This post is about the legacy of Stephen Hawking, which is ambiguous. On the one hand, of course, his pursuit of the truth gives him the right to be called a Buddhist to a much greater extent than the author of The Science Delusion, for example.
But on the other hand, now by default it is assumed that his choice - he preferred to continue to live after losing his independence and self-reliance - was absolutely right; and in this sense his glorification sends a wrong message. The truth is that independence and self-reliance are not only the ultimate goal, but also the ultimate truth: all the rest is their derivatives. No one can lecture others when it comes to life and death, but everyone should always have the choice, and in this way we will overcome the sad legacy of the Abrahamic religions.