Page 48 - Applied Buddhism

The Buddhist approach to the reduction of suffering (dukkha) Dharma that I have taught you is just like the leaves in my palm,
is through proper spiritual cultivation to reduce Greed, Hatred, and
Delusion. It is a spiritual remaking of oneself. It deals with the mind
and its potential. Biotechnology, on the other hand, is a physical
or genetic remaking of oneself. Bearing in mind that “Mind is the
forerunner of all things”, this physical remaking is unlikely to lead
to less suffering. It may lead to an increase in food production to
feed human beings though thus far agricultural biotechnology has
only led to a reduction in production cost, and not an increase in crop
yield. It may also help cure illnesses through pharmacogenomics
and enhance our traits through genetic modification but it is unlikely
to reduce the type of suffering (dukkha) that Buddhism talks about.
In other words, biotechnology, though very promising, is unlikely
to contribute to the spiritual transcendence of man.
A Leaf in the Forest
Does it mean that Buddhism should disapprove of biotechnology
simply because it is not able to lead to spiritual transformation
of man? No. Buddhism as a complete way of life does not claim
expertise in every sphere of human endeavor, neither does it attempt
to limit or retard human quest for knowledge into other realms. In
fact, in the Buddhist tradition, apart from the Dharma (taught by the
Buddha), subjects like logic and philosophy, language, technical
skills, and medicine were also highly appreciated and taught.
For this reason, Buddhism does not have a history that obstructs
scientific discovery.
In the parable mentioned in the Siṃsapā Sutta, SN 56.31, the
Buddha asked His disciples, “Which is more – the leaves in my
palm or the leaves in the forest?” The disciples answered that the
leaves in the forests were more. The Buddha then said, “Just so, the
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and the Dharma that I have not taught you is like the leaves in the
forest.” The Buddha has given priority to the Dharma in His palm
as they lead to spiritual wisdom and liberation, but at the same time
He also pointed out that there are other aspects of Dharma. In the
present context, biotechnology might well serve as a means for us
to see some of the Dharma in the forest.
Even though biotechnology is not mentioned anywhere in
the Buddhist texts, its relevance to our present day life cannot be
ignored. The pursuits of science must not be banned by religious
authorities. Absolute banning will immediately obstruct human
imagination and scientific development, and impedes the growth of
knowledge among humans. History has shown that any attempt by
authorities to block the acquisition of knowledge would eventually
fail. In fact, Buddhism encourages the acquisition of knowledge
because “knowing things as they are” or searching for the truth is
the way to rid ourselves of the darkness created by delusion.
On the other hand, one must also consider a very significant
difference between conventional science and biotechnology.
Whilst conventional science such as biology and medicine attempts
to extrinsically modify or enhance living beings, biotechnology
attempts to do so intrinsically, by rearranging the intrinsic
composition of a being. The risks involved are much bigger and
unknown and the ethical issues involved much more complex. Even
if the modification or enhancement is 100% risk-free, the issues
arising from successful modification or enhancement are equally
complex and difficult to handle. For this reason, while conceding
that biotechnology should be allowed to progress, it does not mean
that parties involved should act unilaterally without regard to
certain rules, ethical guidelines, and conditions. There should be
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