BBC World Service

[Guest guest]

On Thursday I was invited to contribute towards a BBC World service programme on "What religions have to say about the use of plastic surgery."

 

The contributions came from a Christian Plastic surgeon from Oxford, a Christian theologian from Cambridge, a Christian representative from a charity called 'Changing Faces' and myself as the Hindu representative.

 

The discussion centred around two themes:-

(a) Should a person who is seriously disfigured at birth or due

to some serious accident correct this through plastic surgery?

(b) Should plastic surgery be used to improve one's looks?

 

I suggested that the Hindus would recommend a 'middle path'. If a person with disfigurement

feels ostracised or patronised he should not sit back and take it - but go for corrective measures

and undertake plastic surgery. Anything that makes one feel extra 'aware' that he is the body should be avoided. Hence this corrective measure would be right.

 

On the other hand one should not take up plastic surgery to enhance one's looks to become a supermodel either.That again makes one associate more closely with the body, it distances the individual from the idea that he is the spirit. At both extremes one is made to associate with the body and that would be wrong.

 

As long as we operate under a strongly materialistic paradigm that promotes the idea that the only reason why we are here is (not to think of higher things but) to 'breed' -- this issue of associating ourselves with the body will remain. And enhancing one's looks to assist in this 'breeding' will be

the norm : )

 

The edited version of this recording Called 'faith issues' will be aired on the BBC World Service on Sunday 4th of January at about 11 ~ 11.30am GMT

 

jay

Vivekananda Centre London