SaṃsÄra
Samsara (Sanskrit, n, संसार, samsara; Pali: Samsara; literally " stable walking " ) is the name given to the never-ending cycle of existence, the cycle of growth and decay, or the cycle of rebirths in the Indian religions Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
This eternal cycle is seen in the Indian religions as painful (see dukkha / suffering ). The outbreak of this calamitous cycle happens in the way of letting go of all attachments, desires and desires, as well as knowledge. Is achieved the state of " Erlöstheit " ( and according to some variants of eternal bliss, see salvation ), the Hindus call Moksha and Buddhist Nirvana.
Very vividly Samsara is represented in so-called Wheel of Life, which is widely used in Tibetan Buddhism. Here, in the center, around the hub, so to speak, represented the driving forces of the wheel, the three poisons: greed, hatred and delusion, as a rooster, snake and pig. The rooster symbolizes the greed, the snake hatred and the pig ignorance. Subsequently, the result of actions is based on the black mind poisons as descending path, the path of overcoming these poisons is white as an ascending path. These paths lead to the next level in the six possible rebirth areas represented: White (top to bottom): the gods ( devas or suras ), Asuras, man. Black (from top to bottom): animals, hungry ghosts ( preta ), hell beings. The extent of suffering increases from the god realm down continuously, up to the extreme experiences of suffering and the various hell realms ( cold, hot, large dens ).
However, a human form of existence is best suited to achieve nirvana, as it excessively suffering that continues to suffer as a human being neither overly luck. In one form of existence as God, the happiness is so strong that you will see no reason to break out of existence in samsara. In one form of existence as an animal you do not have the necessary understanding to break out of samsara, and in one form of existence as a hungry ghost, or hell being you because of the vast suffering difficult that opportunity. Outside the twelve links of dependent arising are depicted, where ignorance (Sanskrit " avidya " Pali " avijja " ) at the beginning / end is the entire cycle.