世界上所有的婴儿不论生长在什么样的家庭，都是幸福的，因为他们有机会来到人间学习、历练。但同时也有许多胎儿因为种种的原因，被母亲放弃了，他们连呼吸一口自然空气的机会都没有，他们是已经成形的生命，却失去了生存的权利。

All babies in the world are fortunate, regardless of what kind of family they are born into. This is because they have an opportunity to be born as human beings in order to learn and gain experiences. However, due to various reasons, many unborn babies are aborted by their mothers. They don’t even have an opportunity to take a breath of fresh air; although their lives have taken form, they lost their rights to live.

当蚊子叮您的时候，您的第一个反应是什么？或许一如多数的世人，“啪”一巴掌打下去。蚊子只是饿了而叮我们一下，我们立起瞋心反击；那么，那些无辜被流产或堕胎掉的胎儿，所失去的是生命的权利，他们所起的瞋心与报复心恐怕是超乎我们的想像。

When a mosquito bites you, what is your first reaction? Many people slap the mosquito, in an attempt to kill it. A mosquito only bites us out of hunger, and we immediately react with anger and a wish to strike back. How about the innocent fetuses that are aborted? What they lost are their rights to live. Accordingly, their anger and vengeance surpass our imagination.

随着社会风气的开放与优生学的强调，堕胎问题日益严重。堕胎真的可以解决社会问题吗？堕胎真的可以让人类更优秀吗？唯有不逾矩，守礼法，明因果，才可以解决社会问题；人类的优秀与否，在于心灵纯朴，在于行为端正，而不在于种族也不在于健康。

Given the societal trend towards laxity and the emphasis on eugenics, the abortion issue is becoming graver day by day. Can abortion really solve social problems? Can abortion lead to improvements of the human species? Actually, only by not transgressing what is right, can social problems be solved. As for excellence of the human species, it depends on the state of our minds and our actions, and not on our race or physical condition.

以前，走上堕胎这条路必有不得已的苦衷──或许是生活不易，或许是未婚不敢生子。但现在社会风气败坏，连妇科医师都感叹，不少女孩子拿堕胎不当一回事，有人一年拿掉好几次孩子，实在令人担心。和过去不同的是，现在已经很少看到女孩子因堕胎而在诊所里哭得死去活来，而是一副不在乎的样子。普遍社会大众也视堕胎为平常事，见怪不怪。风气的演变，令人忧心，也令人伤心！ 

In the past, people chose abortion as a necessary last resort; maybe they couldn’t support another child financially, or they were afraid to have a child out of wedlock. However, now social customs have deteriorated to the point that even gynecologists are shaking their heads, because many young women think having an abortion is not a big deal. Some even have several abortions in a single year. This trend is really worrisome. Another difference between the past and the present attitude is that these days, there are fewer and fewer young women who would cry their hearts out in abortion clinics. Rather, they act as if they don’t even care. In addition, most people consider having an abortion as nothing unusual. Such changes in social norm are sad and heartbreaking!

旅美高僧──宣化上人在世时，已洞察世间堕胎果报之日益昌炽，悲愍世人不知因果而妄为，每每耳提面命，提醒大家堕胎的严重性，诸如：“各位想一想：那个小孩子还没生出，你就叫他（她）死，你说这个因果厉害不厉害？”、“……与其悔之于后，不如防之于前；在未婚前，不要吃避孕药，也不要发生男女的关系……”。

An eminent Chinese monk who moved to America, the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua had clearly seen how the negative retribution resulting from abortion is increasing in its intensity day by day. Out of pity for people who engage in untoward actions because they don’t understand the principle of cause and effect, he repeatedly instructed everyone with the upmost sincerity, and alerted us to the seriousness of abortion. For example, the Venerable Master said, “Everyone think about it, if you kill a child even before he or she has a chance to be born, would you say the retribution for such conduct is severe or not?” He further advised that, “It is better to prevent problems from happening, rather than feeling regret afterwards. Before you get married, don’t take birth control pills, and don’t engage in sexual intercourse....”

堕胎，不仅是一个生命的消失，对女方的身心也是个难以抚平的创伤；在男方来说，更是一份不可推卸的责任，一份终生的愧疚；乃至家庭也失去和乐。许多曾堕胎者，将此事放在心里，不敢说，不能说，也没人可说。为此，上人则指示说：“过而能改，善莫大焉。”“多做功德，多忏悔，多念佛。”亡羊补牢，为小生命做些事，也给自己一个新的人生。

An abortion not only extinguishes a life, it also harms the couple. This is because an abortion not only leaves scars on the woman’s body and mind, it also causes the man to share undeniable responsibility, which may result in a lifetime of shame and guilt. It can even cause disharmony in a family. Many who had an abortion hide this fact, not daring to talk about their experience, or having no one to talk to. To counter the feeling of shame or remorse, the Venerable Master instructed that, “No wholesome deed is greater than correcting one's own faults;” and “Do more virtuous and meritorious deeds, do more repentance and reform, and recite the Buddha's name more often.” In other words, it is never too late to make up for one’s mistakes, such as doing something wholesome on behalf of the life that was lost, and thereby giving oneself a new start in life.

今出版《无辜的小鬼》一书，希望大众正视堕胎这个问题，对此事有所反省与体悟，了解因缘果报，有个正确的观念。千万不要轻忽生命，要尊重灵性，也珍惜自己和那个未出世孩子的缘。更期待全世界都能导正此事，重视道德教育，引导下一代走入正途。父母更应该以身作则，不要只顾赚钱，而让电脑、电视陪着孩子长大；应该以教育子女，做为最要紧的一件事情。

By publishing the “Innocent Little Ghosts,” we hope everyone can view abortion with the proper perspective, reflect and understand the issues surrounding abortion, and truly comprehend the principle of cause and effect. We definitely should not treat others’ lives lightly. Rather, we should treasure life and cherish the affinity between the unborn child and us. We also hope that the entire world will address this issue properly and understand the importance of teaching children about ethics and morality, thereby guiding the next generation onto the correct path. Finally, parents should set good examples for their children by their own behavior. Don’t make earning money as the priority, and let computers and T.V.s be the children’s companions as they grow up. Rather, parents should treat educating their children as their most important responsibility.