Samsara
Samsara
Samsara (/səmˈsɑːrə/; Sanskrit: संसार, also spelled saṃsāra), is a term that originated in ancient India and is used in various Indian religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It refers to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth or reincarnation, a process that all living beings are believed to be a part of.
Etymology
The term Samsara is derived from the Sanskrit word samsṛ, which means "to flow together," "to pass through states," or "to wander." It is a compound of the prefix sam (together, union) and the root sṛ (to flow, run, move along).
Concept
In the context of Indian religions, Samsara is the repeating cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth. This cycle is considered to be dukkha, unsatisfactory and painful. The cycle stops only if liberation is achieved by insight and the extinguishing of desire. The concept of Samsara is closely associated with the beliefs of karma (action, cause and effect), moksha (liberation from the cycle), and nirvana (state of liberation).
Related Terms
- Karma: The law of cause and effect in which one's actions in this life will determine their fate in future lives.
- Moksha: The ultimate goal of human life according to Hindu philosophy, which is to attain liberation from the cycle of Samsara.
- Nirvana: In Buddhism, the ultimate state of enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of Samsara.
- Reincarnation: The philosophical or religious concept that an aspect of a living being starts a new life in a different physical body or form after each biological death.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Samsara
- Wikipedia's article - Samsara
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