Matters of Life and Death | SOA

Question 1

Give the SOA for The Parable of the Poison Arrow and what it shows

Answer 1

• A man was hit with a poison arrow but he did not want to take it out until he knew everything about it.
• This shows that we should not focus on irrelevant questions such as origin of human life and the world as they are not relevant to the problems of suffering nor lead to enlightenment

Question 2

Give the SOA for a Buddhist view on the value of the universe as a commodity and what it shows

Answer 2

’ Man must learn to satisfy his needs and not feed his greed (…) the resources of this world are not unlimited - Lily de Silva

This demonstrates that Buddhists are able to use earth’s natural resources to support life however without over-attachment to them as unrestrained greed will damage mankind and nature

Question 3

Give the SOA for the value of a human life what it shows and what it means
- also give its view against vegetarianism

Answer 3

Nichiren , A Japanese Buddhist says ‘ it is rare to be born a human’ the chances ‘as small as the amount of earth can place on a fingernail’

• This shows that human life is very important and valuable as it is very rare. This means that we should protect human life and not damage it
• Human life is more valuable then an animal’s life and therefore vegetarianism is not necessary

Question 4

Give SOA on abortion and what is shows
refer to
- the parable
- the Dalai Lama

Answer 4

’ an act of killing is negative (…) abortion should be approved or disapproved according to each circumstance’

The Dalai Lama agrees that, traditionally abortion is seen as killing but in some situations there can be exceptions.

• The Parable of the Burning House

Question 5

Give a SOA that supports life after death

Answer 5

’ Long is the cycle of birth and death to the fool who does not know the true path’
- This clearly demonstrates that the Buddha believes that there is a life after death through rebirth and that this life is only one of many that will come after it and many that have come before it

Question 6

Give the SOA that goes against euthanasia/abortion what it shows and why it is convincing

Answer 6

• The Vinaya Rules
  it states that a monk who intentionally provides the means for suicide ‘ commits an offence entailing loss of monkhood’
• this shows that euthanasia can lead to one losing their ability to attain enlightenment be reborn into cycle of samsara, prolonging their suffering.
• this is convincing as it is written in buddhist scripture which shows its compelling significance and its authoritative stance

Question 7

Give 2 SOA that is in favour of euthanasia

Answer 7

• be a refuge unto yourself

- the parable of the burning house

Question 8

Give a SOA for vegetarianism and what it shows

Answer 8

’ I undertake the precept to refrain from causing harm’

The precept prohibits causing harm against all living beings as causing harm to others shows that one’s mind is rooted in a mental state of hatred, greed and ignorance.
This demonstrates that it is unskilful to kill animals and eat meat as it brings suffering on the one who commits the act and the victim preventing them both from enlightenment.