Samsara or Buddhist Philosophy of Birth and Death

Summary

Samsara, or the Buddhist philosophy of birth and death, centers on the cyclical process of existence characterized by constant flux, where birth and death perpetually follow each other. Buddhism rejects the term "metempsychosis" as misleading, emphasizing that there is no unchanging soul or self (atman) transmigrating. Instead, existence is a continuous flow of interdependent mind and matter (nama and rupa), constantly changing and never remaining the same for even two consecutive moments. The absolute origin of this cycle remains unknowable, as neither Indian philosophy (which posits a primal Paramatman or universal self) nor Christianity (which attributes existence to a divine creator) provides a satisfactory explanation. Buddhism avoids speculating on a beginning, describing Samsara as "without beginning and end," likening life to an eternal force like electricity or gravitation. It acknowledges suffering as inevitable, regardless of origins—whether through evolution, divine creation, or other theories. Buddhism identifies craving (tanha) as the driving force behind the cycle, tracing the causes of conditioned existence back to the present moment. It explains individual differences through the combination of sperm, ovum, and a third factor—linking consciousness (patisandhi-vififidna)—arising from past karma. This consciousness connects a new life to prior existence, perpetuating the cycle. The Buddha’s teachings focus on practical liberation from Samsara through the Dhamma, urging seekers to understand the nature of suffering and transcend it by extinguishing craving and realizing Nibbana (unconditioned state).