Expert: Justin Choo - 6/12/2008

Question
QUESTION: I would like to know the Buddhist answer to miscarriage.  I am a new student to Buddhism.  I have had infertility problems all of my life and never had a biological child, although I was pregnant briefly with twins.  I now am the mother of two adopted children who are my life and love.  I'm hoping you can help me understand my karma and especially my miscarriage. Why were they not born and birthed to me? Will they always be connected to me and how can I be more aware of them? Also, how my karma and my children's karma lead us to adopting (one another!).

ANSWER: Hi Kim,

Thank you for asking me.

Please remember that kamma is just one of the 5 cosmic laws that affect our lives, although it is the strongest of them all.  Not everything we experience is due to kamma.  The 5 cosmic laws are:

1.Physical (inorganic) law, e.g. seasonal phenomena of winds and rains.
2.Organic law; e.g. the scientific theory of cells and genes and the physical similarity of twins may be ascribed to this order.
3.Psychic law (consciousness), e.g. processes of consciousness,  power of the mind.
4.The natural phenomena eg.  gravitation, natural disasters.
5.The Law of Kamma.

Although your present experience "may" be caused by past kamma, but you have the ability to alter it within certain limits.  We should not surrender ourselves by "blaming" kamma.  We should take charge of our lives to seek help for our betterment.  

Incidentally, I also have two adopted children of different races; and they are now grown-ups.  

Don't worry, Kim.  You're on the right track.

Smile from justinchoo :-)  

 


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your guidance.  Can you expand some more on the miscarriage and Buddhist beliefs regarding such?  I've been told that the twins were souls that had previously passed on too soon and had not completed their death journey..I was somewhat of a vessel for them to complete the journey and I was to view it as a form of "motherhood" to these souls.  Do you believe I am still connected to them in some way?

Answer
Hi Kim,

This is a follow-up.

Thanks for your generous ratings.

[You are invited to visit my blog:]
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/

[And this blog by Rev. Dhammika:]
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/

justinchoo :-)




Hi Kim,

Thanks for coming back.

<<Do you believe I am still connected to them in some way?>>
If you ask me what I believe, I will tell you I don't believe in anything.  I just study the teachings of the Buddha and use my human intelligence and common sense to analyze them.  If they make sense, then I follow.  If they don't then I reject them.  This is actually the advice of the Buddha.  I am merely following his advice.

You said you've "been told"; go back to the person who told you that and ask this person how did he/she know?  If he/she can explain to you, then you use your human intelligence and common sense to analyze his/her explanation.  Then you decide.

The problem with most of us is that we lack a strong Buddhist foundation, and we doubt, accept,or reject many propositions without actually thinking over them.  The only solution is to study more the teachings of the Buddha, and you will have all the confidence in the world.

Let your unfortunate experience be a passing "milestone" of your life, and proceed with your journey of life.  What is past cannot be undone, and we should not indulge too much in them.  

Have peace, Kim.

Smile from justinchoo :-)