What does Buddhism say about Abortion?
According to the Buddha life begins at conception or very soon after and so to abort a fetus would be to take a life. [Back to Top] QUESTION: But if a woman is raped or if she knows that her child is going to be deformed, wouldn’t it be better to stop the pregnancy ? ANSWER: A child conceived as the result of a rape is as entitled to live and be loved as any other child. He or she should not be killed simply because their biological father committed a crime. Giving birth to a deformed or mentally retarded child would be a terrible shock for the parents but if its okay to abort a fetus like this then why not kill children or adults who are deformed or handicapped? There might be situations where abortion was the most humane alternative, for example, to save the life of a mother. But let’s be honest, most abortions are preformed simply because the pregnancy is inconvenient, an embarrassment or because the parents want to have the child later. To Buddhists, these seem a very poor reasons
Buddhism doesn’t say anything in particular about abortion. There are Buddhists who no doubt stand on the “Pro Choice” side of the fence and others who take the “Pro Life” stance. The important questions to keep in mind are: who is suffering and what can be done to reduce suffering. The intention here is important. There are some circumstances, no doubt, where an abortion, especially at the very early stages of pregnancy, may be the wise thing to do. If the child’s life would be fraught with suffering, for some reason; or if the parents would suffer greatly as a consequence of having a child. My personal view is this: bringing a human life into being is a large responsibility and needs to be done with consideration and intent. If a woman becomes pregnant and does not want the child, there is, it seems to me, a period of time before which she can chose to terminate the pregnancy without harming any sentient being (other than herself). A human embryo, at the early stages of development i
A. Whatever decision is made — to have the child or to have an abortion — there will be karmic consequences for all involved. Although it is often up to the mother to decide, the father and everyone else involved in the decision must realize that all deal with the consequences. Buddhists emphasize that it is best to avoid the situation if possible and also warn against sexual misconduct but in the end, all actions have consequences.
Buddhism doesn’t say anything in particular about abortion. Thereare Buddhists who no doubt stand on the “Pro Choice” side of the fence and others who take the “Pro Life” stance. The important questions to keep in mind are: who is sufferingand what can be done to reduce suffering. The intentionhere is important. There are some circumstances, no doubt, wherean abortion, especially at the very early stages of pregnancy,may be the wise thing to do. If the child’s life would befraught with suffering, for some reason; or if the parentswould suffer greatly as a consequence of having a child. My personal view is this: bringing a human life into beingis a large responsibility and needs to be done with considerationand intent. If a woman becomes pregnant and does not want thechild, there is, it seems to me, a period of time before whichshe can chose to terminate the pregnancy without harming anysentient being (other than herself). A human embryo, at theearly stages of development is hardly much
