The desire to end suffering is the most usual cause of suicide. If there is no conviction that the destruction of the physical body will end suffering, there will tend to be fewer physical suicides.
Some spiritual traditions speak about the death of the ego as a dimension of spiritual maturation.
We will explore the meaning of this possibility in its relation to physical death and especially suicide. Psychiatrists, psychotherapists, scientists, seekers and spiritual teachers will invite us to reflect deeply on an acute problem of the modern world. Scandinavian countries, renowned for their balance and harmony, are curiously considered to have one of the highest suicide rate in the world. Our conference in Finland, one of the most beautiful countries of our planet, will help us to understand better this paradoxical phenomena. A forum on Internet has been set up at the Saint John's University for discussing all questions related to the conference and to the topic of suicide.