Religion and Healthcare – Buddhism

The following answers were compiled from interviews with Richard Johnson, RN, who is a teacher of meditation at Friends of the Heart in Toronto, Ontario, and with a member of the Sangha Council of Ontario Buddhist Ministry.

Q: What is the Buddhist philosophy concerning health and well-being?

A: Buddhists believe that the body, which is a temporary shell for the spirit, should be treated with great respect and care so the mind can concentrate on pursuing enlightenment. Some believe that people who are spiritually focussed and who follow a faithful regimen of meditation, diet, and exercise will not become sick. If illness does occur, many Buddhists believe that 80% of the time it can be cured using the mind and 20% of the time it can be cured using herbs. Some believe that exposing the body to the harsh natural elements will strengthen the immune system. And some Buddhists attribute sickness to laziness in faith or lifestyle.

Though some Buddhists combine aspects of Western healthcare practices with Eastern traditions, the modern Western hospital is not really set up to address their needs. The ICU, especially, with its bright lights, constant noise, and close monitoring of the patient, does not have the quiet environment in which the spirit of an ill person can contemplate.

Q: Does Buddhism have any dietary restrictions?

A: Since they believe in the possibility of being reincarnated as an animal, Buddhists are vegetarian. And they avoid alcohol and other stimulants, since these products diminish clarity of the mind. The more complete reason for being vegetarian is ethical. There are five main precepts in Buddhism (however monks and nuns follow many more related to their monastic life), and the first precept – "I take the vow not to intentionally kill any living being" – is adhered to by all Buddhists.

Q: Are there treatments or medications, which are refused by Buddhists?

A: Western medication is thought to weaken the body and is, therefore, avoided. Though Buddhists may use some traditional Eastern medicines (such as Traditional Chinese Medicine), some of these treatments contain animal products or alcohol. Some Buddhists are not concerned by this contradiction, while others forego these medications. Those who use these medications may believe that since they are not likely to be enlightened in this lifetime, they can always work toward a higher level in the next life.

Q: What is Buddhism's position on the following?

A: Blood transfusions: Giving blood, if done out of selflessness and free of charge, is a very kind gift. Some monasteries regularly donate blood.

Organ transplant/organ donation: As long as the organs are not bought or donated through coercion, there is not a problem. However, the organ is not usually allowed to be taken from a Buddhist's body until the religious teacher confirms that the spirit has left the corpse.

Birth Control: This is a personal issue for Buddhists: some support it, others are opposed. However, sex is condoned only within marriage.

Abortion: Buddhists are against killing of any kind, but if an abortion is for the greater good of the mother and unborn child, it is seen by some as the best solution. Others believe abortion is unnatural and, therefore, wrong. Usually the path of least suffering is seen as the most just way to approach situations such as these.

Autopsies: After death, the soul is believed to remain near the body and communicate with it for a period of time. An autopsy is a major disturbance of the body, and it could, therefore, distract the soul. Different teachers have different ideas about how long the soul stays by the body. An autopsy may be permitted after a religious teacher determines that the soul has left the body.

Q: What should a healthcare professional know about a Buddhist's view of death?

A: Death offers a unique last chance for enlightenment. The person does not become reincarnated immediately after the body dies. Therefore, serious contemplation can occur in the period between the death of the body and reincarnation. For this reason, the mind should not be clouded by drugs, and, if it is apparent that a person is close to death, often Buddhists will ask that the patient's medication or painkillers be lessened or stopped. In order to get closer to enlightenment, the mind and soul need to be unhindered.

The approach of death is the time that the family will contact the patient's teacher. Rites and rituals are done before the death, or, if the teacher does not arrive in time, immediately afterwards. With an at-home death, the body may lie undisturbed for hours or even days. In a hospital, the family will usually want the body to remain undisturbed for as long as the hospital permits.

So that the spirit of the dead body will be undisturbed, the number of visitors is often limited, and the grief of loved ones is not often openly expressed. Death is not separated from life in Buddhism, and the faithful may have an easier time accepting the lifecycle than those of other religious beliefs. In many traditions, the body of the deceased is cremated after a certain amount of time – around five days – and then a memory service is held 49 days after the death.

Background on Buddhism Buddhism is one of the four largest religions in the world. Traditions state that the Buddha, Siddhartha, lived either from 563 to 483 BCE or from 624 to 544 BCE and that he reached enlightenment at the age of 35 – the official date of the beginning of the religion. Unlike many religions, Buddhism is more of a spiritual practice than a doctrinal faith. The main goal of Buddhism is to reach spiritual enlightenment – also known as truth, nirvana, or awakening. Reincarnation is at the core of their beliefs. Buddhists pray and meditate regularly, follow a vegetarian diet, avoid stimulants such as alcohol and drugs, and do no harm to sentient beings. They believe that you can be reincarnated as any living thing: an animal, a human, or a being in another realm, such as gods or, for a time, in a hell realm. Being reincarnated as a human is desirable, since the human realm is conducive to reaching enlightenment. Buddhism is practiced in many countries of Southeast Asia, and each country has its own cultural beliefs and practices around health, illness, care for the dying, care for the dead body, and care for the soul/spirit of the person after death. Buddhism is also now being practised by many Westerners, who are taking up the beliefs and meditation practices of Buddhism but only selectively adopting the cultural forms. A practitioner of Korean Zen Buddhism will have different needs from that of a Tibetan Buddhist. For more information see Buddha Information Net and Tricycle Hub.

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