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Its common knowledge that each patient is an individual that is why he or she needs to be treated in a special way with their own dietary, healthcare and spiritual needs. This is especially difficult when related to representatives of other cultures or religions, for example Buddhism. First of all, it is necessary to mention that Buddhists have a very specific view on medicine and healthcare. Speaking about healthcare ethics, it is necessary to mention that it is traditional for them to try to keep a calm and peaceful atmosphere around the patient as far as he or she is to have some time for meditation and prayers, which are believed to help to cure the disease. In addition, Buddhist cultural norms include the rule of maintaining a positive and caring attitude towards the patient. However, this is the same, perhaps, about all cultures, so it shouldnt cause any special problems.
Speaking about the dietary needs of Buddhist patients, we should mention the five principles they always follow. Buddhists practice a special attitude towards food, which is stopping and thinking about the food they are eating. That is: What food is this? Where the food they get came from and how it got to them. Where does it come from? How much work it took one to get this food, to grow it, and cook it and so on.
Why am I eating it? Do they deserve this food? When should I eat and benefit from this food? Food is necessary, as far as it is the fuel for their organism, without it they will be vulnerable to diseases.
When should I eat it? Food is to be taken in only for the purpose of reaching spiritual enlightenment. In addition, Buddhist diet is special in one more way because of their great love for nature and animals, some Buddhists are vegetarians, so their diet should be a well-balanced one, with a great variety of fruit and vegetables to provide a decent amount of vitamins needed to help the patient renew his health and be fit as a fiddle. However, not all Buddhists are vegetarian, so first of all it is necessary to find this out. But its necessary to be careful there are other foods that might be forbidden: onions, scallions, chives, garlic, etc (the Five Pungent Spices). Buddhist patients can also sometimes ask to be provided with a bottle of soy sauce to season their meals as far as they are not accustomed to American food.
But of course, it is better to ask the patient what he or she preferred. Buddhists have a very specific view of life and death they believe that a person is to live as long as possible, but they are not fond of the idea of keeping a person alive with the help of a life-supporting machine they believe that a person is to die in an appropriate time and without sufferings. They will never try to save a persons body if his or her mind and soul are already dead. According to their ideology, if the conditions show that this man or woman should die soon it is not proper to interfere (they want their people to die in a peaceful manner). A few more tips that may come in handy are: Buddhists are positive towards giving blood free of charge, they can agree with the termination of pregnancy only if it is done for the good of the mother and the unborn child but in no other case as far as they are against killing of any kind. One should also be careful with autopsies the soul is believed to stay near ones body after death for some time disturbing the body means disturbing the soul.
An autopsy may be permitted only the religious teacher states that the soul has left the body to rest in peace. All in all, it is best to have a conversation about the patients preferences, needs, beliefs and wishes before starting the treatment. Getting to know the patient better you get to know how to cure them this is the rule of thumb. Reference list 1. Crane Laura Religion and Healthcare Buddhism, web Med Hunters, published on 3 Aug 04, accessed on 30 Sept. 2005. 2. Keown Damien, Hughes James J.
Buddhism and Medical Ethics: A Bibliographic Introduction, Journal of Buddhist Ethics, Volume 2, 1995. 3. Kuala Bhikshu A Buddhist Approach to Patient Health Care, web accessed on 30 Sept. 2005. 4. Slaughter Bill Research Note: Animal Use in Biomedicine: An Annotated Bibliography of Buddhist and Related Perspectives, Journal of Buddhist Ethics, Volume 8, 2001. 5. Waldau, Paul. 2000. " Buddhism and Animal Rights, " in Contemporary Buddhist Ethics, ed. Damien Keown, Surrey, UK: Curzon, 81 - 112.
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Research essay sample on Buddhist Ethics Volume Accessed On 30 Sept 2005 Food
