Buddhism Position On Abortion Essay

The Buddhist position on the ethical issue of abortion.
The teachings on ethical issues from a religious perspective vary greatly in their approach for each faith tradition. The nature of the teachings on ethical issues within the Buddhist faith enables them to be open to discussion and interpretation. In this essay, I will discuss what the teachings that govern the Buddhist position on abortion are, what the Buddhist teachings on when human life begins are, what the prescriptions and prohibitions in relation to abortion in Buddhism are and how these compare and contrast to the position within denominations in the Christian tradition and finally, what is the relevance of this topic to the Religious Education senior cycle syllabus.
Buddhism is one of the major world religions with many followers around the world. It is unique in its nature as it is frequently referred to as a ‘spiritual tradition’ (Miller, 2010). Buddhism focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life (Johnston, 2003). Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent and that change is always possible. This belief in the impermanence of all things underpins the Buddhist interpretation of the world and reality (Maguire, 2001).
There are two distinct sets of teachings in Buddhism that assist Buddhists in their view of abortion: The Eightfold path and the five precepts. The Eightfold path provides specific guidelines in relation to focusing the mind on being fully aware of thoughts and actions, and therefore developing wisdom (LaFleur, 1994). The eight steps can be outlined “as right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right con...

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...es and no Buddhist denomination absolutely forbids it. This may seem contradictory. However, the Buddhist view is that the rigid following of rules is not what makes us moral. Furthermore, imposing authoritative rules often creates a new set of moral wrongs. Buddhism teaches not to impose our views on others and advocates having compassion for those facing difficult situations. Although some predominantly Buddhist countries, such as Thailand, place legal restrictions on abortion, many Buddhists do not think the state should intervene in matters of conscience and that abortion is personal, and in some cases justifiable. With regard to the Christian tradition, differing views are evident between denominations. The Church of England hold a similar view to the Buddhist tradition in comparison to the Catholic Church, who’s position on abortion is absolute and definite.