Buddhistic View of Fertilization, Abortion and Birth

불교적(佛敎的) 관점(觀點)에서 본 수태(受胎)·타태(墮胎)·출생(出生)

The purpose of this paper was the analysis of Buddhistic views of fertilization, abortion and birth referred to in the Code of Buddhism. The findings of my analysis of the allusions of the Code are as follows. 1. Modern science holds the view that in fertilization the spermatozoom and the ovum are the essential factors, while the Buddhistic view is that here must be the entry of a reincarnated soul ( 中有 ; jung-yu) into fertilization. 2. In Buddhism, fertilization is regarded as the giving of a new life and the receiving a life which consists of the sufferings, both physical and mental in nature, of the individual to be born. 3. Artificial abortion in any case is stictly prohibited because it is regarded as taking life. 4. Birth perse is assumed to consist of suffering for both the mother and the child itself. Therefore, these are analogous to the perinatoloty of modern science.