Samsara is a concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other Indian-origin religions that refers to the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It represents the ongoing process of living through various existences or lifetimes, bound by the law of karma. In this cycle, individuals are reborn based on their actions (karma) in previous lives.
The key ideas associated with samsara are:
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Rebirth: After death, an individual's soul or consciousness is believed to be reborn in a new body, which could be human, animal, or even divine, depending on one's karma.
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Suffering: Samsara is often seen as a cycle of suffering due to the impermanence of life and the attachment to desires. In Buddhism, breaking free from samsara through enlightenment (nirvana) is the ultimate goal.
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Karma: Actions in one's current and past lives influence the circumstances of future lives, perpetuating the cycle of samsara.
The ultimate spiritual aim in many of these traditions is to break free from the cycle of samsara and attain liberation (moksha or nirvana), which leads to a state of eternal peace or enlightenment.
Source: ChatGPT 4o
