Samsara
/səmˈsɑːrə/noun
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and related traditions.
Did you know?In many Indian traditions, samsara is not viewed as a blessing but as a cycle of suffering from which spiritual liberation—moksha, nirvana, or kevala—is sought.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ser- / *sreu-
“To flow, move, or pass along; a reconstructed root associated with movement and flowing.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
saṃsṛ-
“To move or wander through; to pass from one state or existence to another.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
saṃsāra
“A wandering through successive existences; the cycle of worldly life.”
Early Buddhism
Pali
saṃsāra
“The continuing round of birth, death, and rebirth.”
19th Century
English
samsara
“A transliteration adopted into English from Sanskrit and Pali religious literature.”
Modern English
English
samsara
“The recurring cycle of existence, especially in South Asian religious and philosophical contexts.”