Perspectives : Organ Transplants, Euthanasia & AMD

4 thoughts on “Perspectives : Organ Transplants, Euthanasia & AMD”

1. Lately, I am very glad to be able to listen to one of Ajahn Brahm’s CD – I think the name of the CD is ‘What Happens After Death’, if I am not wrong. Ajahn Brahm talks about Organ Transplants, he signs up to be an Organ Donor.

   I took me sometime to decide to sign for organ donor few years back – to donate away my skin. To harvest skin, it needs to be removed within 15 hrs of death.

   When I read the book, Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, they don’t encourage the dead body to be moved around for some reasons. It is really distributing me, I sign up for that and I think it is right to do. Isn’t doing good, compassionate, self-less is what Buddhism always encourage?

   Anyway, I still didn’t sign out and carry this Organ Donor Card with me all the time. So, one way to comfort myself is either I believe Buddha will lend me a helping hand if I can’t bear the process at that point of time (I assume) or the other way is NOT to be a Buddhist …

   Listen to Ajahn Brahm’s CD on this issue clears my uneasiness and it makes sense to me.

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2. The Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions believe it is common that the consciousness does not leave the body that is pronounced dead immediately – due to factors like attachment and delusion. Some Theravada teachers believe the consciousness is reborn instantly, while some do not.

   It’s good to read the articles in the links to see the perspectives of the first two traditions above. Buddhism encourages doing good with wisdom; not regardless of consequences… Just as we would not risk a lower rebirth while alive, why should we do so when ‘dead’?

   Answers to the questions above on the extent of ‘selfless giving’ can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Amituofo/message/99 (One of the links above.) It is okay to be a Buddhist when one cannot be perfectly giving like a Buddha yet. If we can be Buddha-like in giving already, there would be no need to be practising Buddhists :straight:

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3. Before death, donating organ is not an easy decision. Upon death, the body is of no use anymore and yet still could not let go … it might be a hinder

   To me, not to risk lower rebirth while alive, this makes sense and upon death that point is a final sum up of what have been done previously, nothing much can alter. Just like, sitting for an examination, the preparation is done prior to the examination, on the spot, it is too late.

   In real life, there are many selfless-giving examples (like saving other lives in a real dangerous situation), it seems it is automatic and come naturally and I don’t think they have time to even ponder, calculate the situation. I would think this beautiful act immediate would make them raise high …

   Another question just struck me, for those thinking it might risk lower rebirth when ‘dead’, then can I assume they would never accept other organs if there is a need because that process might risk other a lower rebirth or is it otherwise …

   If no one willing to donate organs, then there is totally no hope for those who need it, to ensure not to end up in that stage, any suggestions? Eat healthy? Do lots of good deeds? Never get too near to fire or chemical, if badly burn, no skin donation means dead?

   Anyway, to donate or not, it is individual’s decision and willingness …

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4. As the destination of rebirth is determined by our last thoughts, it is never too late to change our mind. Even when we are pronounced dead, our consciousness can still choose what to focus upon. However, our last thoughts are largely shaped by our habitual thoughts – though there are cases where people are able to change their minds in time and be reborn in Pureland.

   We should work towards being ready to leave the body once we are deceased, so that we can accept our body being cut up without fear, pain or regret. But for those not ready, it’s important to think twice about organ donation.

   The natural karmic payback for opting out is that one will be lower on priority as a recipient of needed organs. It’s interesting to note that those willing to donate organs upon death will do so whether one believes them doing so might lead to lower rebirths or not. In this sense, opting not to take in others’ organs does not reduce the likeliness of them opting out of donating their organs.

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