Samsara Cycle

Page 1

Samsara Cycle

Hindus believe that there's an intimate connection between Brahman and Hindus - the atman

Hinduism teaches that the ultimate goal for all Hindus is to reach Moksha

Hindu's goal is to live a mic life in order to avoid rebirths so that individual soul merges with Supreme Soul

Upon release from cycles of time, the atman merges with the Supreme Soul and becomes unbounded, pure spirit

Bhagavad Gita teaches that "death is certain to the one that is born and birth is certain to the one who dies"

Upon death, atman needs a residence in another body being born in order to experience the results of karma from the previous body

Unless, that is, it's ready for the final step of being absorbed in the Supreme Soul

Transmigration - process of movement of atman from one body to another

The body that the soul inhabits next is determined by karma

"A man acts according to the desires to which he clings. After death, he goes to the next world bearing his mind the subtle impression of his deed and after reaping the harvest of those deeds, he returns again to the world of action" - The Upanishads

Highlights how every single action in a person's life will affect how they are reborn and how these actions can influence a person in their next reincarnation

"Just as in this body the embodied soul must pass through childhood, youth and age, so too, (at death) will he take another body up: In this the thoughtful man is not perplexed" - Bhagavad Gita

By imagining the soul be like the body, one is able to understand how the soul must grow with the individual and pass onto another body through samsara cycle to continue to live

Samsara Cycle - perpetual cycle of repeated birth and death

Soul is present in all species

Most Hindus consider Samsara cycle to be painful

A cycle of four recurring problems: birth, disease, old-age and death

Atman remains unchanged, continues after death

Carried within subtle (astral) body to its next destination

Precise nature of new body is determined by state of mind at death - specifically influenced by person's desires and karma

Page 2

Death

All rites of passage/spiritual practices are preparation for death

Death allows the atman to enter another body and move through the samsara cycle

One can become closer to achieving Moksha and therefore closer to Brahman

Traditions ensure peaceful passage of the atman

Aim to prevent atman being "held up" in his or her spiritual evolution, and particularly avoid possibility of remaining as a ghost

Reincarnation

Soul passes through a cycle of successive lives - The Samsara Cycle

Next incarnation is dependent on how previous lives were lived

Page 3

Implications

Ahimsa - must not harm anything

Everything has an atman therefore Hindus must treat everything equally and with care/love

Positive Implications

No discrimination

Belief in reincarnation

Empathy to others' struggles

Achieving good karma

Fulfilling dharma for your varna

Acknowledgement that permanent happiness is an illusion

Death is part of the cycle

Only achieving Moksha will give true happiness

Aren't ruled by material goods

Negative Implications

Suicide and euthanasia are unacceptable

You are harming the atman and therefore harming Brahman

May raise questions about identity

Restricted by belief in karma

Restrictions in your life

Limited personal freedoms

Abortion is unacceptable

Animal welfare/rights

Where should care be focused?

Are animals considered more important than humans?

Can be seen to go against the ideas of Sanatan Dharma because it can be seen to restrict Hindus in their lives