Does every living thing have a soul?
The essence of the soul is knowledge and its purpose is growth. In order to grow, it requires mind energy, which must be furnished by a living being. Only those beings who are capable of learning can produce mind. Therefore, while all living things have a drive to grow, not all have - or, more precisely, not all are driven by - souls.
Trees have a drive to grow. While the tree itself does not have a soul, its purpose is to support the growth of soul in other living beings. It does this by providing oxygen to our bodies, thus ensuring our survival. Unlike the soul which contains knowledge from all its previous incarnations, the energy that drives the tree is simply a universal fuel, the 'soul of the earth,' giving life to all vegetation and simple life forms. Regardless of whether or not they have a soul, however, all living things on the earth contribute to the existence of the universe.
