<p>Sex outside marriage without the intention of becoming married may be against the third of <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/pancasila.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the five precepts</a>.</p>
<p>However, there is nothing wrong about the illegitimate child himself (or herself).</p>
<p>From the <a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn7.9/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sundarika Sutta (SN 7.9)</a> (below), birth (i.e social class or social status) is unimportant. Conduct is important.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Then Sundarika the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and said to him:
“Sir, in what caste were you born?”</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Don’t ask about birth, ask about conduct.<br />
For any wood can surely generate fire.<br />
A steadfast sage, even though from a low class family,<br />
is a thoroughbred checked by conscience.</p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p>Also please see <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/toh.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Legends of Somdet Toh</a>, by Ven. Thanissaro. It chronicles tales from the life of a famous and well-loved monk who lived in Thailand in the 19th century. He is the illegitimate child of a noble man who later became King Rama II. His status as an illegitimate child was apparently known to the monks who ordained him.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T12:54:55.340Z
so the child should be welcomed between the marriage?
Solstice 
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T13:10:23.980Z
@Solstice There is no reason why the illegitimate child should not be welcomed.
ruben2020
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T09:21:44.310Z
2020-10-30T09:21:44.310Z
ruben2020
<p>Buddhism concerns itself with the behaviour of people rather than birth status. Refer to <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn98/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 98</a>.</p>
<p>In other words, an ethical person who was an illegitimate child is regarded to be superior or happier than an unethical person who was a legitimate child.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T04:06:54.397Z
2020-10-30T04:12:16.137Z
2020-10-30T04:12:16.137Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>this is the situation:<br />
a children is born from fornication years ago when the couple were young, years passed the guy married. the women gave the child for adoption. Now the women brings up the child (<em>who is an adult now</em>) to the guy who is happily married. What does the Buddhist texts or teachings say about the illegitimate children born from fornication?,
Is there anything  that mentions this?</p>

<marriage><children>
Illegitimate children
# Illegitimate children

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-29)

this is the situation:  
a children is born from fornication years ago when the couple were young, years passed the guy married. the women gave the child for adoption. Now the women brings up the child (*who is an adult now*) to the guy who is happily married. What does the Buddhist texts or teachings say about the illegitimate children born from fornication?,
Is there anything that mentions this?

**Tags:** marriage, children


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-10-30. Score: 2

Sex outside marriage without the intention of becoming married may be against the third of [the five precepts](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/pancasila.html).

However, there is nothing wrong about the illegitimate child himself (or herself).

From the [Sundarika Sutta (SN 7.9)](https://suttacentral.net/sn7.9/en/sujato) (below), birth (i.e social class or social status) is unimportant. Conduct is important.

> Then Sundarika the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and said to him:
> “Sir, in what caste were you born?”
>
> > “Don’t ask about birth, ask about conduct.  
> > For any wood can surely generate fire.  
> > A steadfast sage, even though from a low class family,  
> > is a thoroughbred checked by conscience.

Also please see [Legends of Somdet Toh](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/toh.html), by Ven. Thanissaro. It chronicles tales from the life of a famous and well-loved monk who lived in Thailand in the 19th century. He is the illegitimate child of a noble man who later became King Rama II. His status as an illegitimate child was apparently known to the monks who ordained him.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: so the child should be welcomed between the marriage?  
> **username_1**: @username_0There is no reason why the illegitimate child should not be welcomed.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-10-30. Score: 2

Buddhism concerns itself with the behaviour of people rather than birth status. Refer to [MN 98](https://suttacentral.net/mn98/en/sujato).

In other words, an ethical person who was an illegitimate child is regarded to be superior or happier than an unethical person who was a legitimate child.


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