In Tibetan Buddhism, abortion is unequivocally regarded as the taking of a human life. This perspective stems from its deep continuity with classical Indian Buddhist views, in which life begins at conception when consciousness enters the womb. Accordingly, abortion is seen not only as morally wrong but as a profoundly negative karmic act.
Tibetan-speaking communities regard abortion with horror, describing it as the killing of an innocent being. Historically, there was no cultural or social incentive for abortion: population pressures were minimal, and abortion was likely not known as a means of saving a mother’s life.
Reports from Tibetan laypeople and religious authorities in refugee communities in Nepal and India indicate that abortion is not commonly practiced, even though it is legal in India. All the Tibetan authorities consulted described abortion as unvirtuous or expressly forbidden.
This moral clarity was echoed by Lama Lodo in 1978 in San Francisco. When asked about a friend considering abortion, he responded: “The best thing for you to do would be to try to talk her out of the abortion because it is an act of profound negative consequences to kill a human being.” He emphasized the preciousness of the human body, suggesting that if the mother could not raise the child, she should consider adoption instead.
In support of such alternatives, around 1985, the organization Dharmadhatu — founded by the Tibetan Lama Chögyam Trungpa — planned to establish a Buddhist adoption agency. This initiative aimed to offer compassionate and practical support for women who might otherwise consider abortion.
At the same time, Tibetan Buddhism also teaches that karmic harm can be lessened through remorse, confession, and spiritual practice. While abortion is firmly discouraged, those who have undergone it are not condemned but encouraged to engage in purification, dedicate merit to the unborn child, and develop greater awareness in the future.