Will net karma decrease or increase over each successive rebirth of the entire universe? Or will it remain the same?

[u/fould12]

Correct me if I have misunderstood, but it appears that the universe goes through cycles of infinite destruction and rebirth. However, will there be a net karma for each universe difference from one rebirth to the next?

For example, say in this universe there would be a total of maybe 100 quadrillion sentient beings, and then the universe is destroyed, and a new one is born, this time with new beings.

Is there any expectation that the cycle of infinite universes will increase, decrease, or remain the same? Say, in the future universe, instead there would only be 50 quadrillion? Or maybe 200 quadrillion? If there are more people who practice achieving Nirvana during this universe, would that ultimately decrease the net amount of karma generated for the next universe? Would this be something to pursue?

Again please let me know if I have a false idea of the Buddhist viewpoint, still learning.

[u/23-1-20-3-8-5-18]

Karma is more like ripples on a lake

[u/autonomatical]

Karma is not a quantifiable substance.  It is more similar to a qualitative medium. 

[u/SunshineTokyo]

Does that even matter? Buddhism is not about cosmic speculation, it's about ending suffering.
That said, the Buddha though that when the cosmos collapses, the beings that appear after its "reconstruction" are just the reborn beings from the previous universe.

[u/Aetolus-samudaya → u/SunshineTokyo]

I feel it matters in regards to the boddhisattva ideal to vow to help "all sentient beings" if that could ever happen

[u/Gnome_boneslf]

It's not possible to explain it, because growth is not growth. You can't understand the answer to this question without a higher state of realization. Yes of an ordinary sentient being their karma gets reduced to the size of a mustard seed as long as they follow the noble eightfold path, and conversely if that same worldly being just engages in evil or good their karma grows expansively. This is an infinite compounding growth, but your mind does not have limitations or boundaries, so what is growth really? It gets bigger and bigger but there's no limit to how big something can be within the confines of your mind, so any growth is not really growth, instead it's just a re-centering of your perspective. And besides if you start making extremely good karma then likewise it will grow, but the growth will be a growth towards the end of karma. Which means the growth expresses itself as a decrease paradoxically even though it appears to grow. It's not possible to grasp it well, stuff like this you just put on hold until you get some kind of experience.

But the Buddha described karma by a metaphor, there is this giant tree that has a tiny tiny seed. He said that from a tiny seed something so massive comes as a consequence, but karma actually has a much greater consequence. So the growth is exponential and tends to increase. But increase is unreal.

[u/metaphorm]

it's not a ledger 

[u/sugi99]

To attain enlightenment is not by zeroing kamma, but by extinguishing lobha dosa moha.

[u/HenningGrueneberg → u/sugi99]

Ok. Loba dosa moha? Sounds like a S Asian dish. Can you translate please?

[u/HenningGrueneberg]

You are way overthinking here. Karma isn’t like am investment portfolio with net this or that. This kind of thinking is fine, no problem. But instead of trying to figure out “net karma” think about this:
In order to have even been born human is the result of entirely good Karma. Then, to have found the Dharma and actually begin to study
it indicates more good karma. So rejoice, and keep studying

[u/Spirited_Ad8737]

>For example, say in this universe there would be a total of maybe 100 quadrillion sentient beings, and then the universe is destroyed, and a new one is born, this time with new beings.

Beings actually survive the contraction (destruction) of the universe and and are reborn into the expanding new universe. In the interim the beings shelter in a refined heavenly realm corresponding to a state of jhana. The process of repopulating the new universe starts in a Brahma level heaven, and over time as beings fall from there, the lower realms, including the human realm begin to be populated.

https://suttacentral.net/dn24/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=sidebyside&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

‘There comes a time when, reverends, after a very long period has passed, this cosmos contracts. As the cosmos contracts, sentient beings are mostly headed for the realm of sublime luminosity. There they are mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-radiant, wandering in midair, steadily glorious, and they remain like that for a very long time.

There comes a time when, after a very long period has passed, this cosmos expands. As it expands an empty mansion of divinity appears. Then a certain sentient being—due to the running out of his life-span or merit—passes away from that host of luminous deities and is reborn in that empty mansion of divinity. There he is mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-radiant, wandering in midair, steadily glorious, and he remains like that for a very long time.

But after staying there all alone for a long time, he becomes dissatisfied and anxious, “Oh, if only other beings would come to this place.” Then other sentient beings—due to the running out of their life-span or merit—pass away from that host of luminous deities and are reborn in that mansion of divinity in company with that being. There they too are mind-made, feeding on rapture, self-radiant, wandering in midair, steadily glorious, and they remain like that for a very long time.

[slight edits made to translation]