Sansara
Encyclopedia
Definition of Sansara: (same meaning as Samsara) (Samn-sar-a) n. [Sanskrit, "the running around" or "continuous cycle"]
The rounds of birth and death and rebirth, reincarnation. Cyclic existence, the beginningless and endless wheel of rebirth.This deffinition is most commonly used to describe one's continuous flow of life. The world, the realm of desire.
Many Indian religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism believe in the concept of Sansara, or Samsara, which literally means “continuous flow”. Sansara refers to the constant continuity of the cycle of life, which includes the birth, life, the physiological death and the rebirth or reincarnation. There are other Indian religions that believe in Sansara, including but not limited to Jainism, Bon and Sikhism. The term Sansara can also be used in reference to a set of objects or possessions, or a specific geographic location. For this reason, it is important to listen to the context of the sentence when the word Sansara is used in order to clarify how the word is meant. Through its literal meaning, Sansara can be used to refer to a continuous stream of just about anything, including emotions, repetitive actions, personal desires and past life experiences.
http://www.sansara.com.au/
his religious belief is founded upon the concept that life does not end with the physiological death of the body. This is quite different from common beliefs about death in the Western World. The physiological death is believed to be merely a part of the life cycle, as opposed to the end of the cycle itself, followed by new life after death. There are also other considerations linked to the physiological death involving the timing of when the death occurs. For example, it is believed that the hearing and other senses may stop functioning at different times, further supporting the notion that there is no clear physiological end of life at any given point. It is a gradual process that appears to be ongoing. The methodology of Sansara indicates that there is no actual ending of a being’s existence, even after the physical death of the body; rather, life and rebirth is an ongoing process that continues to flow.
In some types of Hinduism
, Sansara 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. This can also be seen as a person becoming lost in the cycles of birth, death and rebirth.
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 rounds of birth and death and rebirth, reincarnation. Cyclic existence, the beginningless and endless wheel of rebirth.This deffinition is most commonly used to describe one's continuous flow of life. The world, the realm of desire.
Many Indian religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism believe in the concept of Sansara, or Samsara, which literally means “continuous flow”. Sansara refers to the constant continuity of the cycle of life, which includes the birth, life, the physiological death and the rebirth or reincarnation. There are other Indian religions that believe in Sansara, including but not limited to Jainism, Bon and Sikhism. The term Sansara can also be used in reference to a set of objects or possessions, or a specific geographic location. For this reason, it is important to listen to the context of the sentence when the word Sansara is used in order to clarify how the word is meant. Through its literal meaning, Sansara can be used to refer to a continuous stream of just about anything, including emotions, repetitive actions, personal desires and past life experiences.
http://www.sansara.com.au/
his religious belief is founded upon the concept that life does not end with the physiological death of the body. This is quite different from common beliefs about death in the Western World. The physiological death is believed to be merely a part of the life cycle, as opposed to the end of the cycle itself, followed by new life after death. There are also other considerations linked to the physiological death involving the timing of when the death occurs. For example, it is believed that the hearing and other senses may stop functioning at different times, further supporting the notion that there is no clear physiological end of life at any given point. It is a gradual process that appears to be ongoing. The methodology of Sansara indicates that there is no actual ending of a being’s existence, even after the physical death of the body; rather, life and rebirth is an ongoing process that continues to flow.
In some types of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Sansara 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. This can also be seen as a person becoming lost in the cycles of birth, death and rebirth.
In Hinduism, it is avidya
Avidya (Buddhism)
Avidyā or avijjā means "ignorance" or "delusion" and is the opposite of 'vidyā' and 'rig pa'...
, 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
Karma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
and reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
. The state of illusion is known as Maya
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
.
Hinduism had many terms for the state of liberation like moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
, mukti, nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
, and mahasamadhi
Mahasamadhi
Mahasamādhi is the act of consciously and intentionally leaving one's body at the time of enlightenment. A realized yogi or yogini who has attained the state of nirvikalpa samadhi , will, at an appropriate time, consciously exit from their body. This is known as mahasamadhi...
.