The View of Buddhism & Science with reference Abortion

Ven.T.Arunasiri TheraSri Lanka International Buddhist Academy

Reg No:- BABAL/15/7/22Subject:- Introduction to Philosophy

Lecturer:-Ven.K.Wimaladhamma

Content Introduction What is Abortion?What is an embryo or Kalalaya (In Buddhism &

Science) Abortion in order to medical science Revealed of abortion through the TripitakaCan abortion be considered as reasonable or fair in

Buddhist perspective? Conclusion

Introduction At present moment “Abortion” is a topic that takes our attention. Many of them frequently discuss about Abortion critically as well as morally. Abortion is one of crucial social issue. For instance, Each year, nearly 1.2 million American women have an abortion to end a pregnancy.Therefore which could be a one of social problem. Un-expected pregnancy is societal in present society. So it is a very crucial problem at current world. Therefore people who attempt give their interpretation regarding abortion. In this presentation hope to do discuss about abortion in view Buddhist & scientific perspectives comparatively.

What is Abortion?

Etymology of the word of “Abortion” In Sanskrit is called – “Garbaksha”, in Pāli is called as “Gabbhapātana” and in Sinhala is called “Gabsā.” In Cambridge Advanced Leaner’s Dictionary explained about the term of “Abortion” as follows,1. To stop the development of a baby that has not been

born, usually by having medical operation 2. The intentional ending of a pregnancy, usually by a

medical operation

The main course of abortion

• Lack of sexual education (In Childhood )• Poverty • Parents leaving home (Rape)• Birth Control  failure• Inability to support or care for a child• To prevent the birth of a child with Birth defects or

severe medical problems• Physical or mental conditions that endanger the woman's

health if the pregnancy is continued

What is an embryo or Kalalaya? (In Buddhism & Science)In science an embryo means, after the got pregnant woman, to develop womb between seven or eight weeks. Within that period it is called Embryo. Then after nine to until birth, it is called fetus. Buddhism Explained Embryo as follows, “Nilatelassa yathā bindu sampimṇdo anāvilo – evaṃ vaṇta paṭibāgaṃ kalalanti vuccati” (Parajika pali Commentary)The meaning of the above verse is that the colour and the size of human-embryo is similar to a drop of sesame oil or ghee.

Two kinds of abortion in order to medical science. They are,Spontaneous Abortion Criminal Abortion

Spontaneous Abortion Here spontaneous means, sometimes doesn’t emerge an embryo after procreation. For this have two reasons. • Having not deposit fertilization of ovule in internal

endometrium • Gave out an embryo

Cause of Spontaneous Abortion • Diabetes • High blood pressure • Heart disease • Kidney infection • Related womb problem • Unmatched blood groups• Infertile male hormone • Problem of mother tissue • Problems of hormones • Viral disease

Criminal Abortion This means to take away the fetus before the development of pregnancy by external influence. There are two stages at which abortion is done. • Early Abortion • Late Abortion

According to the medical science first type of abortion is not crucial. They emphasize second one is as Criminal.

The cause of woman persuaded for doing abortion According to medical science categorized three aspects for that. As follows,• Have not regarding incest • To maintain feminine figure • To protect life of the mother woman

Sub-disease of doing abortion

• To die due to unsafe abortion • Inability to be pregnant • To become disabled • High blood shed • Sexual disorder

Revealed of abortion through the Tripitaka Buddhist philosophy covered all corporation of each section. On the other hand contemporary society had many social problems. So Buddhism also gave their interpretation about that kinds of social problems. In this sense abortion had been discussed in Buddhism. Especially in vinaya pitaka adequate examples can be seen for the abortion. In Pārājikā pali explained about story about abortion. One day a woman approached to the monk. He was a very closed-friend of her. She asked about him how to do abortion. Then he gave instruction for doing abortion. • “Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthi pavutthapatikā

jārena gabbhīni hoti. Sā kulūpagaṃ bhikkuṃ etadavoca…..”

Sometimes some woman got advice from monk for using strategy to destroy an unborn baby. In pārājikā pāli mentioned, One day a pregnant woman came to the monk. And she needed instruction to destroy an unborn child. Then that monk said to heat belly. Which explained thus,

“ingeyya gabbhapatanaṃ jānāhīti. Tenahi bhagini tāpehiti. Sā tāpetvā gabbhaṃ patesi”

Can abortion be considered as reasonable or fair in Buddhist perspective ?

Buddhism doesn’t agree to harm any beings. In fact Buddhism is based on loving & compassion to all living beings & non-living beings. Which implicit how much power of spreading loving to all beings. Actually in Buddhism spread love & compassion even non-living beings too. For instance, “Ye keci pāṇa būtatthi tasāvā tāvarāvā anavasesā dīghāva ye mahantāḥāvā majjimārassa khānukathūlā diṭṭhāvā yeva addiṭṭhā yeca dūre vasanti avidūre būtāvā saṃbhavesīvā sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitathā”

Five objects should be accomplished for killing as unwholesome deed. They are respectively,• Being aware that one is a living being • It must be a living • Using a strategy for killing • Effort for killing • To succeed it

Further Buddhism mentioned there are three bases for killing unwholesome deeds. As follows.• Have killed by yourself • Have killed by other-selves• Confirmation of killing

According to above theory an abortion whether the abortion is done by yourself of someone else, or if there is confirmation of killing, it is called unwholesome deed. It is proved there is no any excuse for abortion.

Abortion considered as a crime in Buddhism. Buddhism illustrated three kinds of deviating behavior. They are,• Physically• Verbally • Mentally

If the person who does wrong intention by using physically, verbally and mentally it must be unwholesome deed according to Buddhism.

Conclusion Buddhism mainly expounded while you are walking in this existence to live without harming others. Buddhism highly appreciated non-violent society. Which implicit clearly under the unlimited loving kindness towards all living and non-living beings. However regarding abortion looked sensitively & morally. In Buddhism there isn’t opportunity to doing abortion. Dhaṃmapada says, all beings would like to live, they fear for the punishment, beat & death so on. Then Buddha mentioned comparing others with oneself, one should neither strike nor cause to strike.

“Sabbe tasanti danḍassa – sabbe bhāyanti maccunoAttānaṃ upamaṃ katvā- na haneyya na ghātaye”

Bibliography

Primary Resourses • Vinaya Pitaka, 1978, London PTS• Samyutta Nikaya,1978,London PTS• Abhidhamma, 1978,London PTS

Secondary Resources

• K.Sri, D. (1989). How to live without Fear & Worry. Kuala Lumpur: Buddhist Missionary Society .• K.Sri, D. (1992). Bauddha Visvasa Vimarsanaya. Taipei: The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational

Foundation .• K.Sri, D. (2004). You & Your Problems. Kuala Lumpur: Buddhist Missionary Society.• Kalughakole, S. (2009/2010). Gabsava Pilibada Bauddha Akalpaya.

Vidusarani, 31-44.

. Wimaladhamma,K. Abortion (Presentation)

Online Document• Sutta Central Eraly Buddhist text,translation and parallels . (2016, 10 30).Retrived from, https://suttacentral.net/• Cambridge Dictionary . (2016, 11 02). Retrieved from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/