise and Buddhism preaches the idea that "May all that have life be delivered from suffering." Well, perhaps this brother of our friend felt that by taking his own life that maybe he was delivering himself from some sort of inner suffering, but it seems to me that anyone who practices Buddhism and Yoga would be able to find some sort of inner peace via their spiritual practice. But then, I did not know him, although I do think I met him but once, and perhaps he had some inner demons that he could never reconcile or something. Who knows. I don't know that anyone will ever know why he did this. It's all so sad and I grieve for our friend and how he must be feeling with this having happened. Words are never adequate to express sorrow and condolences, and I am glad that he has many friends and our family there to support him during this difficult time where he is going to need people to lean on as he copes with this tragic loss. Whenever anyone commits suicide, it leaves so many unanswered questions among those left behind. As my sister said, it shuts a door that can never be opened. To lose a loved one is hard enough when it is either an accident or an illness, but to lose someone who took themselves out by their own hand is doubly tragic, and for our family friend who is left behind to grieve and to mourn his brother's sudden departure, I can only hope that our family can provide the sort of support he is going to need right now as he goes through all of the stages of grief, sorrow and questioning. May he someday find an acceptance of it all and know that whatever happens, his brother is in a better place now, perhaps at peace at long last. One can only hope that this is so. 
No comments:
Post a Comment