麻豆社

Good morning. At the weekend, I heard the story of Indian businessman, Rafael Samuel, who intends to sue his parents for obliging him to have been born. Now Mr Samuel admits his life is good; he鈥檚 just aggrieved that it occurred without his consent. He subscribes to a philosophy called anti-natalism which argues that the misery we undergo outweighs the benefit of life. The conclusion is that humans should immediately stop procreating 鈥� 鈥楨xtinction, he argues, would end human suffering and benefit the planet and other species.

Whilst his assertions seem extreme, the detrimental impact of human aspirations on the Earth鈥檚 ecology is valid. Just this week a report highlighted the relentless extermination of the world鈥檚 insect population 鈥� thanks to urbanisation and overuse of pesticides. Centuries ago, the Hindu text, Shukraniti, warned us to get the balance right: 鈥渨hat is our gain in wealth and comfort,鈥� it says, 鈥渋f it comes at the expense of the land and its creatures?鈥�

Rafael Samuel makes a further claim against, not just his, but all parents: that we spawn children to fulfil our own selfish pleasure and interests 鈥� our children don鈥檛 get the choice about being forced into existence. Now Mr Samuel鈥檚 parents are both lawyers and have good-humouredly accepted their son鈥檚 challenge - should it ever get to court. They say that, if their son can come up with a rational explanation as to how they could have sought his consent to be born, they will accept fault.

Strange as it might seem, there is a process along these lines within the Hindu system of purificatory rites for different stages of life. One of these is the Garbhadhan ceremony to be performed prior to conception. The Hindu understanding is that the atma 鈥� or soul 鈥� being an eternal entity, exists prior to being embodied. And, the Garbhadhan ritual involves prospective parents inviting a willing soul to enter the mother鈥檚 womb at the time of fertilisation and thus become one of their family. Although not so regularly practiced these days, the ceremony aims to focus parents鈥� attention on the enormous responsibilities of bringing a child into this world. It acknowledged conception as a blessing; and an acceptance of the petition and contractual promises made by the parent.

These assurances, of course, include caring for the child and showering it with love. But, Hindu texts suggest that humans should go much further in what is pledged to any soul invited into this world. They encourage parents to inspire their child with such enlightenment and devotion to God, that, if that soul desires to transcend, this life could be its final incarnation. Or, at least that he or she won鈥檛 indict them for bringing it into existence.

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