Indian philosophical foundations of spirituality at the end of life

Abstract

Growing understanding of spirituality at the end of life demands more theoretical research on the subject. Empirical studies have highlighted the need for exploring philosophical and cultural concepts to facilitate a fuller understanding of spirituality at the end of life. This paper explores Indian philosophy to inform the conceptualisation of spirituality at the end of life in the Indian context. Three key themes from discourses on spirituality at the end of life have been analysed: the concept of the human person, the purpose of life and the meaning of death. The human person is from and of the Divine, eternal and is capable of cognition and experience. The purpose of human life is to unite with the ultimate Reality, the Divine, by living life righteously according to prescribed ways and by achieving detachment from the illusion of the world. Death is part of life and not that which ends it. The moment of death is an opportunity for the ultimate transformation, Moksha. Analysing these philosophical foundations can provide the contextual frame for understanding the spiritual needs of palliative care patients and their families and the possibility of developing culturally relevant approaches to providing spiritual care at the end of life.

Quo Vadis, Dottore? Religious, Philosophical and Medical Perspectives on the Quest for Immortality

“…The cycle (samvatsara) of life and death is endless until one finds liberation (Moksha) by following the Hindu way of life. Until the elusive Moksha is attained either by good karma or nirvana, life goes on between birth and death, ideally a life of utmost spiritual and physical quality earned in part from past lives but also technological progress (Inbadas, 2017 ).…”

Beyond Turmeric and Yoga

“…Brahman is the eternal, immeasurable, and supreme power in its simplest form personified as different gods. 10,13 The inner self of Brahman in a living being is atman (soul). Hindus believe that atman originates from Brahman and has to find moksha (eternal peace or salvation) by going back to Brahman.…”

“…9 Accordingly, nurses should be mindful that some older Hindus might not want to be severely sedated during the EOL as they want to experience their soul (atman) attaining moksha or a higher level of reincarnation. 10 Correspondingly, yoga is part of Hindus' spirituality and religiosity, and they consider it an opportunity to strengthen their connection with God and relieve mental stress. 8 For many Hindus, Yoga is a way of connecting with God rather than a form of physical wellness.…”

“…Interpretation of good karma varies for different Hindus, especially at the end of their life. Some Hindus associate it with suffering 10 . Asian Indian American Hindus may consider suffering at EOL from a spiritual perspective, in that they may believe it helps them achieve salvation 8,9 .…”

Reflections on the challenges and opportunities for palliative care in Nepal

“…1 Death is a process whereby the soul migrates to the next life or to heaven. The soul is enabled to transmigrate by various rituals being observed, such as cremation taking place in sacred places near to water.…”