Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - L. Da Vinci

I was reading this article about using stem cells for treating disorders and that there would be voting in the parliament in US, to go ahead with it or ban it.

As I understand, stems cells can be obtained from an embryo or a foetus (dead or alive) to use. But if taken from an embryo, the embryo dies. Please let me know if I am wrong. So the debate is that is it ethical to do this.

It’s not an easy question to answer for sure. We kill a life to save a life. I follow Jainisim, and in our religion this is explained as Raag (attachment) and Dwesha(aversion).When I was 15, we had a dog named Julie, an Alsasian Shepherd. Sometimes she used to get ticks on her body. Ticks are little creatures that suck blood. and because I loved my dog, I hated those ticks sucking on my dogs blood. so I used to kill them. I did not feel good doing that either, and that’s when my Aunt & Mom explained me this concept of raag and dwesh, and indulging in that causes Karmic bondage. Karmic bondage comes from the Law of Karma which in simple terms means every action has a consequence and you bear the consequences of all your actions.

But till this date, I wonder about it. Because when I reflect on my day to day activity like work, eating, gardening, socializing, etc. Raag and dwesh situations arise and it gets confusing what choice to make. Because either choice have their pros and cons. Deep down though, i feel that there’s truth in this law of raag and dwesh and that there is a state beyond all this which I curious to know.

So back to debate of Stem cells, I think we should not go down this path of using embryos or foetuses for stem cells. If we allow it, it might have other implications like directly or indirectly in the field of cloning, abortions, religious fights, etc. So it’s very much like a path to doom, that may just get worse and worse. But if we say no to this, then we’ll focus our energies on looking alternative options and surely come up with a solution. I read that stem cells could aslo be obtained from adults. If scientists can do that, our problem would be solved