Expert: Laurie McLauglin - 7/19/2010

Question
If we're all reborn when we die, how does Buddhism explain the world's increasing population?


Thank you!

Answer
Hello Laura

Thank you for letting me answer your question.

It is a good one.  The answer is that there are many, many sentient beings. From what I understand so far in my studies,the Indian culture from which Buddhism was born believed that there were many, many world systems, not just the planet earth. And Buddhists believe that too.

So one may have been on a different planet and that planet, for example may have become uninhabitable so those sentient beings had the karma to be born as a human on this planet and here they are.  

Beside being many world systems, there are six realms in those world systems, the hell realm, the hungry ghost realm, the animal realm, the human realm, the demi god realm, and the god realm. So depending on karma each sentient being moves in and out of those realms so at any given time, there can be more or less of a population in any of those realms.

I do know that it is taught that only in the human realm can one attain enlightenment so it is interesting that the human population is growing bigger all the time.

I hope this begins to answer your question.  If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Namaste - Laurie