法苑珠林 69.10

69.10

Furthermore, the Ekottarika-āgama says: At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed the monks: 'There are three causes and conditions through which consciousness comes to take conception in the womb: First, the mother has desire, the father has desire, and the parents come together in one place; yet if the consciousness from without should not yet approach, conception does not take place. If the consciousness approaches, but the parents do not come together, conception likewise does not take place. Second, if the mother has no desire while the father's desire is intense, and the mother is not earnest, conception does not take place. Third, if the parents come together in one place, and the mother's desire is blazing while the father is not earnest, conception does not take place. Furthermore, there are three [other] types: First, if the parents come together in one place, but the father suffers from a wind disease and the mother from a cold disease, conception does not take place. Second, if the mother suffers from a wind disease and the father from a cold disease, conception does not take place. Third, if the father's body has an excess of water humours while the mother has no such ailment, conception does not take place. Furthermore, there are three types: First, if the parents come together in one place, but the father's bodily signs indicate offspring while the mother's bodily signs indicate no offspring, conception does not take place. Second, if the mother's bodily signs indicate offspring while the father's bodily signs indicate no offspring, conception does not take place. Third, if both parents' bodily signs indicate no offspring, conception does not take place. Furthermore, there are three types: First, if at times the conscious spirit approaches the womb, but the father is away on a journey and not present, conception does not take place. Second, if at times the parents ought to come together in one place, yet the mother is away on a distant journey and not present, conception does not take place. Third, if the parents both come together and do not travel, then conception takes place. Furthermore, there are three types: First, if at times the parents ought to come together in one place, but the father's body suffers from severe illness, then when the conscious spirit comes to approach, conception does not take place. Second, if the mother's body suffers from severe illness, conception does not take place. Third, if both parents' bodies fall ill, conception does not take place. If the parents have no ailments, the conscious spirit comes to approach, and both parents have bodily signs indicating offspring, then conception does take place.'