Sallekhana (or Santhara) is a highly revered spiritual practice in Jainism involving a voluntary, meditative fast unto death. It is explicitly not viewed as suicide; rather, it is a highly controlled, spiritual ritual undertaken exclusively by advanced monks or laypersons facing terminal illness or old age. With full consciousness and the blessing of spiritual mentors, the individual gradually stops consuming food and water to peacefully detach the soul from the physical body, burning away remaining karmic particles.