Sleep is lovely, death is better still, not to have been born is of course the miracle. -Heinrich Heine (1797 –1856)
If we are view VHEMT as a part of Indian culture we must see mention of its ideology in the roots of major Indian religions. Buddhist and Hindu monks can be seen as precursors of Antinatalists.
Hinduism
In the Bhagvad Gita, the holiest of books for Hindus, Lord Krishna describes knowledge as “Indifference to the objects of sense, self effacement and the perception of the evil of birth, death, old age, sickness and pain” Hence being born is seen as cruel form of punishment. Hindu monks believe that nothing detracts the human soul more from the path of liberation than the birth of a child, a claim that makes sense in the light of genetic reincarnation.
Buddhism
The First of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism states "Life is Suffering." Suffering or Pain (Dukkha-dukkha) includes physical, emotional and mental pain. It is inevitable and never ending until one attains Moksha.
The Eleventh Link of the The Twelve-linked Chain deals with Birth (jati)
Birth, as one might expect, is shown as a mother in the process of childbirth, a painful business and a reminder of how dukkha cannot be avoided in any life. Whatever the future life is to be, if we are not able to bring the wheel to a stop in this life, certainly that future will arise conditioned by the kamma made in this life. But it is no use thinking that since there are going to be future births, one may as well put off Dhamma practice until then — for it is not sure what those future births will be like. And when they come around, they are just the present moment as well. So no use waiting! Venerable Nagarjuna shows that it is better to extricate oneself:
"Where birth takes place, quite naturally
are fear, old age and misery,
disease, desire and death,
are fear, old age and misery,
disease, desire and death,
As well a mass of other ills.
When birth's no longer brought about
All the links are ever stopped."
When birth's no longer brought about
All the links are ever stopped."
— L.K. 111
Naturally where there is Birth, is also Old-age and Death.