But if one finds that he cannot resist his passions, or is disabled and cannot endure austerities, he may commit suicide; although this release is sometimes reprehended, and is not allowable till one has striven against yielding to such a means.

But when the twelve years of asceticism are passed one has assurance of reaching Nirv[=a]na, and so may kill himself.

Of Nirv[=a]na there is no description.

It is release, salvation, but it is of such sort that in regard to it 'speculation has no place,' and 'the mind cannot conceive of it' (copied from the Upanishads).

In other regards, in contrast to the nihilistic Buddhist, the Jain assumes a doubtful attitude, so that he is termed the 'may-be philosopher,' _sy[=a]dv[=a]din_,[24] in opposition to the Buddhist, the philosopher of 'the void.' But if the Jain may kill himself, he may not kill or injure anything else.