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Karma? Buddhist ethics? Or just that life is unfair?
vinlyn
Colorado...for now Veteran
http://www.today.com/health/mom-teen-denied-heart-transplant-he-deserves-second-chance-6C10904077
I'm putting this in general banter, although what crossed my mind was Buddhist ethics here.
It's the story about a teen who is being denied a heart transplant, and the reasons why.
Just interested in any thoughts you have.
I'm putting this in general banter, although what crossed my mind was Buddhist ethics here.
It's the story about a teen who is being denied a heart transplant, and the reasons why.
Just interested in any thoughts you have.
0
Comments
Do they deny ex-drinkers liver transplants because they have addiction issues and MAY start drinking again? Usually not. And more than likely they are well into their 50's or 60s by then. This kid is YOUNG. He's got his whole life ahead of him... and apparently the damage to his heart isn't even his fault in any way.
I really really hate to say it, but I wonder if he was white or Asian and from a more well-to-do family background, would they be so hesitant?
Added: Sorry, I didn't tie my comment into anything to do with buddhist ethics or Karma, etc. I honestly don't see this as any sort of philosophical or religious issue... probably more of a political/class issue.
And in terms of not tying it into Buddhist ethics...I really just see ethics as ethics...so your response was very appropriate.
She shook her head when she said that there is just one set of guidelines for all patients and nodded when she said that the guys run ins with the law did not have any weight.
Schoolbook example of lying. Yepp I've seen all episodes of "Lie to me".
:rolleyes:
http://www.today.com/health/after-initial-denial-teen-granted-spot-heart-transplant-list-6C10910056
this incident made today's day more beautiful for me.
metta to that boy. may he be well and be healthy. metta to all sentient beings.
I have a friend whose son had a transplant when he was just a small boy. Even now, a decade later, he still occasionally goes into rejection and ends up in the hospital for days until they work through it. If it were me -- at my age -- I'd never agree.
Attention!
Attention!
Sorry wrong context but could not resist.
Right context:
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/buddhist-practice/attention.html
May all be well
well
well . . .
Buddha explains karma as how things work.
If you reject Buddha's explanation, it doesnt mean that
karma does not exist.
it just means that your karma, as in your understanding of
how things work, does not agree with Buddha.
without arms and legs. or why 2 girls born to the same parents,
one is attractive and one is ugly?
they will say genetics or i dont know.
well, if you ask buddha the same question, he will say it is due
to their karma.
What point are you making in this particular young man's case?
I'm glad I don't have to make these tough decisions, but I'm also glad there's people who can make them.
I'm pretty sure there's a school of thought that karma is an explanation of our genetic inheritance and our experiences; but I'm a bit vague on that.
The problem with this situation cited in the article was that the 'excuse' given was the labeling of the kid as possibly "non compliant" as a patient.... but the kid had NO prior medical history of non compliance! He'd never been ill before. He's 15! What they were REALLY alluding to is the fact that:
1. He's Black, (let's not pretend that had nothing to do with it)
2. He's probably not from a well-to-do background
3. He's been in a minor scrape with the law - and yet was wearing an ankle bracelet as a result.
Being black also statistically leads to much harsher penalties than white kids get, by the way. I personally know of several trouble-making teens who went through their phase of 'troubles with the law" for all manner of things- and never saw jail OR an ankle bracelet. They were all white. The minute a black kid gets into ANY trouble, they are labeled "thugs" or future prison inmates....
THAT was real problem being covered up here with a lame excuse of non-compliance.
This is what the article says: I'm just going from the information provided, but here it says Anthony's doctor said he has a history of noncompliance.
I'm guessing that organs are in short supply and someone will die because they won't receive a transplant. On that basis, I would assume it's correct to give an organ to the best possible candidate.
I reserve the right to change my mind, however I would be surprised if this was a skin colour issue, but that could be because I find it difficult to believe that this superficial nonsense would be taken into account when it comes to medical priority.
"But Hamilton says doctors have no evidence to suggest that, since Anthony has no history of illness. She believes that the hospital is punishing her son for run-ins with the law. When he was admitted to the hospital, he was wearing an ankle monitor because he’d been placed under house arrest for a recent fight.
"He’s a young boy,” Hamilton said. “He's going to make mistakes, but I still think he deserves a second chance."
I chose to read between all the lines here, consider everything said by both sides, and frankly, I believe the mother's version.
Also considering the Hospital administration backed off their (racially biased?) assumptions about a 15 yr old kid and decided he WOULD get the transplant tells me the excuse was bogus to begin with. If they really were making a MEDICALLY determined decision, they would have stuck to it.... they would have had to.
it is easy to say, stuff happens...
or, it was just a random event.
or are you just saying, " i dont know".
In reality, to some extent, there is an old world and a new world view of karma, and the two are very different.
I'm guessing that organs are in short supply and someone will die because they won't receive a transplant. On that basis, I would assume it's correct to give an organ to the best possible candidate.
I reserve the right to change my mind, however I would be surprised if this was a skin colour issue, but that could be because I find it difficult to believe that this superficial nonsense would be taken into account when it comes to medical priority.
You need to take a look at the second article, where the noncompliance issue was put to rest as being untrue.
According to Buddhist thought there are five classes of the causes of any given phenomenon.
They are called the Niyamas.
Kamma-Niyama is the third of these Niyamas.
The others include physical/biological factors and psychological factors.
So when we encounter a particular condition or set of conditions we cannot know which of the Niyamas is in play and the Buddha strongly advised against trying...he included such speculation among the ' Imponderables.'
regarding the imponderable workings of
kamma.
Buddha was clear about the effects of evil kamma.
"due to some evil kamma, she was reborn as a sow. Ananda! Look, on account of good and evil kamma there is no end of the round of existences." ~ Dhammapada 338.
The imponderable Buddha referred to is we cant know exactly which
past evil kamma caused the present suffering.
But it is NOT imponderable that someone has accumulated evil kamma
to be born in a state of suffering.
This is another example where Buddha talked about the
results of bad kamma.
We all know of such instances and for that reason the Buddha said - For that reason he taught the 4NT.
Suffering
The origin of suffering
The cessation of suffering
The path to cessation
“I teach one thing and one thing only, suffering and the end of suffering.”
Secondly, I declare that I have the right to think, and not Buddha or anyone else is going to tell me otherwise.
Have you given up freedom of thought?
Isn't being born suffering by Buddhist definition?
What is it that makes good kamma preferable to evil kamma when they both result in no end to the round of existences?
What if an unfortunate birth is the ideal condition for realization for the individual who is suffering? So his evil actions are the cause of his awakening.
It's fair to say that someone who has committed a terrible sin may have an unfortunate birth. Still only guessing though.
It's not right to say that someone who is suffering now from something unconnected to any of their actions is being punished for their evil kamma, because we can't know the outcome of their experience of suffering.
So is life fair or unfair? What do you think?
Secondly @jll I would be interested in your views of the Niyamas.
This is what propels the drive for 'rebecoming ' or tanhabhava.
Whether one sees this as from moment to moment or post-mortem.
There is no suggestion of 'evil' in the Pali. That suggests a translation which is over influenced by concepts that are not found in Dharma .
But at the same time the Budda says: Is it karma? Maybe
or born blind and ugly?
if you want to call it punishment that;s up to you.
but that is not what i choose to call it.
is a person who abused drugs and now suffering from
poor memory and trembling hands being punished?
no, its just the results of drug abuse damaging his brain.
that is how kamma is, not a form of punishment
but the result of past actions.
Being born handsome and wealthy is not a ticket to enlightenment.
Being born into unfortunate circumstances may even be more conducive to awakening.
There is no benefit in pondering whether or not someone is suffering from some evil kamma.
It does not tell you anything.
You don't have to be a Buddhist to know that you can ruin your body in any number of ways you choose.
Yes, sometimes life is unfair.
Yet, you just did, and I don't think you went mad or were vexated.
"Look at how that evil drug addict is shaking and is depraved. Don't take drugs."
"Don't lie or steal or you will go to hell."
So, I guess there is a benefit for some people.
Have you actually given thought to these questions?