By Yadamini Gunawardena –

I recently read through a series of awe-inspiring works, beginning with the insightful analysis in ‘My View’ by Dr W. A. Wijewardena, which directed me toward empirical research of Tissa Jayawardena and late Prof Ian Stevenson. Their collective endeavors represent a profound attempt to bring rebirth closer to empirical comprehension, bridging metaphysical reality with parameters perceived through our primary senses. Their methodology rests upon rigorous logic and observable outcomes.

Classical Dhamma teachings consistently emphasize the extreme rarity of attaining a human existence. This truth is famously illustrated in the Chiggala Sutta (where the Buddha compares human birth to a blind turtle surfacing once every century through a single wooden yoke floating atop a stormy ocean). The Buddha explained that within this microscopic window, escaping Samsara remains even more vital and extraordinarily difficult.

Having said that , for me still the most compelling unanswered dilema is ‘an observation hitherto uncalculated and unresearched in modern empirical studies’ lies in the unprecedented ‘Population Growth of the Human Species’ over the last three centuries.

Despite catastrophic wars, historical pandemics, and widespread upheavals claiming millions of lives, censuses confirm that human population has expanded exponentially, from under 1 billion in the 19th century to over 8 billion in 2026.

This demographic reality confirms that a vast number of consciousnesses are attaining human birth in this era, made possible primarily through one pivotal factor: growing global awareness of the Dhamma, the timeless teachings of the Buddha.

It can be then argued that this expanding spiritual awareness is directly linked to the broad dissemination of the Noble Truth, driven by dedicated practitioners and wisdom seekers across continents. Especially, during the 19th to 20th centuries, this sacred trust has been carried forward with steadfast devotion pioneered by the Maha Sangha.

As the Dhamma spreads, wisdom compounds and it cultivates widespread mental states (Kusala Chitta) and ethical awareness on a planetary scale, creating Kusala Karma (Karmic Conditions) for a greater volume of beings to secure human rebirth. Consequently, our world has transformed into an ever-more fertile sanctuary to practice the Noble Eightfold Path and strive for liberation from Samsara.

This vast, accessible landscape of spiritual opportunity is the greatest wealth ‘Generation Alpha’ and ‘Generation Beta’ will ever possess,

Footnotes;

(1) Chiggala (Ciggala) Sutta , found in the Pali Canon as SN 56.47 and SN 56.48 in the Samyutta Nikaya is a short discourse by the Buddha .

(2) Global Population Data , under 1 billion to 1.6 billion in the 19th century .

1.6 billion to 6.1 billion in the 20th century .

6.1 billion at dawn of the 21st century , to over 8 billion today in 2026 .

(3) ‘Generation Alpha’ includes people born from 2010 to 2024 , while ‘Generation Beta’ covers those born from 2025 to 2039 .

(4) Dr WA Wijewardena’s Article ” Tissa Jayawardena’s newest book on rebirth: Foundation for future research”

https://www.ft.lk/columns/Tissa-Jayawardena-s-newest-book-on-rebirth-Foundation-for-future-research/4-790221

*Yadamini Gunawardena : educated in computer science & business economics in the USA, formerly engineer, and Ex-MP in Sri Lanka, could be reached at Yadamini@yahoo.com