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Buddhists/Ethics - Euthanasia

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Expert: - 3/5/2011


Question
Good evening Mr. Wilding,
I was just wondering if I could ask a few questions regarding the ethic topic euthanasia. If you could provide as much detail as possible it would be appreciated very much.

1. What is your belief, value or moral on the topic of euthanasia?
2. Does your religion, Buddhism, agree with your personal opinion? If no, in what ways does it disagree?
3. Do you belive in a 'Situationalist's view', in which a particular situation may silence this belief, for the good of those involved? (Eg. Someone who is brain-dead and will never live a full life)
4. Do you know of anyone from your religion that has a different opinion to Euthanasia, than what you do? If so, is this reason because of differentiating cultural reasons, family or because they are part of a different sub-traditon?

Thank you for your time Mr. Wilding, it is very much appreciated.

Answer
1 Generally bad, but sometimes good
2 Largely agrees
3 I don't understand your point - are you assuming that I take a particular view?
4 Lots of people, for lots of reasons. Buddhism offers seriously good advice - it does not lay down the law, and does not pretend to have a hot-line to some wretched law-giver-in-the-sky.

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Alex Wilding

Expertise

I have practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions since the early 1970s, and have a good knowledge of theory, history and of the struggles of trying to practice the teachings, including meditation, while leading a normal, modern life. I am also available to provide background information for journalists.

Experience

I have been a practitioner since the early 1970s; have run a small Buddhist centre in the English Midlands and was vice-president of Kagyu Benchen Ling e.V. in Germany, for whom I managed three large Buddhist summer-camps. More importantly, I maintain a habit of personal practice. I am the "owner" of the Kagyu list at Yahoo.

Education/Credentials
My first degree was an M.A. from Oxford. I later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree for a research thesis in "Initiation in Tibetan Buddhism" from Leicester University. I also have engineering and educational qualifications.

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