My brother and his fiance two years ago at that she was his girlfriend...had an abortion because they were in a very difficult period in their life especially financially. What can they do to make sure the baby's spirit rests in peace, please advice? Are there any prcedures to do at the thai buddhist temple that I could ask a monk to do properly?
Originally posted by Mcmp108:My brother and his fiance two years ago at that she was his girlfriend...had an abortion because they were in a very difficult period in their life especially financially. What can they do to make sure the baby's spirit rests in peace, please advice? Are there any prcedures to do at the thai buddhist temple that I could ask a monk to do properly?
It would be best to ask the monk yourself... probably dedicate merits in the baby's name. If possible your brother and his fiance should also practice the dharma and dedicate their entire lifetime's merits to the deceased child and repent for their doings... in this way it can help the baby as well as lighten their karma for abortion.
Who knows the Repentence Verse ?
In Dhamma view, Whether the baby has mind or not depends on the period of fetus in the womb.When the fetus start the heart beat in the womb, it starts the human life.For example,if you abort the fetus before fetus heart beat starts,there is no bad karma on both of you.Another thing to note is there is no baby spirit rests after the baby pass away as the baby is not in immaterial world.
Originally posted by Mcmp108:Thank for the comments. FYI it was not even a feutus yet…3 weeks, no heart yet.
Heart beating starts at 21 days, or 3 weeks.
Anyway regarding this, there are different understandings of it.. for example most Buddhists I believe understand that there is consciousness at the moment of birth or conception. Some Buddhists however including my Taiwanese teacher's understanding is that the fetus becomes conscious only after the body is taking shape around 2-3 months.
Nevertheless even whether or not it has consciousness, or even if it does not have consciousness, the body already serves as a condition for becoming a human... the conditions of a human life are already present and destroying the life would still be killing. So anyway the best would be to dedicate merits for whatever conscious being concerned/affected by the act of abortion even if they may not have taken rebirth yet or are still in the state of 'zhong ying sheng'.
It is very complicated.Based on Buddha Ambithama ,Karmic energy causes heart beats start.At the start of heart beat,fetus have sleeping mind or in pali "Bawin" mind.The term sleeping mind is preferred to use than consciousness. The sleeping mind is same as mind state after we fall asleep.Abortion includes destroying fetus body or sleeping mind and body.Destroying fetus body is sin? Otherwise destorying both fetus body and mind is sin?
The Dharani Sutra of the Buddha on Longevity The Extinction of Offences And the Protection of Young Children http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/Longevity.htm
In the present society, it has become a common practice for the married or unmarried couples to abort their babies in unwanted pregnancy. After an abortion, many of the guilty couples will find ways to rectify their mistakes by making offering to the soul of the baby. So, is the offering made to pacify the soul of the baby the best and ultimate way to save our conscience? This Sutra teaches us ways and means to help the babies and the parents. Besides it also provides a general knowledge on how to nurse a healthy baby...
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