✅ For
It removes a major source of craving and distraction. It lets monks and nuns give their whole life to the Dhamma and to others. It gives a clear example of letting go, which many lay people respect.
Buddhist Beliefs about Life and Death » Childlessness, Contraception and Celibacy in Buddhism
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 1, 2.8 (Buddhism)
- Why Buddhism has no rule that people must have children
- How Buddhists judge fertility treatment, genetic engineering and contraception
- Why monks and nuns are celibate, and the reasons for and against celibacy
- Adoption and fostering as compassion in action
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Unlock This CourseChildlessness in Buddhism
The lessons Childlessness, Fertility Treatment and Genetic Engineering and Contraception, Celibacy, Adoption and Fostering explained the medical ideas, the law and the non-religious views. Here we look at what Buddhists teach.
Buddhism has no commandment to "have children". Having a family is a normal part of life for many lay people, as you saw in Marriage and the Householder in Buddhism, but it is a personal choice and not a religious duty. A couple who cannot have children, or who decide not to, are not seen as failing in their religion. Buddhists believe a person's worth and progress on the path come from how they act, not from whether they are a parent. A childless couple can still practise kindness, give dana and help the young, for example by caring for nieces and nephews or by teaching.
Some Buddhists say that wanting a child can also be a form of craving (tanha), and that being clingy about having a child can itself cause suffering. Others say that the wish to love and care for a child is a good and natural wish. Buddhists do not all agree, and they usually judge each case by its intention and its effects.
Key terms:
- Bhikkhu: a fully ordained Buddhist monk.
- Bhikkhuni: a fully ordained Buddhist nun.
- Vinaya: the rules of monastic life that bhikkhus and bhikkhunis follow, including the rule of celibacy.
Fertility treatment and genetic engineering
There is no Buddhist law that bans fertility treatment such as IVF. Buddhists tend to ask three questions: What is the intention? Does it show compassion (karuna)? Does it cause harm? A couple who want a child out of love, and who use a treatment that harms no one, are usually seen as acting skilfully. Fertility treatment can relieve the suffering of a couple who badly want a child.
The concern is about harm. In IVF, several embryos are often made and the spare ones may be destroyed. Some Buddhists believe life begins at conception, as the lesson The Five Precepts, the Value of Life and Abortion in Buddhism explained, so destroying embryos goes against the first precept. Other Buddhists focus more on intention and compassion, and accept the treatment if the aim is to bring a loved child into the world. A Buddhist might therefore accept a treatment where every embryo is used, and be more worried about one where embryos are thrown away.
The same questions apply to genetic engineering. Using it to remove a serious inherited illness can be seen as compassion, because it stops suffering. Buddhists are more worried if it is used for craving, for example to choose a child's looks or abilities (so-called designer babies), or if embryos are destroyed along the way. Because Buddhism puts such weight on intention, the reason for the choice matters as much as the method.
Contraception
Buddhism has no teaching that forbids contraception. Most Buddhists accept it, because a method that prevents conception does not take a life. It lets couples plan their family, keep healthy, and bring up the children they have with care. Many would say that it is kinder to avoid an unwanted pregnancy than to bring a child into a home that cannot look after them.
The concern is the same as before: harm to life. A method that works only before an embryo forms is seen as acceptable. A method that would end a life that has already begun to form is more worrying for those who believe life begins at conception. As ever, Buddhists look at intention and the effects on others, so views differ between Buddhists, cultures and traditions.
Celibacy and the bhikkhu or bhikkhuni
Celibacy means choosing not to have sexual relationships. For lay Buddhists the third precept asks only that they avoid sexual misconduct (see Buddhist Teaching on Relationships and Sexuality). Fully ordained bhikkhus and bhikkhunis, however, are expected to be fully celibate for as long as they remain in the Sangha. This rule is part of the Vinaya. In the Theravada tradition, sexual intercourse is one of the most serious offences a monk or nun can commit, and it means that they must leave the Sangha.
Buddhists give these reasons for the rule:
🧘 Letting go of craving
Buddhists teach that craving and attachment cause suffering. Monks and nuns are trying to weaken sexual desire and attachment to partners and children, as part of the path to nibbana.
📖 Freedom to practise
With no partner or children to support, they have more time and energy for meditation, study and teaching, and for helping the lay community.
🏠 The monastic rule
It is part of the Vinaya they promise to follow. The Buddha himself left family life to search for enlightenment, and many monks and nuns see themselves as following his example.
Notice that celibacy is a choice for monks and nuns, not a rule for every Buddhist. Many Buddhists see family life and monastic life as two different ways of following the path.
For and against celibacy
❌ Against
It is hard to keep, and being celibate does not by itself end craving, since the mind can still cling. Many Buddhists believe lay people can also make great progress, so celibacy is not needed. In some countries, such as Japan, many temple priests marry and have families.
This shows the different attitudes within Buddhism. Many Theravada communities keep the strict rule, while some other traditions are more relaxed about it. Buddhists agree that sexual desire is natural, but they teach that clinging to it causes suffering.
Adoption and fostering
Many Buddhists see adoption and fostering as compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta) in action. A child who has no parents, or whose parents cannot look after them, is suffering, and looking after the child is a skilful act that relieves that suffering. Adoption is permanent. Fostering looks after a child for a time. The duties set out in the Sigalovada Sutta between parents and children (see Family Life and the Vihara in Buddhism) apply to adoptive and foster parents too. There is no Buddhist rule that says that families must have children of their own first. A childless couple may feel that adoption is a good way to put compassion into practice.
Common mistakes
Saying that Buddhists must have children, or that childless couples are being punished: there is no such rule. Saying Buddhism bans IVF or contraception: Buddhists judge them by intention, compassion and non-harm. Saying every Buddhist must be celibate: it is the rule for monks and nuns, not lay people. Giving only reasons for celibacy when the question asks for views for and against.
Exam-style question
(a) Identify three reasons why some people decide not to have children. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two reasons why celibacy is important for monks and nuns in this religion. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain why there are different attitudes to fertility treatment in this religion. [6 marks]
(d) "Celibacy is the best way to live a religious life."
Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
Model answer
(a) 1. They want to focus on their career (1). 2. The cost of bringing up children (1). 3. Health reasons or a risk of passing on an inherited illness (1).
(b) In Buddhism, bhikkhus and bhikkhunis are celibate so that they can let go of craving and attachment (1), because Buddhists teach that craving causes suffering and holds people back from nibbana (1). They also keep the rule so that they are free to meditate, study and teach (1), since they have no partner or children to support (1).
(c) Buddhists have different attitudes to fertility treatment because there is no Buddhist law about it (1). Most judge it by intention, compassion and non-harm (1). Some Buddhists accept it, because helping a couple to have a loved child relieves suffering and shows compassion (1). Others are more worried, because in IVF spare embryos may be destroyed (1). Buddhists who believe life begins at conception see this as against the first precept, not to harm living beings (1). Those who stress intention may accept treatment if every embryo is used and nobody is harmed (1). So views depend on which teaching a Buddhist puts first.
(d) Plan. For: in Buddhism celibate monks and nuns let go of craving, which is the cause of suffering, and have more freedom to meditate and teach; the Buddha left family life to seek enlightenment; many people respect those who give everything to their faith. Against: most Buddhists are lay people with families and many believe they can also make great progress; being celibate does not stop craving by itself; in Japan many temple priests marry; humanists and many others find meaning in family, love and helping others without any religion at all. Conclusion: the phrase "the best way" is too strong. Celibacy suits some people, such as monks and nuns, but Buddhists teach that family life and monastic life are both ways to follow the path, so it is not the best for everyone.
Exam tip
In part (c), the word "different" means you must give contrasting views. Show two Buddhist views and say which teaching, such as the first precept or compassion, each one comes from.