Buddhists believe that organ and tissue is a matter of individual conscience and place high value on acts of compassion. Reverend Gyomay, President and Founder of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago said, "We honor those people who donate their bodies and organs to the advancement of medical science and to saving lives." The importance of letting loved ones know their wishes is stressed. Many families will not give permission to donate unless they know their loved one wanted to be a donor.

In an exclusive interview for the New York Organ Donor Network in its Spring/Summer 2005 issue of ON THE BEAT, Prof. Robert Thurman stated: “The gift of the body is a very great benefit and a boon, like what you'd call a karmic boon, a karmic advantage to a person.” Prof. Thurman is chair of religious studies and Jey Tsong Khapa professor of Buddhist studies at Columbia University in New York City ; president of Tibet House; and a former Tibetan Buddhist monk. To read the interview with Prof. Thurman, click here.