IVF

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
suwapan
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:54 pm

Re: IVF

Post by suwapan »

SarathW wrote:I think destroying an embryo is unethical.

What are your thoughts about the following statement.

Ajahn Brahm:
Conclusion: embryos outside of a mother’s womb are not
reckoned as human life, and thus the ethical considerations
specific to human beings do not apply.

Last paragraph:

http://www.stefan.gr/buddhism/books/aja ... -begin.pdf
:thinking:
Dear SarathW,

At conception when the sperm enters the wall of the egg, specific Nama and Rupa have already existed, thus the splitting of the cells begins. The sex, characters and features of the baby have already been determined. Therefore, by definition from the Abhidhamma Sangaha, the embryo is alive. Terminating it would be defying the first of the five Precepts.

Here are extracts from "A Manual of Abhidamma" translated by Narada Maha Thera

(Chapter 5,pg 257)
According to commentary, Janaka Kamma (Reproductive Kamma) is that which produces mental aggregates and material aggregates at the moment of conception.

(Chapter 2,pg 88)
Both Nama-Jivitindriya and Rupa-Jivitindriya arise at the moment of conception.They simultaneously perish at the moment of conception. Hence death is regarded as the destruction of this Jivitindriya. Immediately after, due to the power of Kamma, another Nama-Jivitindriya arises in the subsequent birth at the moment of conception. Simultaneous with the arising of the one Nama-Jivitindriya there arise three Rupa-Jivitindriyas in the case of a human being.
(Note: Jivitindriya is one of the seven Universal Cetasikas that concomitantly exists and ceases with any consciousness (Citta). It sustains and control its co-associates as Cetasikas work in groups.)

Following this teaching, an outside-the-womb embryo is considered alive. It continues its life after it is implanted into a womb. If left outside, it will die. After all, if outside embryo is not alive, how can it grow into a baby after a successful implant into a woman? Or, is it revived from the dead?
SarathW
Posts: 21238
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: IVF

Post by SarathW »

Hi Suwapan
What about identical twins?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Ananda26
Posts: 171
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:41 pm

Re: IVF

Post by Ananda26 »

Abstaining from killing, the first precepts applies to human beings, fetuses, and embryos.
suwapan
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:54 pm

Re: IVF

Post by suwapan »

SarathW wrote:Hi Suwapan
What about identical twins?
Hi SarathW'
I'm sorry for not replying. As for the twin individuals, they might have done the following:
1) Made vows to be together "forever," out of intense love and affection.
2) Or, they could be enemies, and one of them had vowed to follow the other "till the end of time."
Nonetheless, they must have committed very similar karmas, in order for them to appear alike and be born in the same environment.

To think about it, being twins may be seen to be at a disadvantage to being a single child. They have to share everything, starting from the food eaten by their mother while they were in the womb. The resources from the parents must be halved for both of them to share. If the parents were rich, sharing resources would be much of a concern but not so for a lesser family. What about when they grow up, they may have to fight for the parents love?
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