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Abortion is generally regarded very very negatively among ethnic Tibetan Buddhists. [3] Prior to the emergence of the Tibetan diaspora in the 1950s, Tibetans do not seem to have been familiar with abortion for reasons of medical necessity, and, facing little population pressure, saw little reason to engage in what they saw as the destruction of innocent life. [3]
In Buddhism, the oldest Theraveda texts condemn abortion but do not prohibit or prescribe penance. In later texts, a Buddhist monk who provides abortion is "defeated" – excluded from the religious community – if the fetus dies. If the mother dies but not the fetus, this is only a grave sin, because he had not intended to kill her.
Sujata was the daughter-in-law of Anathapindika, a prominent lay-disciple of the Buddha.The Pali Suttas, in Anguttara Nikaya(7:59; IV 91-94), records that the Buddha was delivering a teaching near or at Anathapindika's home when he was disrupted by the sounds of Sujata scolding the servants.
If we focus on this aspect, we can say that ancient Buddhism is antinatalist. However, we can also interpret ancient Buddhism as saying that being born into this human world is affirmed because there is a possibility of reaching nirvana here. Therefore, if we pay attention to this aspect, we cannot instantaneously say that it is antinatalist. [20]
Scholars have interpreted Buddhist texts about the precepts as an opposition to and prohibition of capital punishment, [8] suicide, abortion [9] [10] and euthanasia. [11] In practice, however, many Buddhist countries still use the death penalty and abortion is legal in some Buddhist countries.
Bas relief at Angkor Wat, c. 1150, depicting a demon performing an abortion upon a woman who has been sent to the underworld. The Vedic and smrti laws of India reflected a concern with preserving the male seed of the three upper castes; and the religious courts imposed various penances for the woman or excommunication for a priest who provided an abortion. [3]
Abortion is perceived as murder by many religious conservatives. [4] Anti-abortion advocates believe that legalized abortion is a threat to social, moral, and religious values. [4] Religious people who advocate abortion rights generally believe that life starts later in the pregnancy, for instance at quickening, after the first trimester. [5]
Mizuko kuyō (水子供養) meaning "water child memorial service", [1] is a Japanese Buddhist ceremony for those who have had a miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. It is also practiced in Thailand and China. This practice has become particularly visible since the 1970s with the creation of shrines devoted solely to this ritual.