The image depicts a Buddhist way of thinking about stem cell research (Image: U.S. Library of Congress)
In terms of stem cell research, the two most basic Buddhist ideas that come into play are ahimsa, the prohibition against harming or destroying others, and the pursuit of knowledge (prajña) and compassion (karua). Buddhism, however, has no official religious hierarchy to weigh in on this issue. It is a religion that is to be internalized, guiding, rather than instructing, followers in their decisions. A Buddhist’s stance on stem cell research is thus dependent on his or her own interpretation of the tenets.
One school of thought argues that stem cell research is in accordance with the Buddhist principle of seeking knowledge and ending human suffering. Laurie Zoloth, professor of medical ethics and a scholar of religious studies at Northwestern University, said, “Buddhism can take account the pluripotential nature of the cells, their genomic and genetic possibilities, and understands a kind of reincarnation.” Buddhists who identify with this position, like Professor Yong Moon of Korea’s Seoul National University, feel that working toward regeneration is a form of “recycling of life,” one that is in line with “a Buddhist way of thinking.”
Opponents maintain that stem cell research is a violation of the notion of not harming others. According to Damien Keown, a professor of Buddhist ethics at the University of London, “Embryos bear the karmic identity of a recently-deceased individual, and so are entitled to the same moral respect as adults.” Somparn Promta, an associate professor of Buddhist philosophy and deputy director of the Center for Buddhist Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, takes this argument even further, and said, “Donation must come from consent and wisdom. We do not know [whether] the embryo is willing or not.” Buddhists who oppose stem cell research, therefore, ground their arguments in the view that embryos are the equivalents of human beings.
It is interesting to see that although Buddhists are a religious majority in South Korea, the country is also the home to numerous breakthroughs in stem cell research. Thus, there is clearly a continuing conflict between Buddhist teachings and practice on the moral status of embryonic life. However, as these teachings do not directly address the issue, the official Buddhist take on stem cell research will stay, at least for now, in limbo.