euthanasia?
 

Is euthanasia considered acceptable in Buddhism?
What is your opinion about this issue?

hi

for a Theravadin buddhist monk to recommend or assist in euthanasia is a fatal transgression, resulting in disrobing

regards http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

Recommending means of euthanasia. The Vinita-vatthu includes a case of a criminal who has just been punished by having his hands and feet cut off. A bhikkhu asks the man's relatives, "Do you want him to die? Then make him drink buttermilk (§) (!)." The relatives follow the bhikkhu's recommendation, the man dies, and the bhikkhu incurs a pārājika.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a...bmc1.ch04.html

Pārājika
This term, according to the Parivāra, derives from a verb meaning to lose or be defeated. A bhikkhu who commits any of the four...offenses has surrendered to his own mental defilements to such an extent that he defeats the purpose of his having become a bhikkhu in the first place. The irrevocable nature of this defeat is illustrated in the Vibhaṅga with a number of similes: "as a man with his head cut off... as a withered leaf freed from its stem... as a flat stone that has been broken in half cannot be put together again... as a palmyra tree cut off at the crown is incapable of further growth." A bhikkhu who commits any of these offenses severs himself irrevocably from the life of the Saṅgha and is no longer considered a bhikkhu.

Hi laen59,

Could you say a little more about the kind of situation/s you have in mind, please ?

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

Buttermilk? Am I missing something, how does that kill you? As to the topic at hand, I firmly believe it is up to the individual to make that decision and no one else. So, if someone who was suffering from incurable cancer and wanted to end their life with dignity I think it is their choice to make, however I don't agree with "pulling the plug" unless the person asked for it in a living will or something and even then I'm ify.

I have a living will. Here in Australia I don't think such carries much clout however.

I do not see intense terminal suffering as a neccessary thing from a secular or a spiritual position.

I too fail to see the buttermilk nexus.......

I'm guessing buttermilk has some kind of anti-clotting properties or something like that.

Just a gentle reminder that the subject of this discussion #1 (started two

months ago by laen5) isn't buttermilk, its :


"euthenasia? Is euthanasia considered acceptable in Buddhism? What is your opinion about this issue?"


(and if one puts 'euthenasia' into our search facility, past threads on the subject can also be found)

Personally, I'm in favour of euthanasia.

The circumstances have to be right. The person involved has to really want to die, and has to be in their right mind.

Their situation has to be already terminal. Dying should not be some convenient escape from debt or scandal, for instance.

I think there is a case for assisting someone to die more hastily and thereby avoid prolonged physical suffering.

It may yet take society many years before this becomes generally accepted, but I'm sure euthanasia will eventually be a medical option.

Hi woodscooter,

I am not sure it will be an option in the way that you say above.

In Australia, palliative care ( for people who have reached a stage of a terminal illness where they are in pain and having great diffficulty coping with basic activities of daily life ) are given drugs which do speed up their demise and make them more comfortable.

The idea that any one who really wants to die will be medically assisted to do so in any circumstance is very different to this.

As a mental health worker I see people who make suicide attempts whilst depressed and they are not in their right mind at the time due to the neurovegative symptoms of depression. It is only later when the depression is treated that they can reflect on their thinking at the time.

I believe that if you're down with a terminal illness and theres no chance of cure, and you're in pain and want to die with dignity then yes euthanasia should be allowed.

Legally, I think euthanasia should be a personal choice.

From a Buddhist perspective, I feel like it would be frowned upon...but my knowledge of scriptures is severely lacking. So take it with a grain of salt.

I believe in total freedom of choice, so long as it does not hurt others. I think you should be allowed to make the choice of wether or not you wish to kill yourself, though it's sad that some really want this for themselves.

However, those people should be made to go through Psychological diagnoses, like Transgenders are made to, to determine wether or not it is depression, a temporary thing, or something they truly want for themselves.

I know that Doctor Kevorkian had some patients who were diagnosed with alzheimers, and before there mind became too far gone to realise themselves and the world, wanted to pass on, peacefully, with family and loved ones at their side. He too, also spoke with them first, before giving them the oppurtunity to choose their own end.

As a Buddhist i could not assist a person who want to die, for me that would be same as do a murder, i know it sound bad when i say it like this. but if a person is sick in my view it has to come from some kind of karma.

Well. That isn't entirely true. Think of those who live with alzheimers, and diseases that only progress into more and more pain, until even the drugs they are on cannot help. Those people simply see themselves as having lived their life to its fullest, and want to ease not only their own suffering, but that of their loved ones as well. And you don't have to assist persay, simply give them the option, the freedom of choice, to take that away could very well be torture to them.

And where would the Karma that good, honest, and caring people who have suffered these kinds of diseases, have come from? In my opinion, that could never be Karma in the sense I think your speaking of, but simply what it is, science, a disease brought on from the environment around us.

I understand what you meaning. and i know other can have different opinion then me.
But. 12 years ago i lost my dad from Cancer and i know the feeling of losing someone, and yes he had a lot of pain and was using morphine i think it was to ease the pain.

Still i could never have stopped his life even if he begged me. for me killing is not an option.

I know exactly what you mean. That was your Father. It would be hard for me too, I don't even kill a spider, much to the disliking of my Sisters, lol, if I can avoid it. And I am very sorry for your loss, I didn't know my father at all, and when I had finally met him, he was gasping for breath every few seconds, with tubes all down his throat, he had multiple cancers throughout his entire body, and a couple of days later, he died. However, what I had proposed, or for most cases, the person suffering, themselves, would 'pull the trigger' persay, unless they cannot move.

The Buddhist scriptures are only guides. The Buddha, in my opinion, in the end, wanted us to look deeply, from many viewpoints, when it came to a teaching, or topic, to come to our own conclusion. I only say this, so you can realise that the Scriptures are not like the Bible, or the Holy Quran, but teachings, understandings, that a man had concluded using his deep looking, which resulted in wisdom, or understanding.

Thank you for your very kind words :) I am sorry to hear about your father too.

best wishes from The thinker :)

hi M

in the Buddhist scriptures, monks took their own life, and the Buddha advised their conduct was blameless, when done with the right motivation. in Buddhism, the issue is generally helping another take their life

Friend Sàriputta, I do not feel well, will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, my top hurts a lot. I feel as though a strong man was giving me a headdress with a strong headband. I do not feel well and will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, my belly hurts a lot as though a lot of air was turning about in my belly. I feel as though a clever butcher or his apprentice was carving my belly with a sharp butcher's knife. I do not feel well and will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, there is a lot of burning in my body. I feel as though two strong men taking me by my hands and feet are pulling me to a pit of burning embers and are scorching and burning me. I do not feel well and will not survive. My unpleasant feelings are severe and increasing, not decreasing. The unpleasant feelings are increasing until the end. Friend Sàriputta, I will take a knife to end life

Venerable Channa took a knife and put an end to his life. Then venerable Sàriputta approached the Blessed One, bowed, sat on a side and said. Venerable sir, venerable Channa has put an end to his life, what is his destination?

Sàriputta, wasn't the faultlessness of the bhikkhu Channa declared in your presence?

Sàriputta, if someone gives up this body and seizes another, I say it is a fault. In the bhikkhu that fault is not apparent. Bhikkhu Channa took his life faultlessly.

Channovàda Sutta

Oh wow! Thank you Element. I knew there would be a lot of good to joining this community. I had no idea of that story. Thank you very much for sharing it.