Lecture notes
Notes on Samsara in Buddhism
Information on Samsara, The Wheel of Life, Rebirth, Kamma, and Nibbana .
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SamsaraSamsara means wandering on. It represents the idea of wandering from one life to the
next. It refers to the constant cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth that all beings are
trapped within – it can be described as ‘eternal wandering.’ It is the process or situation we
find ourselves in.
“It is said that we have innumerable lives. It is the Buddhist view
that there is not discerned of beings who, obstructed by spiritual
ignorance and fettered by craving, run and wander on.” 1
Erricker claims that as Samsara is just one life sentence after another, it does not matter
whether the prison cell is nice or not, for it will soon be replaced by another.
Hindu and Buddhists ideas of Samsara
Within Hinduism we use the concept reincarnation. This is because they believe in an
immortal soul or Atman that is reborn. Contrasted with Buddhism, we use rebirth. This is
because The Buddhist concept of Anicca means that there is no permanent self that moves
on from life to life, and so it is better to speck of rebirth. In Hinduism too, gods are immortal
and live outside the cycle of Samsara. However, in Buddhism, all gods, deities, and Devas
are mortal, so they too exist in the cycle of Samsara.
Tibetan Wheel of Life (Bhavacakra)
The wheel of life is the idea of Samsara in action. In it we see that Yama, the god of
impermanence, holds up the wheel as a mirror to all people, so they can see themselves
and their future. It is a spiritual map in a way.
Creatures in the Inner Hub?
- Cockerel – Greed.
- Snake – Hatred
- Pig – Ignorance
The Ring divided in two?
It is Bardo (Tibetan Buddhists) – the gap between one life and the next – Karma (good and
bad).
1
Harvey, P. 32
, The six segments?
Something to note – In the Theravadin understanding of The Tibetan Wheel of Life, it holds
5 realms, not 6, like Mahayana. The Gods are conjoined, whereas in Mahayana they are
split (Jealous and Heavenly).
1. The Hell Realm – 16 hells in Buddhism (8 cold and 8 hot). Those who are dominated
by Greed, Ignorance and Fear revolve in this realm. There are tormented and filled
with pain.
2. The Realm of The Hungry Ghosts – These ghosts are traditionally portrayed with
knives sticking out of their stomachs. They are eternally dissatisfied and carry on with
their Greed till the end. Whatever the ghosts touch turns to fire.
3. The Animal Realm – Those who are content with their lives – controlled by their
animalistic desires. The Buddha is seen to offer a book (Dharma). The animal is
something to be pitied (consciousness is lowered).
4. The Realm of The Jealous Gods – Asuras are semi divine beings who are in a constant
state of Envy, and they declare war of the gods, they are driven by Jealously. The
Buddha is seen to be holding a sword in this realm.
5. The Realm of The Gods – Realm of ease and aesthetic pleasures, The Buddha plays
the melody of Impermanence. Contains divine beings, very long life, nothing goes
long life. Pride is their downfall.
6. Realm of The Humans – Creativity. It is the main path in which you can follow The
Buddhist path. You can only find Awakenment. The Buddha depicted meditating,
shows the possibility of a human escaping Samsara – on the Spiritual Map there is a
path out to achieve Nirvana.
Humans can escape as they are aware of their phenomena and how they affect us. Each
realm is controlled by a creature or aspect (except Humans).
Gods – Pride Hell – Fear Ghosts - Hunger
Asuras – Jealously Animals – Instinctive.
The outer wheel:
Consists of the Twelve Nidanas – Paticcasamuppada: they show how beings move from
one realm to the other (Dependent Origination – Causality).
1. a blind man with a stick – Because of Ignorance, we suffer.
2. a potter with a wheel and pots – Ignorance causes actions to occur.
3. a monkey climbing a flowering tree – Because of will to action we become aware of
our consciousness.
4. a boat with four passages, with one steering – Because of consciousness we have
psychophysical existence.
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