Buddhist Council of Western Australia Inc.

Our newsletter is available for download:

BCWA Newsletter 2019

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation will be introduced to State Parliament next month and the Management Committee of the Buddhist Council of WA agrees in principle the proposed Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation. Information about this can be obtained by following this link of the Department of Health.

The Committee supports the following statement made by the Buddhist Council of Victoria:

View on Assisted Dying Framework

In​ ​the​ ​teaching​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Buddha,​ ​human​ ​life​ ​is​ ​seen​ ​as​ ​both​ ​precious​ ​and​ ​rare.  Upon​ ​being​ ​born​ ​as​ ​human,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​causes​ ​and​ ​conditions,​ ​the​ ​teaching  encourages​ ​taking​ ​responsibility​ ​for​ ​one’s​ ​own​ ​actions.    

To​ ​a​ ​great​ ​extent​ ​our​ ​actions​ ​in​ ​this​ ​very​ ​life​ ​are​ ​within​ ​our​ ​own​ ​control​ ​and  yet​ ​the​ ​life​ ​conditions​ ​encountered​ ​by​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​may​ ​not​ ​necessarily​ ​be  favourable​ ​or​ ​desirable.​ ​Grave​ ​illness​ ​and​ ​unbearable​ ​pain​ ​are​ ​such​ ​human  conditions,​ ​unique​ ​to​ ​each​ ​individual​ ​situation​ ​which​ ​effect​ ​human​ ​dignity  and​ ​life​ ​choices.      

In​ ​addressing​ ​the​ ​question​ ​of​ ​an​ ​individual’s​ ​right​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​personal​ ​choice  to​ ​end​ ​life​ ​in​ ​such​ ​extreme​ ​situations,​ ​Buddhist​ ​teachings​ ​ideally​ ​point​ ​to  non​ ​violence,​ ​both​ ​towards​ ​one’s​ ​self​ ​and​ ​others.    

Yet​ ​compassion​ ​is​ ​an​ ​essential​ ​theme​ ​in​ ​Buddhist​ ​philosophy.​ ​That​ ​leads​ ​us  to​ ​the​ ​question,​ ​“Is​ ​it​ ​an​ ​act​ ​of​ ​compassion​ ​to​ ​deny​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​the​ ​choice  to​ ​end​ ​life​ ​prompted​ ​by​ ​unbearable​ ​pain?”    

The​ ​Buddhist​ ​view​ ​is​ ​sympathetic​ ​to​ ​the​ ​suffering​ ​of​ ​individuals​ ​yet​ ​holds  out​ ​the​ ​hope​ ​of​ ​a​ ​truth​ ​beyond​ ​suffering​ ​and​ ​calls​ ​for​ ​a​ ​greater  understanding​ ​of​ ​death.​ ​Such​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​death​ ​may​ ​be​ ​brought​ ​about  through​ ​guidance​ ​and​ ​counselling.​ ​This​ ​process​ ​brings​ ​about​ ​peace​ ​with  surrounding​ ​conditions​ ​and​ ​impending​ ​death​ ​as​ ​opposed​ ​to​ ​facing​ ​an​ ​abrupt  end​ ​with​ ​confusion.    

The​ ​Buddhist​ ​Council​ ​of​ ​Victoria​ ​is​ ​available​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​such​ ​guidance​ ​and  counselling​ ​to​ ​any​ ​concerned​ ​individual​ ​or​ ​their​ ​families​ ​as​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​our  community​ ​services​ ​beyond​ ​religious​ ​boundaries.  

• Whilst religious freedom is a human right, this should not override other basic human rights of equality and compassion for all human beings.
• Religious freedom should not be an avenue to practice discrimination against the weak and vulnerable. In this respect, religious institutions should be bound by the same anti-discrimination laws including laws on gender equality.
• One law for all and no separate laws for any particular religious group.
• When the law of the country is inconsistent with any religious law or practice, the law of 
the country must prevail.
• With regard to aged care, we recognise that although most care facilities are government funded, 75% of aged care are run by religious organisations. In this respect, aged care should be available to all in need irrespective of religion, ethnicity or gender. No religious belief should be imposed upon any individual in aged care.
• Animals rights should be also protected. Religious beliefs should not be a justification to bring unnecessary harm to animals.

30 Apr 2019 – BCWA Committee