Pranam swamiji!
Can we donate our organs like eyes liver, kidnyes etc after death?
Hoe to retain spiritual condition bestowed in meditation?
—sarada, India
Dear Sarada,
Modern heart transplant operations have proven that in some mysterious way, the consciousness of the donor is transferred to the heart recipient.
Thus demonstrates that organ donation is not separate from consciousness. It is something each person should decide, but let me point out a few things:
1. In India, where cremation is traditionally practiced, the bodies of known saints are often interred intact because their remains radiate outward spiritual blessings to generations of devotees.
2. The tradition of cremation includes the spiritual purpose of encouraging the soul to detach from the body by ensuring its immediate destruction. It is commonly believed and continuously taught by seers that some souls remain invisibly present in and around their buried remains, former homes, workplaces or in and around loved ones. While cremation cannot wholly ensure disengagement it does help to cut the physical and material “cord” inasmuch as human remains continue to give out the vibrations of their former occupants.
3. History of medicine shows that there are many instances of people who were thought to be dead but who were not dead: some returned to life even in their coffin; others, more fortunate, before that. Organs must be removed rather quickly after one is pronounced “dead.” Perhaps medicine has some other means of “guaranteeing” one’s death before “harvesting,” but it is an interesting point. Consider all the research on “near-death” experiences.
It is, of course, your choice but I share this because my teacher, Swami Kriyananda, was also asked this question and he shared that he had reservations about organ donation — along the lines of my remarks above.
Sincerely,
Nayaswami Hriman
