Difference between revisions of "Samsara" - New World Encyclopedia

Revision as of 17:51, 13 September 2006

Hi Darry. Please expand the article to above 1500 words and use the books that I gave you to ensure that the article is well-grounded and comprehensive. Try to discuss the historical origins of the concept and cite some verses found in primary sources where samsara is mentioned. Thanks.

In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and other related religions, samsara refers to reincarnation or rebirth in Indian philosophical traditions. Etymologically, Samsara is derived from the the Sanskrit and Pāli phrases "to flow together," "to go or pass through states", "continous movement", "continuous flowing" or "to wander". In most Indian philosophical traditions, including the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain systems, an ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is assumed to be a principle of nature. Each tradition differs, however, in the terminology with which they describe the process and in the metaphysics they use to interpret it. Most of these traditions, in their evolved forms, regard Samsāra negatively, as a fallen condition which is to be escaped. Some later adaptations of these traditions identify Samsāra as a mere metaphor.

Saṃsāra in Hinduism

In some types of Hinduism, Saṃsāra is seen as ignorance of the True Self, Brahman, and thus the soul is led to believe in the reality of the temporal, phenomenal world.

In Hinduism, it is avidya, or ignorance, of one's true self, that leads to ego-consciousness of the body and the phenomenal world. This grounds one in desire and the perpetual chain of karma and reincarnation. The state of illusion is known as Maya.

Hinduism had many terms for the state of liberation like moksha, mukti, nirvana, and mahasamadhi.

The Hindu Yoga traditions hold various beliefs. Moksha may be achieved by love of Ishwar/God (see bhakti movement), by psycho-physical meditation (Raja Yoga), by discrimination of what is real and unreal through intense contemplation (Jnana Yoga) and through Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action that subverts the ego and enforces understanding of the unity of all. Advaita Vedanta, which heavily influenced Hindu Yoga, believes that Brahman, the ultimate Truth-Consciousness-Bliss, is the infinite, impersonal reality (as contrasted to the Buddhist concept of shunyata) and that through realization of it, all temporal states like deities, the cosmos and samsara itself are revealed to be nothing but manifestations of Brahman.

Some, such as Advaita Vedanta regard the world and Saṃsāric participation in it as fundamentally illusory.

Saṃsāra in Jainism

In Jainism, karma, anuva (ego) and the veil of maya are central. Liberation from samsara is called moksha or mukti.

Saṃsāra in Buddhism

Saṃsāra, term for refers in Buddhism to the concept of a cycle of birth (jāti) and consequent decay and death (jarāmaraṇa), in which all beings in the universe participate and which can only be escaped through enlightenment. It is generally opposed to nirvāṇa or nibbāna.

Whereas in Hinduism some being (Atman], jīva, etc.) is regarded as being subject to Saṃsāra, Buddhism was founded on a rejection (anatta) of such metaphysical substances, and originally accounts for the process of rebirth/reincarnation by appeal to phenomenological or psychological constituents. Later schools of Buddhism such as the Pudgalavāda, however, re-introduce the concept of a "person" which transmigrates. The basic idea that there is a cycle of birth and rebirth is, however, not questioned in early Buddhism and its successors, and neither is, generally, the concept that saṃsāra is a negative condition to be abated through religious practice concluding in the achievement of final nirvāṇa.

According to several strands of the Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition, the division of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa is attacked using an argument that extends some of the basic premises of anātman and of Buddha's attack on orthodox accounts of existence. This is found poetically in the "Perfection of Wisdom" literature and more analytically in the philosophy of Nāgārjuna and later writers. It is not entirely clear which aspects of this theoretical move were developed first in the sutras and which in the philosophical tradition.

Saṃsāra is uncontrollably recurring rebirth, filled with suffering and problems (according to Kālacakra tantra as explained by Dr. A. Berzin). In this sense, Samsara may be translated "Wheel of Suffering."

External links

Samsara - tour of this universe and beyond

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 '''Hi Darry. Please expand the article to above 1500 words and use the books that I gave you to ensure that the article is well-grounded and comprehensive.  Try to discuss the historical origins of the concept and cite some verses found in primary sources where samsara is mentioned.  Thanks.'''
-In [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]] and other related religions, '''samsara''' refers to [[reincarnation]] or [[rebirth]] in [[Hindu philosophy|Indian philosophical]] traditions. Etymologically, Samsara is derived from "to flow together," to go or pass through states, to wander. Mostly a great revolving door between life and death and a new life reincarnated cycle of life.  Also known as a game in ancient India. In most Indian philosophical traditions, including the [[Hindu]], [[Buddhist]] and [[Jain]] systems, an ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is assumed as a fact of nature. These systems differ widely, however, in the terminology with which they describe the process and in the metaphysics they use in interpreting it. Most of these traditions, in their evolved forms, regard Saṃsāra negatively, as a fallen condition which is to be escaped. Some, such as [[Advaita Vedanta]] regard the world and Saṃsāric participation in it as fundamentally [[maya|illusory]].  Some later adaptations of these traditions identify Saṃsāra as a mere metaphor.
+In [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]] and other related religions, '''samsara''' refers to [[reincarnation]] or [[rebirth]] in [[Hindu philosophy|Indian philosophical]] traditions. Etymologically, Samsara is derived from the the [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pāli]] phrases "to flow together," "to go or pass through states", "continous movement", "continuous flowing" or "to wander".  In most Indian philosophical traditions, including the [[Hindu]], [[Buddhist]] and [[Jain]] systems, an ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is assumed to be a principle of nature. Each tradition differs, however, in the terminology with which they describe the process and in the metaphysics they use to interpret it. Most of these traditions, in their evolved forms, regard Samsāra negatively, as a fallen condition which is to be escaped. Some later adaptations of these traditions identify Samsāra as a mere metaphor.
-'''Saṃsāra''', the [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pāli]] term for "continous movement" or "continuous flowing" refers in [[Buddhism]] to the concept of a cycle of birth (jāti) and consequent decay and death (jarāmaraṇa), in which all beings in the universe participate and which can only be escaped through [[bodhi|enlightenment]]. It is generally opposed to [[nirvana|nirvāṇa]] or nibbāna.
 ==Saṃsāra in Hinduism==
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 The Hindu Yoga traditions hold various beliefs. Moksha may be achieved by love of [[Ishwar]]/God (see [[bhakti]] movement), by psycho-physical meditation ([[Raja Yoga]]), by discrimination of what is real and unreal through intense contemplation ([[Jnana Yoga]]) and through [[Karma Yoga]], the path of selfless action that subverts the ego and enforces understanding of the unity of all. [[Advaita]] Vedanta, which heavily influenced Hindu [[Yoga]], believes that [[Brahman]], the ultimate Truth-Consciousness-Bliss, is the infinite, impersonal reality (as contrasted to the Buddhist concept of [[shunyata]]) and that through realization of it, all temporal states like [[deity|deities]], the [[cosmos]] and samsara itself are revealed to be nothing but manifestations of Brahman.
+Some, such as [[Advaita Vedanta]] regard the world and Saṃsāric participation in it as fundamentally [[maya|illusory]].
 ==Saṃsāra in Jainism==
@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 ==Saṃsāra in Buddhism==
+'''Saṃsāra''',  term for  refers in [[Buddhism]] to the concept of a cycle of birth (jāti) and consequent decay and death (jarāmaraṇa), in which all beings in the universe participate and which can only be escaped through [[bodhi|enlightenment]]. It is generally opposed to [[nirvana|nirvāṇa]] or nibbāna.
 Whereas in [[Hinduism]] some being ([[Atman]]], [[jiva|jīva]], etc.) is regarded as being subject to Saṃsāra, Buddhism was founded on a rejection ([[anatta]]) of such metaphysical substances, and originally accounts for the process of rebirth/[[reincarnation]] by appeal to [[Dharma#Dharmas in Buddhist phenomenology|phenomenological]] or psychological constituents. Later schools of Buddhism such as the [[Pudgalavada|Pudgalavāda]], however, re-introduce the concept of a "person" which [[transmigrates]]. The basic idea that there is a cycle of birth and rebirth is, however, not questioned in early Buddhism and its successors, and neither is, generally, the concept that saṃsāra is a negative condition to be abated through religious practice concluding in the achievement of final [[nirvana|nirvāṇa]].