AboutJustin Choo Expertise When in doubt seek it out. All your questions will be answered, and you may not have to agree with the answers. Such is the beauty of Buddhism. You are free to decide. I follow the Theravada tradition, and have been studying Buddhism for more than 40 years. Please view my profile for more details. I have answered more than a thousand questions since joining this category. You are welcome to try me.
Experience I was brought up in the 50's as a Buddhist. For the past 30 years I have read numerous books on Buddhism and listened to numerous talks on Buddhism by well-respected and learned monks and lay teachers. I conduct Buddhist classes for parents of Sunday School children in a Theravada Buddhist Temple.
My teacher was the late Chief Reverend, The Ven. K Sri Dhammananda of The Brickfields Buddhist Mahavihara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You can view the relevent website in memory of my revered late teacher @
http://www.ksridhammananda.com
Organizations I am a life member of the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia.
Publications YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT MY BLOG @
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/
Published a book called "The Rainbow And The Treasure". It is a compilation of extracts from various sources to introduce Buddhism to beginners. (Currently out of print)
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Commerce And Administration, Victoria University Of Wellington, NZ.(1974)
Question Dear Justin,
I am a mother of 2 kids. One is autistic, the other is low mentality but have really difficult stubborn nature. Before I got married, I had an abortion because we were not ready for marriage. I had a 2nd abortion 2 years ago - it was an accidental pregnancy. I don't have the heart to bring another highly possible handicapped child to suffer in this world. My 2 kids are already tough to take care, I have to work and depends on my poor aged parents to help out. I feel sad about the abortions; even sadder when I read somewhere that the spirits or souls of aborted fetuses are lost and without help/direction.
I became a Buddhist recently and that helps a lot in providing a true view of life, suffering and karma and the way to overcome suffering by following the right precepts and 8 noble paths.
However, do you know what happened to my poor aborted children who never had a chance to be born? Are they lost and will never have the chance for rebirth?
Thanks for helping me understand...
Jean.
Answer Hi Jean P,
It is very heart-breaking to be in your position. The other religions would try to console you that their God is testing you; or you are the chosen one to undertake God's test on your faith in him. As a Buddhist I would not say that. If given a choice who would want to be in your situation? This is the real nature of existence that some are more fortunate than others. It is the working out of one's kamma. However we don't surrender ourselves to the problems life is dishing out to us. We shall take charge of our lives here and now to the best of our abilities.
<<However, do you know what happened to my poor aborted children who never had a chance to be born? Are they lost and will never have the chance for rebirth?>>
Each life brings with it its own storehouse of kammic energy. Whatever destiny befell it, would be the result of its own kamma. You are just the agent contributing to the process of its actualization. They are not "lost" in the wilderness. Each unenlightened life is subject to rebirth. The question is rebirth to where.
As Buddhists, we always share merits to our departed after performing good/wholesome deeds, even after reciting homage to the Buddha. We can just recite; that may the merits that we gained be shared with our departed and may they have better rebirths.
