organ donation and your soul

Personally I believe that our soul is an integral part of who we are (it IS who we are) and our physical body houses it during this life. While we are alive our physical body is very important to us - we experience the world through our senses, we connect with our loved ones through touch and (very importantly!) our body allows us to grow and birth beautiful babies. We most definitely feel the affects of any physical ailment or disability. However when someone dies I think that is the moment that their soul departs the body, the body's work is done and so in this way I feel that organ donation doesn't affect the completion or wholeness of the soul.

JMO for what it's worth :)

PS: this might seem a little contradictory, but I sometimes feel the same way about donating my eyes as Sammiejane does!

Hmm...I'm another one who wouldn't donate. I feel selfish but I can't change it. My DH and I have both talked about it too, he would donate, he really doesn't care. I feel the same as your DH, I don't know if I will need it in the next life. The bible says that we will be 'resurrected' like Jesus and I'm not really sure how that works. Jesus didn't leave a body, it rose with him to heaven. So doesn't that mean I need it?? I don't know. That's part of my decision, and also the fact that I just can't stand the thought of it so it would make my grief much worse, like others have said. I would also have a lot of trouble donating DH's organs if I had to, I feel that it would worry me so much, give me nightmares, and I just couldn't stand the thought of it. DH says that that is fine and I wouldn't have to do it for him it would be my choice because he doesn't have strong feelings either way. I would not be cremated either.
So I can really understand your DH's point of view. Like someone else said it seems pretty unlikely you would have to choose anyway because not many people actually get to donate, but it's great you've discussed it.

Just to clarify i wasnt criticising anyone with not being able to donate a loved ones organs, it is just that what we want is often spoken about and very often 2 people in a family have very different opinions, the bit that is not always spoken about is whether we would be able to carry out the other persons wishes...
My Dad doesnt want to donate, and has expressed concerns that he is worried that he may not be able to carry out Mums wishes of being a donor, i think that it very important that discussion also takes place. Mum was very understanding and told Dad that if he could not donate her organs she would not be angry (if you can be when you have passed on!) with him, but would prefer it if he did.

Good on you Dusty for bringing this topic to light - so many people have different views on the topic and it is great to hear them all

Sara - I can't find where right now, but the bible talks about us getting a new body...or being made new..(it's late, so I can't think of it properly right now). I think firstly, if it mattered, the bible would be clear about being buried and preserving ourselves well, but I don't think it will matter - think of people who die in fires, who are blown up, who are cremated, who are disabled, whose bodies have deteriorated in burial, who have lost limbs/had organs replaced...many people die with broken bodies, or no body, and I don't think that will cause a problem for God who knows how to make a perfect body for each individual.

Once again, I don't have a reference (others are more than welcome to fill in my bible blanks!), but the body is talked about in the bible as a vessel, a tool for earth. Sure, also a temple that we have to take care of, but I get the impression that it's a very separate thing to my spirit/soul. That my salvation and next life have nothing to do with the physical body I'm in now.
That's just how I understand things as of now.

I used to think that I needed my organs, that I wouldn't be complete in reincarnation if some of my organs were donated (I used to wonder if people who live today with certain organ failures were people who donated organs or had organs damaged in their past life...).

I read a story about an ancient statue of a Buddha being destroyed in Tibet, and some of the monks being outraged and upset, and someone reminded them of non-permanance and non-attachment, two very important concepts in Buddhism, and that while you have attachment to something physical (the Buddha statue... or your body's organs) you are being held back in your spiritual journey to enlightenment. I also like to remember that the Buddha taught compassion and kindness, and love for everyone like they were your own family. If you were on your deathbed, knowing you were definately going to die for some reason, and one of your family members would be able to live a full and happy life if you donated one of your organs to them, would you choose to donate them? I would, and so loving everyone like they were family means I will donate my organs so that someone can live and hopefully practice the same love and kindness to others.

That said, I defiantely don't judge anyone for not donating... I really only recently deided that is something I want to do, and know exactly what its like to be uncertain and not want to donate.

I have always believed that the soul is seperate to the body - whilst it is contained within us while we are alive, once we die the soul moves on to Heaven. It is the same when I visit someone's grave. I am paying my respects to them, but I know that was is buried below is not really them - just their body. The soul is intended to live for eternity, whereas our body has a finite time. So for me, organ donation is not an issue. If my death means that someone else's life is prolonged then I think that is a wonderful gift.

I know that organ donation is difficult for some of my family - but it is more to do with how the body is treated after death in order to harvest the organs. But I know if I asked them if they had an issue about it because of the soul - they would all say no as they don't see organs and the soul as being combined.

My husband and I are both organ donors. I believe the physical human body is just a…..Tupperware container for holding the soul (okay bad joke). After death we are empty and our soul continues on, to where I’m not sure yet. I have told my husband I want to be cremated when I die. I do not want anyone to mourn over my body because it won’t be me, just a broken vessel.
Those who make the decision not to donate their organs have strong beliefs against it. It is by no means an easy decision to make so it must be respected. We would all save a life if we could.

Hi everyone, Dusty interesting, thank you for sharing.

I have a few differing views on this- i am one of those- possibly undecided, yet i have ticked to donate on my license, besides my cornea's!! i too wear glasses and dont see the point of giving someone bad sight!!! i am just still unsure exactly how i feel.....

I belive in the idea that our soul travels thourgh different bodies in each life time (re incarnation) and that we just get a new one each time, we carry on things from life to life, sometimes ohysically, but that if i lost a limb, i would not neccessarily be re born minus that particular limb IYKWIM, but i MAY get strange pains in the area, or i may find i break it alot etc.... there wuold be some connection...

I have also seen a family member live on a dyalisis (sp) machine My older sister had complete renal failer when she turned 19- it really messed with her life as she was pretty much forced to stay home and not move out with her friends as she planned, she couldnt do alot of work, she couldnt get out and have much fun when thats what you should be doing in your 20's, she was on it for about 4 years before my dad donated one of his kidneys to her, i have seen the difference it makes to her, and i know he always jokes that a bit of him is living in her, and when he dies,(if that happens before the enevitable kidney failure- its been 10 years since the transplant, so she is now on borrowed time as they dont expect them to last for much longer than 7 or 8 years) that a peice of him will remain with her..... once it goes into failure again- she will be back on the waiting list, and back on the machine.


Now, i saying this, i also have other thoughts, its more along the line of "Nature" and that maybe the soul of the ppl who NEED these organs are actually meant to be passing on (yes, even my sister), you know the saying, when your time is up- its up, IYKWIM and by donating we are prolonging that particular souls journey, when they should be already on their way, Now i understand that someone (sorry read through quickly didnt catch the name) mentioned the precious 7 years they got to spend with their father, this is where my struggle lies, i understabd totally the desire to prolong life, i just also see it as maybe interfearing with Nature and a souls true path....

My experience with loosing my angels (m/carrages and 2 late losses) is that i felt that their time wasnt ready yet, and that has also got me thinking, that while we prolong these other lives by donation, is there a connection with the amount of fetal deaths, mis carrages etc, maybe there is a hidden link, maybe the soul of the dying person was all set to go- so another body was in the process of being made and being prepared, yet when the organ was donated and THat particular life was saved- is the repercution (sp) a lost baby who now no longer has a spirit or soul avaiable for the body as their soul is being kept alive here on earth???? Do you understand what i mean??

And to be honest, would i go to the extent of not accepting ANY medical treatment, no, but i would take a natural healer over a dr anyday.... there are natural ways of helping many deseases etc, and i would take that option before using medical technology.

and so i guess i am completely stuck by the fact that i will never really know, and i will struggle with this as i do many other "unknowns" out there in our world, just some food for thought


And one other thing i wanted to share was my Aunty and Uncles story- He doesnt beleive in donation- She does, and as they will both have the say over the other if one is left behind- they are both prepared to go against their partners wishes, if he goes first- she is overriding his decision and donating, if she goes first, he is over writting hers and NOT donating.... Dusty, i think i like the way you and your dh have come to respect eachothers wishes and do what you know the other wants, even if you dont neccessarily agree...

Star
xoxox