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Sikhism and Organ Donation
Nanak Singh Nishter
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Eye, blood
and other organ donation of the body is generally opposed by the
self styled religious guides of different faiths on the pretext
of desecration of the dead body. We present here the Sikh point
of view. The Sikh scriptures show how to sanctify the human
body, as against preserving it in its total form, and reject the
undue importance given by the society to the putrefying the dead
body. The Diaspora Sikhs in the
US
had recently underlined this spirit by organizing a massive
Sikh
Nation Blood Donation Drive. |
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 As
per 1995 data, there were 40 million blind people in the world, out
of which 15 million were in India. Of these, 2.5 million are blind
due to damage to the cornea. The cornea is a clear circular
transparent portion at the front surface of the eyeball, which is
the main focusing element. Damage to the cornea can be hereditary,
or due to infection, chemical burns, accidents or trauma, resulting
in loss of vision. The sight can be restored with cornea
transplantation, by a surgery known as “Penetrating Kerato Plasty”
and its only source is from a human dead body.
Religion has a
very powerful influence on the people; some religious beliefs are an
obstacle in eye donation or in getting people to donate other
organs. The voluntary organisations and social activists have made
several appeals to the leaders and intellectuals to come forward to
end this religious dilemma and form an educated, informed opinion on
the subject. The aim is to educate and inspire the general public,
particularly the Sikh masses, to come forward to donate eyes and
project the Sikh religious point of view of being a religion that
has Sarbat Da Bhala as its motto.
We expect and
appeal to the religious leaders of other faiths to come forward and
give a lead to the peoples of their faith, too, in this most humane
crusade.
Sikhism teaches
us the art of living and inculcates desire for purposeful dying.
Sikhism is a spiritual form of staunch humanism, which is evident
from the teachings of the scriptures and lives of the Sikh Gurus.
The tenth Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666-1708) transformed
the Sikhs into the present form of Khalsa and declared that they are
Wahguru Ji Ka Khalsa (People of the God) in the year 1699.
 Sikhism
is misunderstood, misinterpreted and wrongly projected by some
sections of the people who do not have thorough knowledge of the
scriptures which ought to be the main source of information,
knowledge and wisdom. It preaches, practices and stands for oneness
of God and oneness of mankind, and condones no discrimination
between gender, religion, caste or creed. The founder of Sikhism,
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, has said, “He (God) is the life
within all the lives, and is pervading in all the hearts “. (Shri
Guru Granth Sahib pp 1273). The fifth Guru, Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
(1563-1606) declared, “We are neither Hindu nor Muslim, but the body
and soul of Allah and Ram (Shri Guru Granth Sahib
p1136). Both words denote the One Absolute and all pervading God and
Ram does not refer to the son of King Dasratha. It believes in only
One Creator, who lives in His own creation, and there is nobody
without Him, said the ninth Guru Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
(1621-1675) (ref Shri Guru Granth Sahib p.1426).
Eye, blood and
other organ donation of the body is the subject matter of this
paper, which is generally opposed by the self styled religious
guides of different faiths on the pretext of desecration of the dead
body. I would like to present the Sikh point of view. The Sikh
scriptures show how to sanctify the human body, as against
preserving it in its total form, and reject the undue importance
given by the society to the putrefying the dead body.
It is up to the
readers to decide, which is the better way, either utilising their
eyes and other body organs to be transplanted for giving life and
vision to fellow beings, or of disposing it of as a perishable
commodity. It is said that service to man is service to God.
Shri Guru Granth
Sahib is the matchless treasure of wisdom, knowledge and experience.
It is the outcome of the personal experiments of great social
scientists conducted in the human laboratories. It is a digest of
the teachings of the Sufis, Bhagats and Gurus, who faced all
ups and downs of life. They practised and preached the practical
life, under the most unfavorable circumstances for over a period of
500 years, from Hazrat Sheikh Farid Ji (1175-1265) to the ninth
Guru, Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621-1675).
They were from a
variety of background of different class, castes and creed from all
corners of the Indian sub-continent. In the year 1708, the tenth
Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Sinch Ji bestowed Guruship to this
Scripture. This is the present and eternal Guru in succession to
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the living Guru of the Sikhs.
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 In
the Sikh Ardas, there is mention everyday of female and child
members of the Khalsa who laid down their lives in the cause of
Dharma and some who even got their bodies dismembered bit by
bit, got their bodies sawn off, got mounted on spiked wheels,
made sacrifices in the service of the shrines but did not waver
from their faith, maintained adherence to the Sikh faith with
sacred unshorn hair to the last breath. Clearly, this underlines
that what matters is the purpose to which a Sikh puts his body,
not what happens to it. |
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Shri is a prefix
for respect, Guru means spiritual teacher, Granth means book and
Sahib is a suffix for respect again. This scripture of 1430 pages
has most spiritual relevance for the entire mankind. It is wrongly
perceived as an object of worship. The Sikhs worship only the
Formless God. This scripture was compiled by the fifth Guru, Shri
Guru Arjan Dev Ji between the years 1599 and 1604 under his
personal supervision, and installed in the Golden Temple. Without
the fear of any contradiction, it can be said that this is the only
scripture of any religion or faith, which is written during the
lifetime and under the supervision of their founders.
To quote from
Gurbani, “If you want to play the game of love, come to me with your
head placed in the palm of your hand. Once you have stepped in this
path, be ready to lay your head without any hesitation (p.1412)”.
Guru Nanak Dev
Ji has said, “After the death, the limbs or body will not accompany
you as it is made up of air, water and fire, and will disintegrate
here itself (pp. 1257).”
Regarding the
disposal of dead bodies, his mandate is above any confusion: “Some
bodies are thrown into water and some cast into tower of silence,
this much is not known as to where do they go and disappear?”
(pp648).
The fifth Guru,
Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, in the widely read verses of Sukhmani Sahib,
says that, “False is the body which does not do any good to others
(p.269)”. The verse continues, “Who is delighted in doing good to
others is a God’s realizer in true sense (p.273)”. He declared, “The
person and his tongue which sings the praises of Har (God)
and ever does good to others is invaluable. Prabhu (God)
lives in his mind and body”. “If you put sandal wood paste to the
dead body, then what is the gain it makes? It the dead body is
rolled in human dung, and then what does it lose? (p.1160)”
Bhagat Kabir Ji
(1398-1495), a Muslim weaver of Banaras of Uttar Pradesh, says,
“When a man dies, he is of no use to any man, but when an animal
dies, it serves ten purposes (p.870).”
“He alone is
known to be truly brave who fights for the cause of “deen”
(oppressed) and does not leave the battle field, but dies even
though he is cut out into pieces (p.1105)”.
Bhagat Parma
Nanda Ji, a Brahmin of Sholapur district of Maharashtra, says on
page No.1253, “O man, what is that you have learned by mere
listening to the holy books? Devotion has not welled up nor have you
given alms to the hungry? You have not helped any needy person. Your
hardhearted mind has not cherished mercy for living creatures”.
The Code of
Sikh Conduct and Conventions (Sikh Rehat Maryada)
is a product of
collective Panthic (community) wisdom for ensuring uniformity of
observances of religion’s code of ethics and avoiding unintended
heresy.
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 The
body of a Sikh, alive or dead, should be of some use to others,
in the larger interest of service to mankind. And donation of
blood, eyes, and body organs and dead body are very much in
consonance and conformity with the letter and spirit of the
Scriptures of Sikhism. |
It was approved
and updated in the year 1945 and says the “concept of service is not
confined to fanning the congregations or performing service in the
free common kitchen-cum-eating house. A Sikh’s life is for selfless
service to others. The most fruitful service is that which secures
the maximum good with minimum efforts.”
For dead body,
it is mentioned to be cremated. However, where arrangements for
cremation cannot be made, there should be no qualms about the body
being immersed in flowing water or disposed off in any other manner.
It contains a
supplicatory prayer called “Ardas” which is recited on all
occasions, for initiating or concluding any congregation, function
or prayer. In this, martyrs are remembered by recalling the
achievements of the male, female and child members of the Khalsa who
laid down their lives in the cause of Dharma and some who even got
their bodies dismembered bit by bit, got their bodies sawn off, got
mounted on spiked wheels, made sacrifices in the service of the
shrines but did not waver from their faith, maintained adherence to
the Sikh faith with sacred unshorn hair to the last breath.
The Ardas also
says that wherever there is Khalsa Ji Sahib, may there be protection
and leniency.Victory may prevail for Deg and Tegh. By the help of
Sri Sahib, the honour of the weak should be protected and the Panth
become victorious.”
It concludes
with a desire of well being of entire humanity saying, “Grant us the
association of those dear ones on meeting whom one is reminded of
Tera Naam. Says Nanak, may the Naam be ever held high! In
Your (God’s) will, may the good prevail for all .”
In view of some
of the quotations above mentioned, the body of a Sikh, alive or
dead, should be of some use to others, in the larger interest of
service to mankind. And donation of blood, eyes, and body organs and
dead body are very much in consonance and conformity with the letter
and spirit of the Scriptures of Sikhism.
HOW TO DONATE ?
1 India has the largest number of blind people in the
world. Wrong beliefs and superstitions are responsible for
indifference towards eye donation.
2 Your eye
donation gives sight to two blind persons by Corneal Graft, because
in India country one blind person is given one eye at a time due to
acute shortage. This enables you to continue to be part of this
world even after death.
3 Every human
being of any age can donate eyes.
4 In case of
death by burns, leprosy, cancer, dog bite, snake bite, jaundice,
HIV/AIDS and drowning, the eyes are not useful for transplantation.
5 It has to be
removed within 6 hours of death. So, no time should be lost in
informing the nearest Eye Hospital or Eye Bank.
6 Switch off
fans (AC can be kept on) and close the eyelids. Place a wet
cotton or wet cloth over the eyes. It will keep the eyeballs moist.
Raise the head with a pillow.
7 The body need
not be taken to the Eye Hospital/Bank. On informing the Eye
Hospital/ Bank, a team will come to the spot at their own cost.
8 The cornea is
the clear circular transparent portion at the front of the eyeball.
This is taken out carefully, without leaving any scar or
disfiguring the face and keeping the eyeballs intact. It takes only
10-15 minutes for this process.
9 10 c.c. (a
very little quantity) of blood sample is collected from the donor’s
dead body for testing.
10 Eye Banks are
non-profit service organisations. The collected cornea is examined,
preserved and used for transplantation within 72 hours according to
the waiting list. So you need not doubt about their integrity and
the rightful use of your donation.
11 Simply the
act of your pledging may not ensure that your wish will be
fulfilled. Because it would hardly be the first thought to occur to
grief-stricken relatives. It is also not necessary for the donor to
register his/her pledge earlier for eye donation during his life.
12 Do something
now itself to make sure that when the time comes, your eyes will
actually be donated. For this sacred cause, discuss eye donation
with your family members and convince them. They must take the
responsibility to inform the Eye Hospital/Eye Bank immediately after
death. By all means, just your wish is quite immaterial, unless your
family members make up their mind for donation and do accordingly.
Blood and Other
Body Parts
Blood is the elixir of life. It is not only life, but also saves and
gives life to others. It is needed for those who have lost blood due
to accidents, diseases or surgery. Blood donation is nothing but a
sacred service and symbol of humanity. Any healthy man or woman can
donate regularly after every 12 weeks without any loss of their body
requirement. Blood donation is a painless process, which is
completed within few minutes. Human body maintains its level of
blood. During blood donation only 350 c.c. of blood is taken, which
the body in a very short time replenishes. The donor does not feel
any loss or weakness even after five minutes.
Also, try and
convince the family members to donate your organs and tissues for
saving the life of a few individuals who are facing imminent death.
Incisions to remove organs are made at places where clothing covers
the body. It does not cause any disfigurement and in any way does
not interfere with the customary funeral. The hospital where the
donor is under treatment is the proper agency to guide.
In case of
accident, many a time the victims are virtually brain dead and there
is no possibility of such patients regaining consciousness although
their heart continues to beat and blood circulation is maintained.
For all other purposes they are clinically dead. The moment their
breathing support machine is withdrawn they die. The organs of such
brain dead person, i.e., Cadaveric Donor, can be donated for
transplantation to different needy persons. The organs can be
preserved only for a few hours before they are transplanted to the
recipients free of cost. The sale and purchase of organs is strictly
prohibited in India by
 the
Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994. The donors need not pay
anything, only the recipients have to pay the hospital charges.
Presently, only
Cornea, Blood, Skin, Bone, Bone marrow, Liver, Kidneys, Heart,
Lungs, Pancreas, Intestine and Cartilages are being transplanted.
Let us hope and pray that by the time our turn for donation comes,
science may be further advanced to add some more organs for
transplantation.
25
November 2009
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