A string of self-immolations took place in China's Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu Province over a period of time. Most of the victims were young and innocent monks or their family members. In regard to this, head of the Chinese Buddhist circle expressed his feeling as "grieved, shocked and saddened."
At the Buddhist Outlook on Life Seminar themed on"Cherishing life with benevolence and kindness" in Chengdu on Jan.16,2013, Elder Chuanyin, president of the Buddhist Association of China said that such tragedies were caused not only by the vicious instigation of inciters, also by the victims' ignorance of the fundamental tenet of Buddhism and the three cultivations in morals, calmness and wisdom.
Elder Chuanyin asserted that the inciters had committed unforgivable crimes in Buddhist doctrines. If immolation is really such a heroic act as they insisted, why didn't they do it themselves? And why did they send the photos of self-immolators abroad to get involved in the separatist activities? They are the demons of Buddhism. And if they don't repent, they will never be released from the hell.
In light of the Buddhist canon, killing is the biggest sin of all. No killing includes not murdering others and not committing suicide. In this sense, setting oneself on fire is absolutely prohibited.
Committing suicide is a foolish conduct, according to Buddhist Dharma. And the person himself suffers great pain in his body and mind before he dies and go to hell after he dies.
Furthermore, abetting others'to commit suicide is no different from killing the victims by themselves, which is considered as the gravest crime. Whoever does it will be dismissed from Buddhism and must go to hell after death.
"We must disclose the insanity of self-immolations and warn innocent people not to be deceived any more by the conspirators," said Elder Chuanyin.
About 40 learned Buddhists from the three sects of Buddhism including the Han Buddhism,the Tibetan Buddhism and the Southern Buddhism as well as Buddhist experts and scholars participated in the seminar.