Question: Please answer the following questions of mine. a) It has been said that the soul neither takes birth, nor does it die. It means number of souls in this universe is constant. Also, every human being has a soul. Now, population of the world is rising. So, from where these extra souls are coming in ? b) From where does the soul comes in, when a birth takes palce, and where does it go when a death takes place ? Does it carry something with it ? c) How long does this continous chain of birth-death for a soul continue ? d) Is it possible for a soul to take birth again, when it has achieved “Mukti” ? e) How the form of body for a soul is decided viz. male, female, animals etc. ? f) Who is God and why is it so that He has all the controls of universe, not anybody else? Why did he create this universe and living beings ? What if nothing had been created ?

Answer: a. The plants, animals & all other living beings have souls. So, all these beings will be evolving as humans. Similarly, if the human beings are living like animals, they will be taking birth as animals etc. So, the no. of souls will not increase or decrease. b. According to the Vedanta, after the death, the soul takes a new birth, as per its Karma; good good, bad bad. c. By doing extreme good, all the bad samskaras are destroyed and man rises to the Godhood; and his life will come to an end. d. It is the body which takes birth. The soul is eternal; it has neither birth nor death. e. It is purely by the Karma one does. f. God is beyond all reasoning and limitations. So, you cannot put the question ‘Why’ to Him.