Wrote Dr. K. Kritee, Buddhist priest from Boulder, quoted in "Wynn Bruce dies after lighting himself on fire outside Supreme Court" (NY Post).
Here is the Wikipedia article "Self-immolation." From the "History" section:
Self-immolation is tolerated by some elements of Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism, and it has been practiced for many centuries, especially in India, for various reasons, including jauhar, political protest, devotion, and renouncement. An example from mythology includes the practice of Sati [suttee] when the Hindu goddess Parvati's incarnation of the same name... legendarily set herself on fire after her father insulted her in Daksha Yajna for having married Shiva, the ascetic god....
For many monks and laypeople in Chinese history, self-immolation was a form of Buddhist practice that modeled and expressed a particular path that led towards Buddhahood.
Historian Jimmy Yu... examines many primary sources from the 16th and 17th century and demonstrates that bodily practices of self-harm, including self-immolation, was ritually performed not only by Buddhists but also by Daoists and literati officials who either exposed their naked body to the sun in a prolonged period of time as a form of self-sacrifice or burned themselves as a method of procuring rain. In other words, self-immolation was a sanctioned part of Chinese culture that was public, scripted, and intelligible both to the person doing the act and to those who viewed and interpreted it, regardless of their various religion affiliations.
Here is Wikipedia's "List of political self-immolations."
The word "immolate" is based on the Latin word "molere," which means to mill. It's not about torment of the person who is immolated — as if he suffers grinding. It's about sprinkling with sacrificial meal. To say "self-immolation" rather than "self-burning" is to stress the sacrificial intent.
Here are the OED's historical examples of the usage of "self-immolation" (including the practice of suttee):
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83 comments:
Yet some still scoff at the notion that climate change is a religion.
Nothing to add here after the first comment.
Agreed, this is religion.
I prefer getting my thrills from an Immelmann turn.
So, "suicide bombers" are now to be described as "community immolators"? These acts serve a higher, sacred purpose?
Ending one's life is by definition suicide, much like "intercourse" is the textbook definition of the mammalian sex act. These terms may not be used in common language, but they remain the correct definitions. One can load on second layers of meaning through religion or ideology but the core act and functional outcomes are accurate.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suicide
"Hey baby, let's have intercourse." So romantic am I.
He died leaving a maximum carbon footprint.
Why the Supreme Court?
Also, did he use a fossil fuel?
Self-abortion. Millions elect to abort globally for social (e.g. "burden"), redistributive, clinical (e.g. clinical cannibalism), and fair weather (e.g. climate stasis) causes.
Abortion! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.
I’ve known that these people were crazy, but not that crazy.
setting oneself on fire = holographic request for cremation after death?
He died leaving a maximum carbon footprint.
Certifiably organic. Although, not vegan.
Had Dr. K been aware for a year that this was planned? If so, it seems to me that Dr. K bears a good deal of responsibility - moral if not legal - for this suicide by immolation.
If you got a police sketch artist to draw a composite portrait of a climate nutter, it would look just like that.
Boulder has a large number of religious climate cultists. They show up to all the climate conferences that swing thru town. One of my good pals is a devotee. One year she went to the big climate conference, and the crowd was so vast, she had to sit on the floor and pull her knees tight to her body so she wouldn't get stepped on. She screwed up one of her knees pretty badly over it.
Devotion.
Doesn’t the climate crisis already get plenty of attention?
I have to hand it to him... This ultimate form of true devotion is impressive.
The early Christians believed that all life on Earth would be destroyed in the near future.
Their response was to try to live a pure, self-sacrificing life until that happened.
Imagine being so geeked up by climate propaganda that this act made sense to you. Green fanatics are poisoning the public with their disinformation. This poor soul should have inflicted his “protest” on China or India. America is the only country from the so-called Paris Accords that actually met the CO2 target. Why assault our sensibilities with your messy ending?
He chose the wrong cause, but the only surprise is that more people don't do this, given the deception and fraudulence in public life lately. I was wondering who'd finally actually do it.
If only we had 9 RBG's on the Supreme Court.
The Climate would stop warming and we could get back to normal.
The educators are failing at producing critical thinkers - as intended, I suppose.
My congresscritter (Adam Smith, WA-9) touts the climate change is a crisis line. He had a virtual townhall last Tuesday where he praised high gas prices and blamed them on the climate crisis, not Two Scoops's war on petroleum. He believes we can all be using electric vehicles in the near future. He supported nuclear, which is rare for a climate hoaxer. He wouldn't answer my question about which climate crisis prediction had ever come true. Short answer: none.
'He died leaving a maximum carbon footprint.'
I feel bad for laughing a this.
I will be reincarnated as a newt.
I like to ask climate activists how many Indians, Chinese and Americans they think need to be killed to stop climate change. If they don't have a number in mind already, I like to lead them through a climate-Malthusian analysis that demands a lower population to avoid putting more CO2 in the air. It is depressing to them, but I enjoy doing it, because they basically start out saying, "NONE!" and then after understanding that there is no alternative to genocide for stopping climate change, they sometimes enthusiastically embrace genocide. Those folk are sick!
He wouldn't answer my question about which climate crisis prediction had ever come true. Short answer: none.
History starts anew everyday for the Left.
Nuclear energy does not emit carbon dioxide and is far more constant than wind energy or solar energy.
“ So, "suicide bombers" are now to be described as "community immolators"?”
The Dalai Lama called self-immolation nonviolent precisely because it is not a bomb and it does not extend its damage beyond the body of the one making the sacrifice.
One down and a few million to go. How do we help turn this in to an eco warrior trend? Any chance of getting Greta or Al Gore onboard?
Look at all the carbon he released into the atmosphere. Hypocrite.
That's one. I mean seriously?? All I can hope for is that he didn't pass along his genes.
I'm old enough to remember the Vietnamese monks who self-immolated to protest the war--or at least some aspect of it. I don't recall any after the Reds took over . . . but then how would I know?
I'm all for spiritual or principled dumbasses offing themselves. Or unspiritual or unprincipled ones for that matter. Perhaps it will catch on as a group activity among dumbasses of all persuasions.
Proving what, exactly?
He used a great deal of fossil fuels to get himself to DC, then used fossil fuels to set himself ablaze, then they used fossil fuels in the helicopter to airlift him to the hospital, so.... even his act only shows how modern society requires these energy sources
C’mon, Greta - don’t be chicken!!
"Why the Supreme Court?"
Sadly, based on my years of observation of the Libs of Boulder, he probably did not want to self-immolate in front of either the Capitol or White House because both are controlled by the Democrat Party. Even in death, he didn't want to be seen as implicitly criticizing Biden, Pelosi or Schumer. What role the US Supreme Court plays in global warming I doubt he could articulate: but he knew the bounds of who you are allowed to protest, even in extremis.
Hmmm... Napalm as Holy Water?
It's a cult, not a religion. They've been preaching we only have 10 years left since 1980. A religious but rational person would recognize it was a con when the promised "rapture" failed to come. Only a cult member would be irrational enough to willfully drink the poisoned Kool-aid 42 years later.
Proving what, exactly?
That at least one mentally ill person was really worried about climate change.
Dude probably went to Avengers: Infinity War thinking Thanos was the real hero. . . . .
The leftists' climate change religion has created mental illness in their followers. He could have just drank the red kool-aid and reduced the carbon footprint caused by his actions.
It's a cult, not a religion.
The CO2 (go green!), and, generally, carbon-based (organic, anthropogenic, the People and our Posterity), fixation as original secular sin, is both a cult and religion: a worship of mortal gods (and goddesses) and a behavioral protocol, respectively.
Buddhists: they're what's for dinner.
This dude was en fuego! But is it a trend? Something to be emulated (immolated?)?
https://abcnews.go.com/US/renowned-gay-rights-attorney-environmentalist-immolates-brooklyn-park/story?id=54475190
We need an honest, national discussion on this. It is a great way to eliminate one's carbon footprint, except for the little spike at the end.
Seemed like a good idea right up to the point that their neurons started transmitting to their little brains the unimaginable searing pain of burning flesh.
Dr. K., who apparently works for the Environmental Defense Fund, is the only source for ascribing the purpose of his self-immolation to "bringing attention to the global warming crisis." I suppose the date, Earth Day, may provide some support for that.
But we have seen no statements from Bruce himself, a suicide note, a manifesto, not even a tweet or FB post that explains his thinking. At this point, we have a tweet from October 2020 with a fire emoji and the date, 4/22/2022. But as to what event in 2020 (external or internal) triggered his decision, again, no clue. In the 18 months since then, if his immolation was to "bring attention" to global warming, why wouldn't he have built a case for that, laid out his plan and the reasons for it, or meaning behind it? At this point, it is as easy to believe that some personal crisis, a failed relationship, a lost job triggered the decision and the environmental Earth Day stuff is just a mask.
They've been preaching we only have 10 years left since 1980.
My recollection is it started in the mid-60's. Of course, Thomas Malthus died in 1834. So, I'm sure it's been going on longer than I can imagine.
....and don't forget Chicken Little, and the Sky is Falling. Who knows when that story evolved.
He died doing what he loved: emitting particulate matter into the atmosphere during combustion.
What sort of man wears lima beans around his neck...?
Althouse, this here isn't the high quality commentary we've come to expect at this blog. Sorry not sorry, "...any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind."
>> "This act is not suicide"
Distinction without a difference.
If you simply look at the structure of ideology, psychologically speaking the content is irrelevant. There is no difference between religion and whatever the political content of any specific ideology. Religion and politics are fundamentally the same. I think the power of ideology lies in its ability to bind a person's anxiety. I am "right" you are "wrong" becomes self-reinforcing. It is exponentially reinforced by like-minded individuals (herd mentality). Fear is subsumed by belief, so fanaticism is only a few fellow travelers away. Homicide or suicide in some form (psychological or physical) is inevitable.
Setting oneself on fire to bring attention to the "climate crisis" (yes, those are scare quotes) falls under the rubric of insanity. Wynn was a Loser.
Reminded me of, '...that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.' I think the devotion is misplaced, but he had a greater depth of devotion to his cause than I have to any of mine.
effinayright said...
What sort of man wears lima beans around his neck...?
One seeking ham hocks?
Can Of Cheese for Hunter said...
He died leaving a maximum carbon footprint.
I hope he purchased the proper carbon offsets from the Goreacle or one of the other green scammers before his external combustion.
Flaming drama queen.
Behind that placid, almost stereotypically sanctimonious facies lay all that confusion and anger. He thought that someone would miss him. Who, I wonder.
'What sort of man wears lima beans around his neck...?'
Someone from Peru?
Damn… that was a good song!
I think this sort of maladjusted creep is one small step away from becoming a suicide terrorist. He hates himself so intensely that he destroys his body. But this man would need to start hating other people just as intensely before he seeks out mutual destruction.
Yeah, he's a real Thich Quang Duc.
What's the carbon footprint of burning flesh?
Couldn't he have drowned himself, and left a note? Drowning is pretty horrible, but I would think burning alive is worse.
And what exactly is the impact on a Supreme Court justice? "Wow, that really makes me re-think global warming. When a case comes my way, I will remember."
One more thing: Friends don't let friends self-immolate. Can't you try prayer first?
Paraphrasing Samuel Johnson:
The wise man shows you the grounds of his convictions, the the strength of them.
Discuss.
He meditated with our sangha.
Is that what the kids are calling it these days...?
Shades of Buddhist monks protesting Diem back in the day.
"Earlier in the day, four people were shot when a gunman suddenly opened fire in a residential area in the Northwest section of the city, forcing residents and schools to lockdown and shelter in place. The gunman was later found dead."
More fearless compassion, ya think?
Fortunately, after a day or two of internet ridicule he will be forgotten.
I already can't remember his name.
Is that what hopelessness looks like?
He died to make a point-
He should have lived to make a difference.
No he beats no responsibility to improve the world.
How old was he?
He was 50.
I wonder if drugs were involved? To keening calm?
It’s a sickening thing to do to oneself.
“Now he bears no responsibility…
There may be something else involved. Maybe his doctors told him he didn't have long to live. Maybe he's facing serious physical or mental degeneration and impairment. Or maybe he's depressed because of loss of a loved one or a career. We all know that in a predominantly secular country -- which we are now -- such actions only bring jibes, insults, and abuse, not actual change.
Even if he'd acted in a more serious cause, he'd still get laughed at. I'm glad he didn't shoot anywhere up or take other people with him though. I doubt we'll honor Wynne Bruce in the future or even remember him at all, but if we still think of Norman Morrison these days, we probably don't make up jokes about him. So at least he'll have that.
Joe Smith said...
'He died leaving a maximum carbon footprint.'
I feel bad for laughing a this.
I will be reincarnated as a newt.
_______________________________
You'll get better.
Maybe I missed something, but no news source cited anything about this man's survivors. They could do that without revealing names. And in failing to note those left behind, they ignore the very real victims of public suicide, and possibly the real targets: parents, siblings, loved ones.
If anyone from this man's circle knew about his plans to kill himself and did nothing to get him psychiatric help, they are just terrible people.
Maybe I missed something, but no news source cited anything about this man's survivors. They could do that without revealing names. And in failing to note those left behind, they ignore the very real victims of public suicide, and possibly the real targets: parents, siblings, loved ones.
If anyone from this man's circle knew about his plans to kill himself and did nothing to get him psychiatric help, they are just terrible people.
Also, followers of the Dali Lama, that money-hungry clown, didn't have to gather this guy's burning body onto a gurney, try to open his airway and find a vein, keep him alive during a mediflight, or try to wash the smell of his burning flesh from their bodies.
First responders did. This isn't an act with no victims. He victimized those who tried to save him. That should go without saying, but if you're a buffoon who takes big checks from the Nexvium sex cult while using private jets to circle the world to oppose global warming, little people like EMTs and police are irrelevant.
I appreciated self-immolation as possibly the only option in those horrible days right after the Nov 2020 vote, when it was clear to everyone that the worst ruling class ever had managed to destroy America's honest vote, and the world would never be the same.
Of course, I am a lightweight and coward who could never begin to have the selflessness to do such a thing, but I did consider that action being one of the few where a regular citizen might make a difference.
Even more than that, I was pretty sure even if I could pull it off, such an attempt to send a message would be buried by the same powers that murdered our process, and the act would be useless, just like Helen Hunt's character in "year of living dangerously", when He hangs the sign against Sukarno at the perfect moment as the parade is driving by and they simply come and deal with him, and no one EVER KNOWS.
but this is in the New York Post. hmm, Not NYT? Huffington? NPR? surely they will try to amplify this, for the climate?
Everyone who commits suicide has a reason. It doesn't become not-suicide just because the reason is considered by some, to be honorable.
If the guy wanted to commit suicide in a way non-harmful to others and without the release of CO2, he could have opened a vein. Also, though he didn't harm any bystanders, he could have: Somebody could have burnt themselves trying to extinguish the flames.
Wait, Helen Hunt? In The Year of Living Dangerously?
You meant Linda Hunt.
The best part of that movie was the Strauss song excerpt.
Speaking of suicide (Selbstmord, self-murder in German), one of my friends once volunteered to man a suicide hotline. He couldn't handle it for more than a few sessions and quit. I wondered what he expected--that he, the outsider, could talk someone out of it? (And given that people who are serious about suicide rarely call hotlines . . . )
...but at the same time i wish
there was something i wanted
as badly as he wanted to fry himself
From "the lesson of the moth" by archy (a poem by Don Marquis)
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