Philosophy

Diverse world religions have presented different views on variant facets of human life. In Buddhism and Hinduism, Samsara and Karma are two primary doctrines that present an understanding on the concept of dying, death, life on earth and life after death although there exists variation specific to each religion. In Buddhism, Samsara is also the concept of birth, rebirth and death in an endless cycle that does not end hence individuals are born after they die (Schmidt  Fieldhouse, 2007). There exist six realms, the one of which is that one is born determined by hisher former actions, Karma. The six realms are inclusive of the world of gods, world of half gods, world of hungry ghosts, world of humans, world of animals and the world of hell (Schmidt  Fieldhouse, 2007).

According to the Hindu religion, Samsara represents ignorance of an individuals true self with respect to the world hence heshe becomes continuously grounded in desire thereby living through a continuous chain of birth and rebirth. Perpetual desire causes ones future becoming, continuing through an endless chain until finally achieves sanctity and liberation (Schmidt  Fieldhouse, 2007). Based on the teachings of Hinduism, all human actions are Karma inclusive of the words, actions and even thoughts since basically Karma means act or deed (Schmidt  Fieldhouse, 2007). The ability to act is lost after death since humans lose Karma on dying but all actions have consequences with the conscious ones being more serious than those performed unconsciously. In Buddhism, Karma basically represents the assertion that good deeds lead to good results while bad deeds have bad consequences. The religion affirms that the results are not manifested instantly but may come in the next life hence Karma directly affects the world in which someone gets born into since this is determined by their actions in the past life (Schmidt  Fieldhouse, 2007). 

There exist a number of variations between the Buddhist conception of both Karma and Samsara. In Buddhism, the endless cycle ends with enlightenment attainable through meditation while in Hinduism good deeds lead to better status in the afterlife hence to Buddhists the cause and effect in Karma are eternally and constantly existing (Schmidt  Fieldhouse, 2007). Hinduists also believe in the ultimate truth-consciousness bliss which is manifested in the infinite impersonal reality while Buddhists have the concept of Shunyata in which the ultimate liberation is the attainment of final freedom that liberates humans from bondage. Karma asserts that there is the body material, the desire body, the astral body and the passions all of which account for evil since they always have conflicting interests (Schmidt  Fieldhouse, 2007).

    Samsara in Hindusim, although not conclusive, provides an effective foundation for personal and social ethics. Its assertion, that the true path to liberation is through a holy life or Brahmacary defined by self-purification via which all sins are released, advocates for morally desirable personal and social ethics. The principle also advocates for love, selflessness, humility and the unity of self all of which are primary to the development of good personal and social morals. Since Karma and Samsara are founded on human actions and advocate for correct leading that is a life leads correctly to better afterlife, they form an effective foundation for both personal and social ethics.