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Buddhism and Hospice Care
Buddhism examines how to end the cycle of birth and death. When Siddhārtha Gautama renounced worldly life and sought enlightenment, his goal was to address the problem of life and death. In the Ming dynasty, Master Hanshan stated, “Since ancient times renunciation has been concerned with the issue of birth and death. The Buddha came into this world in order to teach all sentient beings about this. There is no other Dharma than that concerning birth and death; there is no birth or death other than what the Dharma teaches us.”
Buddhism, Euthanasia, and Hospice Care
The debate regarding euthanasia has attracted increased public attention in recent decades. Opinion polls indicate support for euthanasia in many Western countries, reflecting legal developments which make euthanasia and physicianassisted suicide possible. The meaning of euthanasia can be summarised as the merciful killing of those who are incurably ill or greatly suffering from pain. This motivation distinguishes euthanasia from other types of killing. Despite the motivation, there is still much vigorous debate on the question of whether it is appropriate for doctors to kill. Most of the current debates have been conducted within Western, namely Christian, religious frameworks; few Eastern religious voices, such as Buddhist ones, have been heard. Therefore, an investigation of the Buddhist perspective on euthanasia provides a new viewpoint with regard to end-of-life resolutions.
