Are Buddhists against abortion?

score:17

Accepted answer

This is one of those questions that is complicated by that in the United States the conversation around abortion looks and feels very different than it does from other countries in the world. It is also made complex by the interaction of the ideology and the "situation on the ground," where things are usually quite complicated.

To quote Karma Lekshe Tsomo's excellent article Prolife, Prochoice: Buddhism and Reproductive Ethics:

In Buddhism, a primary guiding principle for ethical decision-making is the relief of suffering. It is clear that both abortion and restrictive abortion laws can cause great suffering for both mother and fetus. […]

In the end, most Buddhists recognize the incongruity that exists between ethical theory and actual practice and, while they do not condone the taking of life, do advocate understanding and compassion toward all living beings, a lovingkindness that is nonjudgmental and respects the right and freedom of human beings to make their own choices.

So to start with, we need separate "pro-life" (in the sense of being opposed to abortion) and "pro-choice" (in the sense of believing the state should restrict it). There are certainly Buddhists who are both pro-choice and anti-choice regardless of whether they are also "pro-life."

It is widely recognized in a variety of sources that, in the traditional Buddhist sources, the ensoulment occurs at conception. Bhikkhu Bodhi mentions in the book In the Buddha's Words that consciousness (or perhaps more precisely viññāṇa) begins "from the moment of conception," though I don't know where precisely in the texts this is defined to be the case.

We see that this translates to a "pro-life" and sometimes "anti-choice" attitude in the Theravada countries. Sri Lanka allows abortion to preserve the life of the woman but not for any other reason. Myanmar is similar. Thailand is slightly more permissive–especially since it allows for health of the mother under some circumstances and includes mental health–while still generally banning it.

In Peter Harvey's An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics we see analysis that indicates that:

It is clear, at the very least, that the great majority of Buddhists agree that abortion is killing a human being, and is an evil that should be avoided, other things being equal. A crucial issue, though, is how evil it is and what 'other things' can come to outweigh this evil, so that abortion comes to be seen as a 'necessary evil' in certain circumstances?

It is important to note that in some cases these laws were only written after contact with European societies (details in links, Peter Harvey indicates as well that, pre-colonial times, Burma/Myanmar "abortion was not liable for punishment"). It is also the case that, even where it is banned, the laws do not appear equivalent to murder. There's also a great deal of individual variation outside of the state laws, especially in Thailand, where 95% of the population is Buddhist but there's some popular support for more lenient abortion laws.

As far as I can tell, Tibetan Buddhism is similarly strongly opposed to the practice, but there's still some nuance around treating it, with the Dalai Lama saying in an interview with the NYT (from the above BBC article examining Buddhist views on abortion):

Of course, abortion, from a Buddhist viewpoint, is an act of killing and is negative, generally speaking. But it depends on the circumstances.

If the unborn child will be retarded or if the birth will create serious problems for the parent, these are cases where there can be an exception. I think abortion should be approved or disapproved according to each circumstance.

In Japan (and Korea per Harvey) it is much, much less restricted and the Japanese Buddhists are much more accepting of it. This was examined in the book Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism and Japan. It is notable that both US Buddhists and Japanese Buddhists tend to be much less opposed to abortion than other Buddhist groups.

This issue is explored further in Michael G. Barnhart's Buddhism and the Morality of Abortion, which notes that:

However, as Keown points out, (92) the cases dealt with involve women seeking abortions for questionable, perhaps self-serving, reasons including "concealing extramarital affairs, preventing inheritances, and domestic rivalry between co-wives." In short, if these are the paradigm examples of abortion, then the case is heavily biased against the practice.

In conclusion: We can say that, in general, Buddhism is opposed to abortion and believes that it incurs a significant karmic burden, especially Theravadan and Tibetan practice. Individuals and subgroups, meanwhile, especially in Japan and the United States, fall all along the spectrum with respect to:

  • The degree of problem.
  • What factors help to balance and to what extent they balance.
  • What precisely the state should do about it.

Regardless, the person who has had an abortion should be treated with compassion–not moral judgement–and it should be understood that the decision is pretty much universally a difficult one with a lot of complications and nuances.

Upvote:-1

"I am only mentioning the Theravada belief here"

As Buddhism teaches birth happens far before physical birth.It happens when the Semen finds the egg and start the process of growing.so not only abortion,Taking a pill is a violation of the first (not killing and never supporting killing).

Buddhism is against any sort of killing

Murder

Hiring for murder

Assisting murder

Praising murder

killing unborn

suicide

telling others to kill

approving the act of killing

Female rights for abortion is a medical and a social issue and it has nothing to do with Karma!

"Please note that there is no instruction on anything described as bad Karma to be done in a acceptable way.Buddhism is a straight religion it does not take back what it says and it does not open back doors to people to get away with things.What you choose to do is yours to decide but you will have to take it with you from life to life."

Upvote:0

As i see it, the Dhamma teaches that for conception to take place there need to be three conditions (this is in the pali sutta);

  • a father
  • mother who is in season
  • a gandhabba

As i understand it, there needs to be adequate sperm, ovulation and a being must have such kamma-vipaka [loosely; destiny] that he is fit to be born into that particular family or circumstances in general.

Therefore if conception can be established to have occurred then there is a being destined to be a child of the two and abortion at that point would constitute a taking of life.

Upvote:0

Most westerners say that a foetus of few weeks carries no significant consciousness. The pain of abortion is insignificant. However enlightened beings know that there is intelligence everywhere. From small virus , bacteria to ants to dogs to monkeys to elephants to human beings there is intelligence everywhere. If we kill an ant , may be ,it doesn’t hurt but if we destroy an ant colony there is a definite stress which we can observe. Moreover,had there been any state of being which was free of suffering, Buddha would have called that as Self. But there are none. Therefore it is wrong to conclude that all abortions are painless for mother and the child. We need to be sensitive towards mass abortions at least.Mass abortions like in USA are very unhealthy. It creates an environment which is not conducive for Nibbana. I think Buddha would have opposed the culture of abortions...

Upvote:0

Those who follow the Sublime Buddha, his Dhamma, abstain from killing, taking life of living beings, telling others to kill and to approve the killing of living beings.

Since abortion is just another word for killing, yes, Buddha-Follower do not approve such, give signs for others to do or get even active involved, not even to an extant how it could be made or advices who performs such kills.

Don't forget that living already in times where human life-span is already down to maybe 10-15 years in middle and killing of humans has been grown to a daily routine.

And given that to be killed by ones selected relatives is thousand times higher than to become victim of other "unnatural deaths", it's good to reflect often the goodness of ones own parents toward one, for hardly anyone whould sacrifices that burdens, even prefer simply to kill one off.

And at least: know Monks who approve, even encourage and tell often even puplic in favor for kills being actually no more part of the Buddhas disciples. There aren't less, thought just on Australians kill-encouragements... yet where does the "Dhamma" you use for the most come from? Bloody one, or? Such is done for trade and making fools a favor. Payed by killers and not something given in faith.

And how does the Sublime Buddha perform an Abortion? He dispels, yet not born in Dhamma disciples, if conducting for harm of many. For it's sure that there is no way in this life to ever gain birth in the Dhamma and simply couse harm for it's womb.

[Note that this isn't given for stacks, exchange, world-binding trades, but for an escape from this wheel]

Upvote:1

Buddhists believe that life begins at conception(as told in the pali suttas) and therefore it technically is the breaking of the 1st precept/training rule for the non harming of beings.

I believe it is also illegal in buddhist countries like Sri Lanka. That being said however there is a right mindset in dealing with those who choose abortion. I like what Ajahn Brahm has to say about it, compassion, not judgment.

http://www.diydharma.org/buddhist-response-euthanasia-abortion-ajahn-brahm

This may also be helpful : http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books7/Ajahn_Brahm_When_Does_Human_Life_Begin.pdf

Upvote:2

I've heard that one contemporary teacher suggests that a couple can give up a baby for adoption directly after birth. He highlighted that nowadays there is a growing number of couples trying and failing to conceive a baby so it is rather sad that other couples next door abort new lives. In some countries it is possible to choose new parents before the child birth so the biological mother can be sure that her baby goes to good home. But overall the teacher admits that such decisions are very difficult and it takes lots of courage and maturity to choose this option.

Upvote:2

Abortion is considered a violation of the first precept, which applies to both lay people and monastics. Encouraging abortion is also one of the most serious offenses a monk can make, resulting (usually) in permanent expulsion. So yes.

Upvote:4

I would not know about the Buddhist community as a whole, but Dalai Lama once said that it is generally bad to kill even the fetus. He did give some room for context and circumstances though, for example if the mother is in danger.

As an answer, and from other sources I have seen, I would say that this is a pretty divisive subject, easier understood when we think of a Buddhist as a person that understands the difference between theory and practice.

It depends on the situation, really.

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