tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post6553056719326292557..comments2024-03-28T14:11:24.265-07:00Comments on dhamma musings: Euthanasia IVShravasti Dhammikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-73027767965525437662009-01-04T21:58:00.000-08:002009-01-04T21:58:00.000-08:00Won't the mind be full of feelings of aversion for...Won't the mind be full of feelings of aversion for the pain, the suffering, and the delusion that it is "substantial" and "permanent"?Ken and Visakhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16713910044241151429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-18595866365281783922009-01-04T19:31:00.000-08:002009-01-04T19:31:00.000-08:00Thanks for your interesting comments and observati...Thanks for your interesting comments and observations. I will reply to some of them tomorrow.Shravasti Dhammikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06246408068143301108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-87773249220389422432009-01-04T16:25:00.000-08:002009-01-04T16:25:00.000-08:00Bhante, I think I can call euthanasia what happene...Bhante, I think I can call euthanasia what happened at Channovada Sutta.<BR/><BR/>If so, the Buddha has nothing against euthanasia, since the tooking of live happens in a pure way - I mean, without aversion or craving.Paulohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13970419071192332686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-84673825752971144262009-01-04T14:05:00.000-08:002009-01-04T14:05:00.000-08:00I have long supported euthanasia when a physical c...I have long supported euthanasia when a physical condition has deteriorated to the extent described in your blog. A friend of mine committed suicide on Tuesday, Dec. 30. He shot himself. He told my son that his mental suffering was unbearable. He leaves behind a wife and 11 yr. old boy. To quote your statement: "But we know that there are situations where someone can choose death because circumstances have made it a worse option that remaining alive." I would not have included him in this category, but the description is accurate. I am devastated by his act and the suffering that has been caused.dyannnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01436715090770205995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-84083559067551763102009-01-04T05:03:00.000-08:002009-01-04T05:03:00.000-08:00Bhante,It's nice to read your last question:"What ...Bhante,<BR/><BR/>It's nice to read your last question:<BR/>"What do you think?"<BR/><BR/>I think by taking off a life supporting system, should not be term euthanasia. In the first place, it was purposely attached to the patient. So by taking it off, is not depriving the patient's life. It should not be there in the first place.Justin Choohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11275697990382930245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-130124639326441842009-01-04T03:18:00.000-08:002009-01-04T03:18:00.000-08:00Interesting point. In my native country (Sweden) t...Interesting point. In my native country (Sweden) they are having the debate about whether to allow euthanasia or not. There are a few EU countries where it's allowed.<BR/>Disregarding the standard theistic faith arguments, it's still a very tricky and complicated issue. How can you make sure that an individuals intentions are compassionate or not? Most individuals are more or less unaware of their own moral intentions, or so it seems. Checking ones motivation is hard unless you have some type of mental training and are used to observing your mind. And how do you avoid the situation where a terminally ill patient is coerced into asking for euthanasia by his or hers relatives?<BR/>I agree that, from a Buddhist point of view, euthanasia might not automatically be dismissed as 'wrong'. But there will always be situations or cases where the underlying motivation is unclear and thus capable of producing a kammic taint.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1012277645322483593.post-90679933192626029762009-01-04T02:50:00.000-08:002009-01-04T02:50:00.000-08:00Bhante-la, I'm afraid my teachers disagree with yo...Bhante-la, I'm afraid my teachers disagree with you, if the person ending the life, no matter how well-intentioned, is not enlightened to the point where they can completely perceive the karmic patterns of others. If not, ending the life may not be as compassionate as it seems on the surface. Why? Because you do not know if that being (could be person or animal) has exhausted the dominant karmas to be in that form with that condition. It may be that you are condemning them to another round of suffering of birth, so that they will then exhaust the karma in another, shorter life. We run into this dilemma a lot with our pets. It sounds very nice to "put them to sleep," but karmically it might just be kindest to afford them every comfort, do prayers, etc., but let the karma exhaust itself to the very end.Konchoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14520077044824861391noreply@blogger.com