The Right to Die: Buddhist Perspective

Authors

  • Nuarhnwan Punwasuponchat Department of Life and Death, Faculty of Humanities, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University,Thailand

Keywords:

Buddhist Perspective, Life and Death, Rights to die

Abstract

This research is of objective to study and research on the life, death, dying, and the will to die in Buddhist perspective in comparison with western concept. On life, western idea concerns only the physical formation of the body with the period of living, i.e. from birth to death. Medical treatments involve in case of sickness or implement of the defect physical part of body, or even to extend life. One question arises as to the right or wrong practice for doctors and relatives to follow the will to die of the patient at the end of life. In Buddhist perspective, life comprises of both physical body and mind, originated by the inception in mother’s womb through delivery, grows up, old age, decay, and death. In case of life and death, nobody can resist the power of kamma. The state of mind of a person before and dying moment is different. Buddhism does not agree with the will to die as in current trend in medical treatment at present.

References

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Dickenson, Donna and Malcom Johnson. (Ed.) (1994). Death, Dying & Bereavement. London: Sage Publications.

Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. (1996). Thai Tipitaka: Saṃyuttanikāya Nidānavagga (Vol 16). Bangkok.

Phra Branmagunabhorn (P.A. Pyutto). (2010). Dictionary of Buddhism. (19Ed). Bangkok: S.R. Printing Mass Products Co.Ltd.

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Published

2017-12-01

How to Cite

Punwasuponchat, N. . (2017). The Right to Die: Buddhist Perspective. Journal of International Buddhist Studies, 8(2). Retrieved from https://so09.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jibs/article/view/2463

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