In Buddhism there exists a common belief that bad karma causes pain, discomfort, agony, sorrow and bad luck. There is a sort of condescending attitude toward the disabled. It is a common belief that they are the bearers of bad luck. Often, children are abandoned as their parents are ashamed of their disability. 

Just as Hindus, Buddhists believe that showing kindness, helping the disabled can improve one's own karma. While kindness ensures bridging the gap between the abled and the disabled, it doesn't promote equality. 

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The impact of religious belief and culture on the acceptance of disability within and outside of religious circles. 

Religious Attitudes Toward Disability

The actions you partake in as well as emotions that have been invested, imprints itself upon one's Aham (concept of self). That is the basis of all suffering. When one stops feeding Aham, there is nothing tethering that person to this materialistic word. 


Karma in Buddhism

Naemiratch, Bhensri; Manderson, Lenore (20 May 2009). "Pity and pragmatism: understandings of disability in northeast Thailand". Disability & Society. 24 (4): 475–488. doi:10.1080/09687590902879106. S2CID 145215071.

Pity and pragmatism: understandings of disability in northeast Thailand

Burley, Mikel (11 October 2012). "Retributive karma and the problem of blaming the victim". International Journal for Philosophy of Religion. 74 (2): 149–165. doi:10.1007/s11153-012-9376-z. S2CID 170850794. Retrieved 5 January 2019.

Retributive karma and the problem of blaming the victim

An ancient Hindu text, the Manusmriti states that people with disability are suffering punishment for the crimes they allegedly committed in their previous lives. It also goes on to point out that these said individuals are to be excluded from religious activities as they can contaminate them by their presence. Furthermore, it advised the other participants to avoid contact with the disabled in order to maintain their own purity. 


Although written in the 2nd century BCE, many emerging from the rural establishments of Indian subcontinent, extend their beliefs to include the negative karma of the parents of the disabled as a contributing factor. As a result of this association, the disabled are often locked indoors as their presence affects the family's societal position.


The charitable model of disability is popular amongst the educated class. Although still bearing a belief in Karma, they have now begun to accumulate positive actions such as charity toward the disabled, in order to improve their own pre-existing karma. It is considered, in this class, a dharmic duty for all able-bodied people to care for the disabled. 


Unfortunately, some people still believe in the guidelines offered by Manusmriti which reference a form of Karma called Runanabandha, which is transported from one individual to another by contact. Hence, to avoid a disabled's karma from being imprinted upon a person, charity is often provided indirectly or for a short periods of time in order to prevent any transference.

Hinduism and attitudes towards the disability

Buddhism and attitudes towards disability

In Islam, neither the disabled nor their parents are at fault for the resultant condition. It is a challenge set by Allah that the person must overcome. However, disobeying the prophet is also believed to be a cause for disability. 

Although, the Qur'an urges believers to treat the disabled with kindness, as Allah watches over all their actions, within the contemporary Islam, there exists a feeling of shame amongst family members of the disabled. Hence, the disabled are often kept indoors, prevented from attending the mosque and other gatherings. 

Islam and attitudes towards disability

Linked child nodes contain Christian Doctrine and its effects on disability acceptance within and outside of Christian populations.

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