Why does world population grow when there is reincarnation?

[Marble]

One can reincarnate into one life at the time only, so when world population grows - where do all that new souls come from?

 

[Atman]

I would say that God perhaps creates some, but traditional Dharmic religions regard the soul as eternal. The explanation often used is that there are other worldly universes, as well heavenly worlds (swarga-loka), and hellish-worlds (naraka), in which souls can variously be born in. Thus, if population increase appears to be taking place it means souls from other universes, or worlds are being born into our own universe at a fairly rapid rate.

 

[Marble]

Is there also a theory that animals and plants have souls?
Humans kill great numbers of animals and plants nowadays, perhaps those have to reincarnate and come as humans as there is no other choice?

 

[Atman]

Also possible. I'm not too certian about plants, but all Dharmic religions recognize that animals have souls. Really, there are actually quiet a few plausible reasons for population increase, without denying the eternal nature of souls.

 

[Atman]

I should note also, that in Buddhism, there is no eternal soul, or self, just one stream of consciousness that arises from a previously existing one. So maybe Buddhism would recognize the possibility of more than one stream of consciousness arising from an old one? I do not know if this applies for ordinary beings, but in Vajrayana Buddhism, there is a lineage of Dalai Lamas, and a lineage of Karmapas both of whom are said to be emenations of the Bodhisatva Avalokiteshvara (who himself also still exists in a higher realm to aid Dharma practitioners in the physical universe) . So I think at least in the case of enlightened beings, more than one stream of consciousness my arise from their own (though I might be misunderstanding what the Buddhist understanding of a Tulku lineages is).

 

[Twilight Hue]

One can reincarnate into one life at the time only, so when world population grows - where do all that new souls come from?

Although I don't personally acknowledge a soul by my view, I would like to mention that the universe is a biggg humongous place of which "we" intrinsically are the universe by way of composition. Spanning micro and macro however far it takes........of which that composition arises again in countless forms. Life always falling, life always rising.

 

[Breathe]

One can reincarnate into one life at the time only, so when world population grows - where do all that new souls come from?

IMO, from other beings. The universe, and the world, is a pretty big place. Could be from animals, even plants - who knows? Perhaps even narakaloka or svargaloka, should such places exist?

I should note also, that in Buddhism, there is no eternal soul, or self, just one stream of consciousness that arises from a previously existing one.

Most forms, yeah - depending on what considers "soul" to entail, I guess. Then again, I draw inspiration from Dolpopa, Taranatha, Jonang, Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, and other Tathagathagarbha sutras, whereas many others don't.

 

[LuisDantas]

IMO souls are such an artificial, arbitrary construct that it doesn't really make sense to number them. Their very existence is questionable at best.

 

[dewanand]

namaste,

Interesting question. I have answers for you, and next week I will told you more. It is very logical to understand what is happening in the world of the atma and living bodies. You will hear more from me.

this is my first posting, so I must hold on.

dewanand

 

[indian_buddhist]

Also possible. I'm not too certian about plants, but all Dharmic religions recognize that animals have souls. Really, there are actually quiet a few plausible reasons for population increase, without denying the eternal nature of souls.

WRONG, Buddhism EXPLICITLY denies the existence of a permament entity whether Soul or any other thing.

 

[Atman]

Namaste Indian Buddhist

WRONG, Buddhism EXPLICITLY denies the existence of a permament entity whether Soul or any other thing.

Your very right here. I actually noted this myself just a few posts ago, quiet the blunder on my part to have made such contradictory statements so close together. Perhaps it would be better then to say that a continued stream of consciousness can transcend special barriers (ex: rabbit being "reborn" as a human).

 

[Onkara]

One can reincarnate into one life at the time only, so when world population grows - where do all that new souls come from?

There need not be a plurality of souls. There is one soul which, for the sake of language, inhabits a body-mind. It is the experience of being a body-mind, that gives the sensation that there is a plurality. We sense matter around us and attribute independent existence to it.

So all that is reincarnating is the subtle-body, i.e. mind, intellect etc. The soul is eternally free. When one recognises that one is that "soul" then one is jivamukta: liberated whilst living in a body.

A population increase is an increase in matter (body-mind) and does not affect the universal soul.

(I am cautious of the word "soul" as it is different depending on the theology.)

hari om

 

[Vinayaka]

One can reincarnate into one life at the time only, so when world population grows - where do all that new souls come from?

God is continually creating new ones.

 

[Tathagata]

One can reincarnate into one life at the time only, so when world population grows - where do all that new souls come from?

Where do all the souls come from?? Let's see, there's, billions of galaxies, trillions of stars, and trillions of planets in this universe, possibly an infinite number of universes, and you're puzzled as to where new souls come from?! You gotta be kidding me! Earth is not the only planet in existence.


.

 

[ninerbuff]

That's easy...........extinct species are the new humans.

 

[TenjikuZero]

I have to agree with Tathagatha here...according to current astrophysics..not only are there a possibility of trillions of planets like ours..but even infinite universes...thus if we look beyond a global centric world-view, we can explain away the apparent increase/decease of souls in this planet.

 

[Vinayaka]

I have to agree with Tathagatha here...according to current astrophysics..not only are there a possibility of trillions of planets like ours..but even infinite universes...thus if we look beyond a global centric world-view, we can explain away the apparent increase/decease of souls in this planet.

There are theories that we do migrate from planets to planets, you know. Seeking out suitable ones for life forms that we can inhabit to help us evolve. On the etheric level, it might be quite simple, really.

 

[earlwooters]

What is a soul?

 

[Onkara]

What is a soul?

Pure Consciousness. "God's Breath of life". A soul can not be observed with the senses as it is not dividable, you can not burn it, or cut it with a knife. It is eternal and changeless, beyond time and not limited to space.

 

[TenjikuZero]

Pure Consciousness. "God's Breath of life". A soul can not be observed with the senses as it is not dividable, you can not burn it, or cut it with a knife. It is eternal and changeless, beyond time and not limited to space.

Actually the soul is not created by god. both soul and god are eternal in mainstream Hinduism....but when one gets into the nondual schools of Hinduism (Advaita Vedanta) the explanation makes more sense. Because according to Advaitia "god" and "souls" are results of maya or ignorance. When one transcends god he/she realizes that everything is one.

Thus the terms "god" and "soul" only have meaning when we talk of things under the spell of maya, imho