[Voliscietle]

@chris- your answer resonates the most with me.

if the person is lost here, it is possible for him/her to be lost over there. it is not certain, but very possible.

i pmed my thoughts when the thread first presented. now there have been so many responses, i want to add my two cents to the discussion.

providing a conceptualization of karma to a friend going through this is all fine and good. but since we cannot reprogram others' perspectives, i want to give some practical advice. i'm not a professional, but i do have experience. when we have a friend going down this path, we must tell them "i love you. i don't want you to go. please don't do that.". after that, all we can do is be present with them physically. he/she is significantly less likely to act if in the presence of another. the process of life will take its course, and the friend's perspective will potentiate itself as it shapes and shifts with catalysts and experiences. we can be catalyst, we can be part of experience, and our love is present beyond concepts.