Eastern Family Religious Groups
Hindu Religion
Understanding of Healing
Serious sickness or the loss of a limb would usually be seen as a playing
out of karma in the person’s life. Medical care would be accepted.
Reproductive Issues
Efforts to overcome sterility would usually not be supported, since it would
be considered the “will of God.” Culturally, however, a high value is placed on
the birth of a male son. That may be an important factor for a couple in
deciding reproductive issues.
Abortion
A common practice in India is abortion based on the sex of the child, driven
by poverty and the practice of receiving a dowry from the girl's family at
marriage. There would appear to be no restrictions on abortion.
End of Life Issues/Terminal Care
Euthanasia is not practiced.
Autopsies/Care of the Body
Disposal of the body is by cremation. The ashes are collected and disposed
of in holy rivers.
Special Treatment Issues (Blood,
drugs, dietary, etc.)
Most groups would practice strict vegetarianism.
Membership
Membership information concerning the United States was not found.
For additional information, please visit Hinduism’s Electronic Ashram at:
http://hoohana.aloha.net/~htoday/
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Comments
received:
…Most devout Hindus
object to the practice of abortion. Although you will not find them in Pro-life
marches (reproduction is a private issue), they do not practice abortion unless
the mother's health is threatened and all other avenues have been explored. The
following excerpt is taken from a book on Hinduism called Dancing With Siva
written by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, a member of the Parliament of the
World's Religions and a leading authority on contemporary Hinduism:
abortion: The deliberate termination of pregnancy. From the earliest
times, Hindu tradition and scriptures condemn the practice, except when the
mother's life is in danger. It is considered an act against rita and ahimsa.
Hindu mysticism teaches that the fetus is a living, conscious person, needing
and deserving protection (a Rig Vedic hymn [7.36.9, RvP, 2469] begs for
protection of fetuses). The Kaushitaki Upanishad (3.1 UpR, 774) describes
abortion as equivalent to killing one's parents. The Atharva Veda (6.113.2 HE,
43) lists the fetus slayer, brunaghni, among the greatest of sinners (6.113.2).
The Gautama Dharma Shastra (3.3.9 HD, 214) considers such participants to have
lost caste. The Sushruta Samhita, a medical treatise (ca 100), stipulates what
is to be done in case of serious problems during delivery (Chikitsasthana
Chapter, Mudhagarbha), describing first the various steps to be taken to
attempt to save both mother and child. "If the fetus is alive, one should
attempt to remove it from the womb of the mother alive..." (sutra 5). If
it is dead, it may be removed. In case the fetus is alive but cannot be safely
delivered, surgical removal is forbidden for "one would harm both mother
and offspring. In an irredeemable situation, it is best to cause the
miscarriage of the fetus, for no means must be neglected which can prevent the
loss of the mother" (sutras 10-11)."
Hindus object to
artificial life support, organ transplants, and cloning. They believe that
unless the body is completely at rest, the soul is not allowed to be released,
and will be confined to that body until it dies. By interfering with the
natural cycle of the releasing the soul, they interfere with the timing and
cycle of that soul's travel to another life, which will set the soul off course
in its spiritual evolution. Though many will accept a transplant to save a
life, they do not support the practice in principle.
Suicide is another
thing Hindus do not believe in, as it also interferes with the soul's
evolution. There is one exception: fasting. When a Hindu guru or saint feels
that they have accomplished all they need to in the present life, they choose
to fast to death. Likewise, when a very old person has settled their affairs
and no longer has anyone depending on them, they may choose to fast to death.
Amber Sukumaran, a
mainstream Hindu
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…You are certainly
correct that selective abortion is being used in some countries including India
and China. However, abortion in general is against Hindu principles. Abortion
is considered wrong because the soul is said to enter the body at the time of
conception. Not everyone in India is a devout Hindu, and social pressures and
poverty play a big part in the practice of selective abortion and infanticide
among even devout Hindus.
At the risk of
getting into gender issues, most poor women in India have very little voice in
their own families and may feel pressured to make such a horrible choice to
allow her girl babies to die, or to abort them before birth. Girl babies are
seen as a burden, but this attitude has only come about in modern times (the
last 500 years or so). Modern Hindu leaders are starting to go back to the
Vedas and teach that women are very sacred and special. The Vedas teach that
women are sacred and should be treated as queens. In the wedding vows, the
groom declares to his bride, "You are the queen of my home." He
promises to adorn her with jewels and wealth. Then he places silver rings on
her toes. To touch someone's feet is a great sign of respect. It is usually
only done with one's parents and guru. It is even taboo to touch one's feet to
a book or other household object! Unfortunately, the less educated have neither
the luxury, or in some cases the ability, to read and ponder the Vedas. They are
too busy keeping all the mouths fed.
I doubt very
strongly that any mother would choose abortion or infanticide on her own
without pressure from society, her husband, or poverty! There are many social
situations that interfere in a woman's ability to make choices, marry who she
approves of, etc. These situations are not related to the principles taught in
Hinduism and Hindu scripture. Great efforts are being undertaken in India to
counteract these backward social trends. Seti (bride burning), dowries, and underage
marriages are illegal, and have been for 50 years, but it is difficult to
enforce these laws in such a poor and populated country. In more educated
circles, the practice of selective abortion is decreasing. I know one family
with three girls and no boys. I have never seen more wanted and loved children.
Birth control is a
controversial subject among Hindus and no firm stance has been taken. Generally
it is believed to be undesirable, but not forbidden. In the days of the Vedas,
birth control was not available in its present form, so not much mention of it
is made. Many poor people in India are starting to see the benefits of family
planning through birth control. When I went to Madras, billboards and even the
auto-rickshaws and trucks had slogans such as "One Family, One Child"
painted on them by the owners of the vehicles. It is catching on rapidly. Many
states in India are reporting a rapid decrease in births, though it will take a
few more generations to see the effects. Among the more educated Indians (note
that I am not differentiating between Hindus and other religions here), it is
very uncommon to see families with more than 4 children. Two children are very
common. Birth control is free in India to anyone who wants it. Nurses and
social workers visit even the most remote villages to pass out condoms and
educate women to their body cycles and personal hygiene.
Just as not all
Jews are Kosher, and not all Hindus are vegetarian, there are gaps in most
religions between principle and practice. Society often alters these
principles, but they should still be presented in an educational manner for the
more devout Hindus that come into your care.
Amber Sukumaran, a
mainstream Hindu
~~~~~~~~~~
Page was last updated on 08/14/00