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Saṃsāra
Saṃsāra (Skt., Pāli, Prkt., ‘wandering’). Transmigration or rebirth; in Asian religions, the cycle of birth and death as a consequence of action (karma). Liberation (mokṣa, nirvāna, kaivalya) is release from samsāra, conceived as either going beyond samsāra or realizing it to be an illusion (māyā). The idea of samsāra, like karma, is possibly of non-Vedic or heterodox origin, though the matter is contentious.
The word samsāra does not appear in the Vedas, but the idea of redeath (punarmṛtyu) does, and the śrāddha and sapindakarana rites may have been to prevent the dissolution of the deceased in the next world, which is contrary to later Hindu views of the need to prevent rebirth. The basic pattern of release or continued transmigration is found in later Hinduism, transmigration being regarded as undesirable. Indian theism such as Śaiva Siddhānta, regards samsāra as a means for the dispensation of grace (anugraha), the ultimate reason for samsāra being the liberation of souls: thus Śiva both conceals himself (tirobhāva) and reveals himself (anugraha). In Buddhism, samsāra is the cycle of continuing appearances through the domains of existence (gati), but with no Self (anātman) being reborn: there is only the continuity of consequence, governed by karma. Among Jains, the whole universe depends on the conscious and unconscious (jīva, ajīva) elements. Saṃsāra is the process through which souls are able to be disentangled from the material. |
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JOHN BOWKER. "Saṃsāra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Saṃsāra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Sasra.html JOHN BOWKER. "Saṃsāra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Sasra.html |
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saṃsāra
saṃsāra (Skt.; Pāli, flowing on). The cycle of repeated birth and death that individuals undergo until they attain nirvāṇa. The cycle, like the universe, is believed to have no beginning or end and individuals transmigrate from one existence to the next in accordance with their karma or moral conduct. Blinded by the three roots of evil (akuśala-mūla), namely greed, hatred, and delusion, beings are said to wander in saṃsāra until such time as they are fortunate enough to hear the Dharma and put it into practice. The way this process of continuous rebirth occurs is explained step by step in the doctrine of Dependent Origination (pratītya-samutpāda). Although not mentioned by name, saṃsāra is the situation that is characterized as suffering (duḥkha) in the first of the Four Noble Truths (āryasatya). The word saṃsāra does not appear in the vedas, but the notion of cyclic birth and death is an ancient one and dates to around 800 bce. It is common to all mainstream Indian religions.
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DAMIEN KEOWN. "saṃsāra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "saṃsāra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-sasra.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "saṃsāra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-sasra.html |
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Samsara
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Samsara." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Samsara." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Samsara.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Samsara." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Samsara.html |
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samsara
sam·sa·ra / səmˈsärə/ • n. Hinduism & Buddhism the cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound. DERIVATIVES: sam·sa·ric / -ˈsärik/ adj. |
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"samsara." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "samsara." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-samsara.html "samsara." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-samsara.html |
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samsara
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"samsara." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "samsara." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-samsara.html "samsara." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-samsara.html |
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Samsara
SamsaraSee Transmigration; Liberation |
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"Samsara." Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Samsara." Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404200439.html "Samsara." Encyclopedia of Science and Religion. 2003. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404200439.html |
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samsara
samsara
•jarrah, para, Tara
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•candelabra, macabre, sabra
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•zebra • ephedra • Porto Alegre
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•Electra, plectra, spectra
•Clytemnestra • extra
•chèvre, Sèvres
•Ezra
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"samsara." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "samsara." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-samsara.html "samsara." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-samsara.html |
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