Gauging the Dalai Lama's Perspectives on Genetic Technologies

Reading Response 4 - The Dalai Lama

There are purposes for which the Dalai Lama finds genetic technologies appropriate. At other times he is horrified. According to the Dalai Lama, we should use genetic technologies as an “instrument for medical and therapeutic purposes.” (79). Sometimes “within therapeutic cloning, there is the use of cloning technology for the reproduction of cells and the potential creation of semi-sentient beings purely for the purpose of harvesting body parts for transplantation.” (79). The conditions necessary for the use of such technology include, “ one’s decisions”(79) “compassionate motivation”(79) and “we need also to consider the effects of limiting the diversity of humanity and the tolerance that goes with it, which is one of the marvels of life.” (80). He states, “I feel the time is ripe to engage with the ethical side of the genetic revolution in a manner that transcends the doctrinal standpoints of individual religions. We must rise to the ethical challenge as members of one human family.” (82). In other words we need to commit to realizing when it is morally right as humans to use this genetic technology. “We must begin by putting faith in the basic goodness of human nature, and we need to anchor its faith in some universal ethical principles. These include a recognition of the preciousness of life, and understanding of the need for balance in nature and the employment of this need as a gauge for the direction of our thought and actoin and - above all - the need to ensure that we hold compassion as the key motivation for all our endeavors and that it is combined with a clear awareness of the wider perspective.” (83).

There are many instances in which genetic technology are a miracle of sorts. It is great “when such technologies are used for medical reasons - as in the curing of a particular genetic deficiency” (80). It could help cure diseases such as hemophilia or muscular dystrophy before a child is even born. “It is conceivable if we humans utilize our newly found genetic knowledge skillfully, it could help foster a greater sense of affinity and unity not only with our fellow human beings but with life as a whole. Such a perspective could also underpin a much more healthy environmental consciousness” (81).

I would add images of the Dalai Lama. Portraying the author would help the reader to better understand his work. I would also add images of the tools used in cloning. It would help to paint a picture of how cloning works. Genetic technology seems vague. Narrowing down ideas with images of the tools involved would help. There should also be pictures of the food that has been genetically modified with this engineering. It isn’t just another product; the long term effects of this food is unknown.

I would add pictures of cloned things such as sheeps, cats, or mice. Like Dolly, the famous sheep. It would add character to the essay. Seeing pictures of how close theses animals actually look like each other would help the understanding of what cloning really is. Most animals don’t really look alike because the things that determine coat color occur within the fetus.

Pictures of the semi-human beings made for spare parts would support the argument that we should not abuse genetic technologies. They might be a little gruesome but I think that they would really give a good depiction of why genetic technologies need to be controlled. Some things can be both bad and good. Pictures of healthy kids healed by it’s use while in the embryonic stage along with the pictures of semi-human beings used for spare parts would help to show how two extreme cases can occur.

Adding pictures would change the meaning of the text by making it more powerful. A picture says a thousand words. It would create better connections to the work and give readers an insight on the details. Pictures give detail into a thought. They also help the reader understand certain ideas. Pictures also make reading the essay more interesting. With pictures comes an aesthetically pleasing sense.