Samsara — Indian Philosophy

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What each school says

Advaita Vedanta

In Advaita philosophy, samsara, or the cycle of birth and death, is caused by various factors including kama, avidya, and maya (cite: edge_019654, edge_019652, edge_019887). The atman, or individual self, is also seen as a qualified aspect of samsara, meaning it is connected to this cycle (cite: edge_017810). Additionally, the jiva, or individual soul, is considered a qualified aspect of samsara, involving birth and death (cite: edge_019287). Maya is also considered a qualified aspect of samsara, representing an unreal state that depends on others (cite: edge_019888). [Note: this summary may contain an unverified citation.]

Dvaita Vedanta

In the school of Dvaita, samsara, or the cycle of birth and death, is caused by the atman, or individual self (cite: edge_007003). Samsara is distinct from moksha, or liberation, which it can ultimately lead to (cite: edge_008062, edge_007548). Samsara is also seen as an obstacle to achieving samana, or a state of equilibrium (cite: edge_007946). Additionally, parama, or the supreme reality, is considered the cause of samsara (cite: edge_007942). [Note: this summary may contain an unverified citation.]

Vishishtadvaita

In the school of Vishishtadvaita, samsara is distinct from brahman (cite: edge_000751) and moksha (cite: edge_005537). According to this school, karma is the cause of samsara (cite: edge_002203), and the atman is a qualified aspect of samsara (cite: edge_002199). This means that the atman is connected to the cycle of births and deaths that characterizes samsara (cite: edge_002199).

Achintya Bhedabheda

In the achintya_bhedabheda school of philosophy, the atman is considered the cause of samsara, as stated in the Bhagavad Gita, "cast by Me into the ocean of material existence" (cite: edge_004235). Additionally, Krsna is seen as a qualified aspect of samsara, with the Lord giving particular vision required (cite: edge_003831). The atman is also described as being cast into the cycle of birth and death, which is part of samsara (cite: edge_002200). Overall, the achintya_bhedabheda school views the atman as closely tied to the concept of samsara (cite: edge_004235).

Dvaitadvaita

According to the dvaitadvaita school of philosophy, the concept of samsara is related to the atman, with some sources suggesting that the atman is a qualified aspect of samsara (cite: edge_001263). Additionally, karma is seen as a cause of samsara (cite: edge_021268). The atman is also considered distinct from samsara in some contexts (cite: edge_010754). Furthermore, dharma is seen as a qualified aspect of samsara (cite: edge_026119).

Buddhism (Pali Canon)

In Buddhist philosophy, samsara is a concept that is distinct from the idea of atman, or self (cite: edge_008894). According to Buddhist teachings, karma is a cause of samsara, meaning that an individual's actions can lead to their continued existence in this cycle (cite: edge_010040). The concept of atman is often described as being neither still existing nor no longer existing after death, highlighting its distinction from samsara (cite: edge_008906). Additionally, the actions of beings can also contribute to samsara, with some beings going to a bad place as a result of their actions (cite: edge_010181).

Where schools disagree

atman ↔ samsara

Achintya Bhedabheda asserts IS_CAUSE_OF (edge_004235): "cast by Me into the ocean of material existence"

Advaita Vedanta asserts IS_CAUSE_OF (edge_019284): "involving birth and death"

Buddhism (Pali Canon) asserts IS_QUALIFIED_ASPECT_OF (edge_010335): "touched by worldly conditions"

Dvaita Vedanta asserts IS_CAUSE_OF (edge_007003): "the jaws of death (Samsara)"

Vishishtadvaita asserts IS_QUALIFIED_ASPECT_OF (edge_002199): "into the cycles of births and deaths"