[Buddha-l] Nirvana Sutra Chapter 19 , Suicide and Body Sacrifice

[GM]

I've always understood the Tibetan view as described in the list to be generally shared across the Mahayana world as long as we distinguish  self sacrifice from suicide by the intent ( throwing yourself on a bomb to save others is not generally considered suicide).  Hence the immolations in Vietnam by monks to save Buddhism (from their viewpoint) from persecution as the only option left short of killing  could be seen by some as permissible. Politically, they were effective in stopping the apparent attempt to suppress Buddhism with other consequences less fortunate for all. However, they were really supported ideologically  by Confucian influence. This is where political suicides may be better understood.

When the scholar/official  charged with teaching morality to the ruler finds the ruler corrupt this sort of public  and painful sacrifice may be a duty as the last option to change the ruler's heart or the last protest left. In Vietnam I understand there was a tradition of upright scholar/officials doing exactly that.  The more painful the suicide, the more obvious the sincerity of the sacrifice. I believe many Vietnam monks, as the bearers of civilization and protectors of the people, would see themselves as having the same Confucian duties as a scholar/official.

Moving North, East Asia does have a more or less common Buddhist ideological tradition, but does not have a common tradition regarding suicide. 

Close neighbors Japan and Korea demonstrate this well. In  Korea suicide before rape by foreign invaders if resistance fails was enshrined as something noble (hence the small knife worn in the traditional  fancy women's clothing can symbolically be used for killing others or oneself). I don't believe there are many examples of suicide as protest ( as distinct from fighting militarily against  hopeless odds) by scholar/officials or monks. The rare politically motivated public suicide has not been successful in gathering support. In Japan suicide clearly has a much different role in history, politics, and literature.

By the way, Korean Buddhists keep trying to suppress  the monkish practice of sacrificing a finger in order to obtain enlightenment. They keep saying that this is forbidden, smells more of superstition than Buddhism, and, more importantly, is useless and will have no effect on becoming enlightened (which is not something you buy). Nevertheless, the practice keeps reoccurring. Does anybody know if this finger sacrificing is rooted in anything textual or where it originates?