ABSTRACT

                 The thesis entitled ‘Abortion in Thai Society : Problems and Solutions in Buddhist Perspective has 3 objectives : 1) to understand the origin of life and the concept of taking life in Buddhism 2) to understand the problem of abortion in Thai society and 3) to understand the guideline of the abortion problems and the solutions  in Buddhist perspectives. The research was conducted through documentary and the In-depth – interview.

                      The result revealed that the origin of life in Buddhist perspectives is of three conditions as – 1) parents are living together 2) mother is menstrual age and 3) human being ready to take a new existence. In case a person intends to take or terminate the life that would be sin in accordance with Pānātipāta or taking life. There are five requisite factors for an act of killing as:- 1) the presence of a living being, human or animal;  2) the knowledge that the being is a living being;  3) the intent to kill; 4) the act of killing by some means; and 5) the resulting death.   

                 Regarding to the problem of abortion in Thai society, it was because of the moral weakness, the parents’ lack of awareness and responsibility, the errors in family planning, the parents’ health problem and disorders of the newborn, the condition of economic and social, the medical errors  and the ineffectiveness of law enforcement. Therefore, the abortion is considered to be the social problem in many aspects; ethical, health and socio – economic.

                      Last but not the least, the solutions to the abortion problems based on Buddhist ways are found in many aspects:  the warmth family should be built; sex education should be promoted in the right way, the media provoking sexual stimulation should be controlled and supporting the religious practice should also be done. Regarding to the doctrine of Buddhism, the Pañca - sila or Five Precepts or Pañca-dhamma : the five ennobling virtues : - to abstain from killing, to abstain from sexual misconduct, loving-kindness and compassion, sexual restraint and Sikkhā or the Threefold Training are need to be distinctly  cultivated to people.