samsara

English

/sʌmˈsɑɹə/

noun
Definitions
  • (philosophy) In Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and some other eastern religions, the ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth endured by human beings and all other mortal beings, and from which release is obtained by achieving the highest enlightenment.

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit संसार (course, passing, undergoing transmigration, passing through a succession of states, passage, wandering, etc, going wandering through).

Origin

Sanskrit

संसार

Gloss

course, passing, undergoing transmigration, passing through a succession of states, passage, wandering, etc, going wandering through

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms