1. The document discusses Buddhism and science perspectives on abortion by comparing their views. Buddhism does not condone abortion as it violates the principle of non-harming of living beings. 2. Abortion is defined in Buddhism and science. In Buddhism, a fetus is described as similar in color and size to sesame oil. Science defines abortion as terminating a pregnancy, usually through medical means. 3. Buddhism considers abortion an unwholesome deed and crime, as it fulfills the criteria for killing of a living being intentionally. Abortion is firmly rejected in Buddhism according to its teachings of non-violence.

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The view of Buddhism & Science with reference to Abortion
Ven.T.Arunasiri
Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy
Reg No:-BABL/15/7/22
Subject:- Introduction to Philosophy
Subject code:- BST 216
Lecturer:- Ven.K.Wimaladhamma Thera

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Introduction
At present moment “Abortion.” Is a topic that takes our attention. Many of them frequently
discuss about Abortion critically as well as morally. Current society face many problems
because of abortion. Therefore it could be one of social problems. What is a social problem?
According to Fuler & Mayers interpreted “majority of the society who are not satisfied with
something, then they try to go against it. then it will be a 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. Some groups of
people stressed about abortion should do societal. Some others attempted to prevent. By the
way according to society, they following different faith, culture & practices. Then they
looked at this fact differently. Therefore from society to society people looked at this issue
differently. In this presentation I hope to discuss about abortion in 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

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The main course of abortion
 Lack of sexual education (In Childhood )
 Poverty
 Parents leaving home
 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 sappi maṇdo anāvilo – evaṃ vaṇna paṭibāgaṃ kalalanti
vuccati”
The meaning of the above verse is that the colour and the size of human foetus is similar to a
drop of sesame oil or ghee.
Two kinds of abortion in order to medical science. They are,
A. Spontaneous Abortion

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B. Criminal Abortion
Spontaneous Abortion
Here spontaneous means, sometimes doesn’t emerge an embryo after procreation. Foe this
have two reasons.
 Having not deposit fertilization of ovule in internal endometrium
 Gave out an embryo
Cause of Spontaneous Abortion
1. Diabetes
2. High blood pressure
3. Heart disease
4. Kidney infection
5. Related womb problem
6. Unmatched blood groups
7. Infertile male hormone
8. Problem of mother tissue
9. Problems of hormones
10. Viral disease
Criminal Abortion
This means to take away the fetus before the development 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.

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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 the mother woman
Sub-disease of doing abortion
 To die due to unsafety abortion
 Inability to be pregnant
 To become disabled
 High blood shed
 Sexual disorder
Revealedof 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 can adequate examples can be seen for the abortion. Probably these issues
are related to monks. That’s why in Buddhism discussed regarding abortion.

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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…..”
There was another story. There were two infertile women. They got jealousy because of their
assisting wife was able to deliver a baby. Then they thought after her conceiving baby they
couldn’t consume wealth. Next they approached to the monk. And got instruction for
destruction of birth.
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 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”

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Here to teach how to loving towards other beings. Not only living beings here mentioned
“Saṃbhesivā” means non-living beings or called Gandhabbha. In that sense Buddhism
doesn’t allow to do harm or killing.
Five objects should be fulfilled 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
In fact induced abortion such a unwholesome deed according to Buddhist perspective. The
person who does abortion fulfill above criteria. Therefore there is no any reasonable aspect in
abortion. Further Buddhism mentioned there three are 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 as called killing unwholesome deed. Again 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

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 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 is not opportunity to do abortion.
And abortion is completely rejected by Buddhism. 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 maccuno
Attānaṃ upamaṃ katvā- na haneyya na ghātaye”

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Bibliography
Primary Resourses
 Vinaya Pitaka, 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/