Buddhism’s most prominent aspect of teaching is that one should not harm or kill any living being. Each and every animal possesses Buddha-nature, and has the potential to become a Buddha, that is, to become fully and perfectly enlightened. Among the sentient, there is no superior or inferior class of animal. Human beings are not privileged in the manner that they have the right to decide who is chosen to live, die, be altered, or not be altered. The world was not created specifically for the benefit and pleasure of human beings. Furthermore, in accordance to their karma, a human can be reincarnated as an animal, and an animal can be reincarnated as a human. Each sentient being is equal, and on this basis, the iniquitous and irrevocable result of genetic engineering is and will always be morally unjust.The most important and contradictory aspect of genetic engineering, is that one should not harm or kill another sentient being. In Buddhism that is of utmost importance. Because Buddhism is the continuous process of becoming enlightened, and one can never become fully and perfectly enlightened when he/she does not follow the fundamental moral guidelines, one of which is the abstinence of killing, genetic engineering cannot be allowed. Many of the animals used in genetic engineering endure great pain and suffering. These mutations inflicted upon these animals are appalling. The animals often suffer from crippling arthritis, distorted vision, deformities, and physical anomalies of the internal organs. Pro-Genetic Engineering speakers often contend that animals are of less moral value than humans. This is completely objectified. Both humans and the rest of animals have appreciation for life and have the fear of death. Even when one of the smallest animals, a mosquito flies near a person, the slightest movement of the person sends the mosquito flying away, simply, because the mosquito does not want to die. These animals are literally h...
