It is a very serious topic, we know. However, recent enactments of laws in Switzerland and Canada that lower the hurdles for “death with dignity” will make it impossible to avoid serious discussions in Japan in the near future. In those Western countries, in addition to “bioethics” as an academic discipline, the discussion is also strongly influenced by the Christian framework. Is it possible to deepen the discussion by adding the essence of Buddhism to it?

Since there were only a few participants this time, we asked everyone to share their own experiences on this topic and think deep about it together. I believe that Professor Dr. Shizuka Sasaki of Hanazono University’s famous “Personal Views on Suicide” was very helpful and guided the dialogue. We’ll be back on it again.

とても重たいテーマです。しかし、最近のスイスやカナダにおける、尊厳死のハードルを低くするような法制度の制定を見るに、今後は日本でも真剣な議論を避けることはできないでしょう。それら欧米諸国では、学問としての「bioethics/生命倫理」に加えて、やはりキリスト教の枠組みが色濃く出た議論になっています。そこに仏教的エッセンスを投じて深めることは可能なのでしょうか？

今回は参加者も少なかったので、皆さんにも、このテーマにまつわる自身の体験をシェアしてもらいつつ、共に考えていきました。花園大学の佐々木閑教授の有名な「自死にまつわる考え方」が、大変参考になったと思います。再訪したいテーマですね。