samsra

Samsra, also transliterated samsāra or simply samsara, is a term used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism to denote the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth through which sentient beings travel. The word derives from Sanskrit and is often understood as a flow or wandering, symbolizing the ongoing churn of existence.

In these traditions, samsra is the ordinary state of cyclic existence shaped by karma, the moral law of cause and effect. Actions in one life influence future existences, determining the conditions of rebirth and the experiences one encounters. The cycle is typically associated with impermanence, suffering, and ignorance, though some schools teach that ultimate freedom from samsra is possible.

Liberation from samsra is the central aim across these faiths, though the terminology and concepts differ. Hinduism speaks of moksha as liberation from the cycle and union with the divine or with an ultimate reality. Buddhism describes the ending of suffering and craving through enlightenment, culminating in nirvana. Jainism also seeks moksha, release from all karmic bonds, achieved through strict ethical conduct, ascetic practice, and knowledge. While the paths diverge—yoga and devotion in Hinduism, the Noble Eightfold Path in Buddhism, and disciplined ethics in Jainism—each tradition presents a framework for purifying karma and realizing liberation.

Cultural and philosophical discussions of samsra extend into meditation, ethics, cosmology, and contemporary spirituality. Related concepts include karma, dharma, moksha, and nirvana, which together describe the causes, conditions, and ultimate goals of existence within these traditions.