Phil Tompkins wrote:
> The USA Today report contains this:
SNIP
> The hearing witnesses who attempt to argue form principles were
> all opposed to stem cell research. There were no bioethicists or
> representatives of religion among the witnesses favoring stem cell
From a Buddhist perspective, you may see things differently.
>
> research. I believe that our position would be strengthened by
> making an appeal to principles as well. But I'm having a hard time
> trying to articulate such an appeal.
>
> Hilary, I think you are getting there when you write:
Hilary Blue's message has inspired me to provide a brief supporting comment.
>
> > Should that anonymous cluster of cells not be given the right to
> > save my life - or at least improve its quality? Does anyone have
> > the right to deprive that cell clusters of it s moment of glory?
>
> Phil Tompkins
I'll bet the ethical view points, represented to this committee, were from
Christianity.
in buddhism, human life is valued most highly.
(there are many forms of buddhism,
so i refer to the those based on the Lotus Sutra teachings).
pacifism is one example that comes to mind.
we have been born as humans
we live and die
we experience the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death.
there have been previous lives and there will be lives to come.
life from this perspective is eternal.
we can't remember past lives,
we just see cause and effect (karma)--and not all is obvious,
as it manifests in the present,
and will manifest in the future.
a few years ago, my wife had several miscarriages...
and then, four years ago, William the survivor, arrived.
he, was, and still is very energetic and full of life force.
each of us has a unique mission in life to be fulfilled.
we had a funeral for the ones that were lost.
a wise person counseled us,
and told us that they had fulfilled there missions,
whatever that was, producing value in their brief existences...
and had moved on to the next.
i view in vitro fertilizatiion embryos similarly.
some grow into babies,
some go in the trash...
such is their karma.
their brief lives could create value,
some could have an important mission,
to save many others from lives of suffering.
by the way,
i grew up as a Lutheran
--
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Ray Strand
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48/47 dx/40 ?onset
The fight against Parkinson's Disease
http://www.michaeljfox.org/
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http://www.metalsmith.org/gall/strand/
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...on the edge of the prairie abyss ......................
