Samsara

Samsara means "to flow together," to go or pass through states, to wander. One who is subject to Samsara is called a samsarin ([|http://www.thaiexotictreasures.com/samsara.html)]  DW: is the above accurate? Can a wiki-member (i.e. a 208 student) check this and alter if needed?
 * __Samsara__**

The concept of //Karma// is unified with rebirth; that the Self is immortal and is reborn repeatedly in many bodies, with accumulated karma being attached to the Self. In the Bhradaranyaka Upanisad, Yagnavalkya states: ‘As a leech, having reached the end of a blade of grass, takes hold of another blade and draws itself to it, so the Self, having left this body behind it unconscious, takes hold of another body and draws himself to it.’[1]

The Self then has lived many lives, and will live many more; it is on the continuously spinning cycle of birth, death and rebirth, //samsara//. Through each life, the Self accumulates more //Karma//, offloading and gaining both good and bad, with every action having an effect that must be accounted for in the present or future lives.[1]

This self-perpetuating endless cycle eventually comes to an end when //moksa// or liberation is reached: This eventual liberation is achieved through realisation of the Self with the Absolute, when freedom from suffering, //duhkha//, is achieved[1]. In Svetasvatara Upanisad, it is seen described for the first time thus: ‘This vast universe is a wheel. Upon it are all creatures that are subject to birth, death, and rebirth. Round and round it turns, and never stops. It is the wheel of Brahman. As long as the individual self thinks it is separate from Brahman, it revolves upon the wheel in bondage to the laws of birth, death, and rebirth. But when through the grace of Brahman it realizes its identity with him, it revolves upon the wheel no longer. It achieves immortality.’[2]

[1]Flood, Gavin, //An Introduction to Hinduism//, p 81 [2] //Svetasvatara Upanisad//, in “The Upanishads: Breath of the Eternal,” p 118

[1] Ibid. p 60

[1] Ibid. p 108

Samsara is the continuous cycle of rebirth and is recognised not only in Hinduism, but most Indian practises which includes Buddhism. 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].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]. (from Wikipedia)  **THANKS FOR THE ABOVE - but over time, you will need to edit what is put in - so look at your reading in the textbook and elsewhere and edit the wikipedia and other web-pasted versions of material on this site... (Dave)** 