Episode 10 - The Buddhist Lens on Voluntary Assisted Dying

Letting go – of control, fear, and clinging – is not a failure, but a path to peace, compassion, and deep spiritual clarity at the end of life.  Carol Perry, a teacher with Melbourne Insight Meditation, brings over 45 years of experience in the Insight (Vipassana) tradition of Buddhism. Carol explores how Buddhist teachings on impermanence, suffering, and letting go intersect with the realities of Voluntary Assisted Dying.  Drawing from personal stories, ancient suttas, and her retreat discussions with Laureen, Carol unpacks the Buddhist view of death not as an enemy to fight, but as a profound opportunity to release suffering. With compassion at the heart of her reflections, she reframes VAD as an act of love and clarity – not harm. Her message is both grounding and empowering: spiritual wisdom resides in lived experience and present-moment awareness.  Comprehensive information on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Your State is provided on the Go Gentle website  at https://www.gogentleaustralia.org.au/vad_in_your_state or by contacting your State Health Department.  If listening to this podcast raises distressing issues for you, please contact one of the following support services:  Griefline (https://griefline.org.au/) 1300 845 745 Grief Australia (https://www.grief.org.au/) 1800 642 745 Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/) 13 11 14, or chat online 24 hours a day See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.