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Mandarin Chinese information.
Old Wade-Giles romanization used only in Taiwan.
Japanese information.
Buddhist definition. Note: May not apply to all sects.
 Definition may be different outside of Buddhism.

There are 41 total results for your samsara search.

Characters Pronunciation
Romanization
Simple Dictionary Definition

輪廻


轮廻

see styles
lún huí
    lun2 hui2
lun hui
 rinne
    りんね

More info & calligraphy:

Samsara / Endless Cycle of Rebirth
(1) {Buddh} samsara (cycle of death and rebirth); (n,vs,vi) (2) {Buddh} being reborn; reincarnation; (female given name) Rinne
輪轉 saṃsāra, the turning of the wheel, to revolve, i.e. transmigration in the six ways, the wheel of transmigration; the round of existence.

三乘

see styles
sān shèng
    san1 sheng4
san sheng
 minori
    みのり
(surname) Minori
Triyāna, the three vehicles, or conveyances which carry living beings across saṁsāra or mortality (births-and-deaths) to the shores of nirvāṇa. The three are styled 小,中, and 大. Sometimes the three vehicles are defined as 聲聞 Śrāvaka, that of the hearer or obedient disciple; 緣覺Pratyeka-buddha, that of the enlightened for self; these are described as 小乘 because the objective of both is personal salvation; the third is 菩薩Bodhisattva, or 大乘 Mahāyāna, because the objective is the salvation of all the living. The three are also depicted as 三車 three wains, drawn by a goat, a deer, an ox. The Lotus declares that the three are really the One Buddha-vehicle, which has been revealed in three expedient forms suited to his disciples' capacity, the Lotus Sūtra being the unifying, complete, and final exposition. The Three Vehicles are differently explained by different exponents, e.g. (1) Mahāyāna recognizes (a) Śrāvaka, called Hīnayāna, leading in longer or shorter periods to arhatship; (b) Pratyeka-buddha, called Madhyamayāna, leading after still longer or shorter periods to a Buddhahood ascetically attained and for self; (c) Bodhisattva, called Mahayana, leading after countless ages of self-sacrifce in saving others and progressive enlightenment to ultimate Buddhahood. (2) Hīnayāna is also described as possessing three vehicles 聲, 緣, 菩 or 小, 中, 大, the 小 and 中 conveying to personal salvation their devotees in ascetic dust and ashes and mental annihilation, the 大 leading to bodhi, or perfect enlightenment, and the Buddha's way. Further definitions of the Triyāna are: (3) True bodhisattva teaching for the 大; pratyeka-buddha without ignorant asceticism for the 中; and śrāvaka with ignorant asceticism for the 小. (4) (a) 一乘 The One-Vehicle which carries all to Buddhahood: of this the 華嚴 Hua-yen and 法華 Fa-hua are typical exponents; (b) 三乘法 the three-vehicle, containing practitioners of all three systems, as expounded in books of the 深密般若; (c) 小乘 the Hīnayāna pure and simple as seen in the 四阿合經 Four Āgamas. Śrāvakas are also described as hearers of the Four Truths and limited to that degree of development; they hear from the pratyeka-buddhas, who are enlightened in the Twelve Nidānas 因緣; the bodhisattvas make the 六度 or six forms of transmigration their field of sacrificial saving work, and of enlightenment. The Lotus Sūtra really treats the 三乘. Three Vehicles as 方便 or expedient ways, and offers a 佛乘 Buddha Vehicle as the inclusive and final vehicle.

三車


三车

see styles
sān chē
    san1 che1
san ch`e
    san che
 sansha
triyāna. 三乘 or 三乘法門 (1) The three vehicles across saṃsāra into nirvāṇa, i.e. the carts offered by the father in the Lotus Sutra to lure his children out of the burning house: (a) goat carts, representing śrāvakas; (b) deer carts, pratyekabuddhas; (c) bullock carts, bodhisattvas. (2) The three principal schools of Buddhism— Hīnayāna, Madhyamayāna, Mahāyāna.

六度

see styles
liù dù
    liu4 du4
liu tu
 rokudo
    ろくど
(surname) Rokudo
The six things that ferry one beyond the sea of mortality to nirvana, i. e. the six pāramitās 波羅蜜 (波羅蜜多): (1) 布施 dāna, charity, or giving, including the bestowing of the truth on others; (2) 持戒 śīla, keeping the command rents; (3) 忍辱 kṣānti, patience under insult; (4) 精進 vīrya, zeal and progress; (5) 闡定 dhyāna, meditation or contemplation; (6) 智慧 prajñā; wisdom, the power to discern reality or truth. It is the last that carries across the saṃsāra (sea of incarnate life) to the shores of nirvana. The opposites of these virtues are meanness, wickedness, anger, sloth, a distracted mind, and ignorance. The 唯識論 adds four other pāramitās: (7) 方便 upāya, the use of appropriate means; (8) 願 praṇidhāna, pious vows; (9) 力 bala, power of fulfillment; (10) 智 jñāna knowledge.

厭欣


厌欣

see styles
yàn xīn
    yan4 xin1
yen hsin
 engon
Disgusted with, or rejoicing in.

彼岸

see styles
bǐ àn
    bi3 an4
pi an
 higan
    ひがん
the other shore; (Buddhism) paramita
(1) equinoctial week (when Buddhist services are held); (2) (abbreviation) (See 彼岸会) Buddhist services during the equinoctial week; (3) {Buddh} (See 此岸) nirvana; (4) (form) opposite bank; opposite shore; shore on the other side
波羅 parā, yonder shore i. e. nirvāṇa. The saṃsāra life of reincarnation is 此岸 this shore; the stream of karma is 中流 the stream between the one shore and the other. Metaphor for an end to any affair. pāramitā (an incorrect etymology, no doubt old) is the way to reach the other shore.; The other shore; nirvāṇa.

流轉


流转

see styles
liú zhuǎn
    liu2 zhuan3
liu chuan
 ruten
to be on the move; to roam or wander; to circulate (of goods or capital)
saṃsāra, transmigration, flowing and returning, flowing back again.

生死

see styles
shēng sǐ
    sheng1 si3
sheng ssu
 seishi(p); shouji; shoushi / seshi(p); shoji; shoshi
    せいし(P); しょうじ; しょうし
life or death
(1) life and death; life or death; (2) (しょうじ, しょうし only) {Buddh} samsara (cycle of death and rebirth); (3) (しょうじ, しょうし only) death
saṃsāra: birth and death: rebirth and redeath; life and death; 生死, 死生; 生生死死 ever-recurring saṃsāra or transmigrations; the round of mortality. There are two, three, four, seven, and twelve kinds of 生死; the two are 分斷生死 the various karmaic transmigrations, and 不思義變易生死 (or simply 變易生死) the inconceivable transformation life in the Pure Land. Among the twelve are final separation from mortality of the arhat, with 無餘 no remains of it causing return; one final death and no rebirth of the anāgāmin; the seven advancing rebirths of the srota-āpanna; down to the births-cum-deaths of hungry ghosts.

破有

see styles
pò yǒu
    po4 you3
p`o yu
    po yu
 hau
To refute the belief in the reality of things; to break the power of transmigration as does the Buddha.

輪回


轮回

see styles
lún huí
    lun2 hui2
lun hui
 meguru
    めぐる
variant of 輪迴|轮回[lun2 hui2]
(irregular kanji usage) (noun/participle) (Buddhist term) samsara; endless cycle of death and rebirth; (female given name) Meguru

逆流

see styles
nì liú
    ni4 liu2
ni liu
 gyakuryuu / gyakuryu
    ぎゃくりゅう
against the stream; adverse current; a countercurrent; fig. reactionary tendency; to go against the trend
(n,vs,vi,adj-no) counter-current; adverse tide; regurgitation (of blood)
To go against the current, i.e. the stream of transmigration, and enter the path of Nirvana, also called 預流, the srota-āpanna, or śrāvaka first stage.

道俗

see styles
dào sú
    dao4 su2
tao su
 douzoku / dozoku
    どうぞく
monks and laity
Monks and laymen.

順流


顺流

see styles
shùn liú
    shun4 liu2
shun liu
Going with the stream, i.e. of transmigration, custom, etc.

僵娑洛

see styles
jiāng suō luò
    jiang1 suo1 luo4
chiang so lo
 sōsharaku
saṃsāra, course, transmigration, v. 散 and 生死.

反流位

see styles
fǎn liú wèi
    fan3 liu2 wei4
fan liu wei
 honru i
a position from which one is acting counter to the flow of saṃsāra

散拓羅

see styles
sàn tà luō
    san4 ta4 luo1
san t`a lo
    san ta lo
saṃsāra, course, passage, transmigration.

有漏道

see styles
yǒu lòu dào
    you3 lou4 dao4
yu lou tao
 uro dō
(or 有漏路) The way of mortal saṃsāra, in contrast with 無漏道 that of nirvāṇa.

逆流道

see styles
nì liú dào
    ni4 liu2 dao4
ni liu tao
 gyakuru dō
path of reversing the flow (of saṃsāra)

隨流事


随流事

see styles
suí liú shì
    sui2 liu2 shi4
sui liu shih
 zuiru ji
situations, events, etc., that go along with the flow of saṃsāra

隨流位


随流位

see styles
suí liú wèi
    sui2 liu2 wei4
sui liu wei
 zuiru i
from the perspective of going along with the flow of saṃsāra

順流舟

see styles
shùn liú zhōu
    shun4 liu2 zhou1
shun liu chou
(saṃsāra, like a) boat that flows with the current

九縛一脫


九缚一脱

see styles
jiǔ fú yī tuō
    jiu3 fu2 yi1 tuo1
chiu fu i t`o
    chiu fu i to
 ku baku ichi datsu
The nine states of bondage and the one state of liberation. The nine states are the hells of fire, of blood, of swords; asuras, men, devas, māras, nirgranthas, form and formless states; these are all saṃsāra states, i.e. of reincarnation. The one state of freedom, or for obtaining freedom, is nirvāṇa.

二種生死


二种生死

see styles
èr zhǒng shēng sǐ
    er4 zhong3 sheng1 si3
erh chung sheng ssu
 nishu shōji
two kinds of saṃsāra

內外塵沙


内外尘沙

see styles
nèi wài chén shā
    nei4 wai4 chen2 sha1
nei wai ch`en sha
    nei wai chen sha
 naige jinja
the innumerable details in and out of saṃsāra

分段生死

see styles
fēn duàn shēng sǐ
    fen1 duan4 sheng1 si3
fen tuan sheng ssu
 bundan shōji
分段死, 分段身, 分段三道 all refer to the mortal lot, or dispensation in regard to the various forms of reincarnation.

反出生死

see styles
fǎn chū shēng sǐ
    fan3 chu1 sheng1 si3
fan ch`u sheng ssu
    fan chu sheng ssu
 honshutsu shōji
One of the seven kinds of mortality, i. e. escape from it into nirvana.

反流歸源


反流归源

see styles
fǎn liú guī yuán
    fan3 liu2 gui1 yuan2
fan liu kuei yüan
 honru kigen
to go against the flow of saṃsāra and return to the original fount of nirvāṇa, or enlightenment

反流索源

see styles
fǎn liú suǒ yuán
    fan3 liu2 suo3 yuan2
fan liu so yüan
 honnu sakugen
to go against the flow of saṃsāra and return to the original fount of nirvāṇa, or enlightenment

反流達源


反流达源

see styles
fǎn liú dá yuán
    fan3 liu2 da2 yuan2
fan liu ta yüan
 honru datsugen
to go against the flow of saṃsāra and return to the original fount of nirvāṇa, or enlightenment

有爲生死


有为生死

see styles
yǒu wéi shēng sǐ
    you3 wei2 sheng1 si3
yu wei sheng ssu
 ui shōji
The mortal saṃsāra life of births and deaths, contrasted with 無爲生死 effortless mortality, e. g. transformation such as that of the Bodhisattva.

沈淪生死


沈沦生死

see styles
chén lún shēng sǐ
    chen2 lun2 sheng1 si3
ch`en lun sheng ssu
    chen lun sheng ssu
 jinrin shōji
to be submerged in saṃsāra

生死大海

see styles
shēng sǐ dà hǎi
    sheng1 si3 da4 hai3
sheng ssu ta hai
 shōshi daikai
The ocean of mortality, mortal life, 輪迴 saṃsāra, or transmigrations.

破有法王

see styles
pò yǒu fǎ wáng
    po4 you3 fa3 wang2
p`o yu fa wang
    po yu fa wang
 hau hōō
king of the dharma who destroys the bonds of existence in the three realms—saṃsāra.

生死卽涅槃

see styles
shēng sǐ jí niè pán
    sheng1 si3 ji2 nie4 pan2
sheng ssu chi nieh p`an
    sheng ssu chi nieh pan
 shōshi soku nehan
Mortality is nirvana, but there are varying definitions of 卽 q. v.

世間涅槃平等


世间涅槃平等

see styles
shì jiān niè pán píng děng
    shi4 jian1 nie4 pan2 ping2 deng3
shih chien nieh p`an p`ing teng
    shih chien nieh pan ping teng
 seken nehan byōdō
equality of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa

生死涅槃因果

see styles
shēng sǐ niè pán yīn guǒ
    sheng1 si3 nie4 pan2 yin1 guo3
sheng ssu nieh p`an yin kuo
    sheng ssu nieh pan yin kuo
 shōji nehan inka
causes and effects of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa

不思議變易生死


不思议变易生死

see styles
bù sī yì biàn yì shēng sǐ
    bu4 si1 yi4 bian4 yi4 sheng1 si3
pu ssu i pien i sheng ssu
 fushigi hennyaku shōji
saṃsāra of inconceivable transformation

生死涅槃一向背趣

see styles
shēng sǐ niè pán yī xiàng bèi qù
    sheng1 si3 nie4 pan2 yi1 xiang4 bei4 qu4
sheng ssu nieh p`an i hsiang pei ch`ü
    sheng ssu nieh pan i hsiang pei chü
 shōji nehan ikkō haishu
one-sided rejection of saṃsāra and pursuit of nirvāṇa

生死涅槃無二無別


生死涅槃无二无别

see styles
shēng sǐ niè pán wú èr wú bié
    sheng1 si3 nie4 pan2 wu2 er4 wu2 bie2
sheng ssu nieh p`an wu erh wu pieh
    sheng ssu nieh pan wu erh wu pieh
 shōji nehan muni mubetsu
saṃsāra and nirvāṇa are not two — they lack distinction

Variations:
輪廻
輪回(iK)

see styles
 rinne
    りんね
(1) {Buddh} samsara; cycle of death and rebirth; (noun/participle) (2) {Buddh} being reborn; reincarnation

Variations:
輪廻
輪回(sK)

see styles
 rinne
    りんね
(1) {Buddh} samsara (cycle of death and rebirth); (n,vs,vi) (2) {Buddh} being reborn; reincarnation

Entries with 2nd row of characters: The 2nd row is Simplified Chinese.

This page contains 41 results for "samsara" in Chinese and/or Japanese.



Information about this dictionary:

Apparently, we were the first ones who were crazy enough to think that western people might want a combined Chinese, Japanese, and Buddhist dictionary.

A lot of westerners can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese - and there is a reason for that. Chinese characters and even whole words were borrowed by Japan from the Chinese language in the 5th century. Much of the time, if a word or character is used in both languages, it will have the same or a similar meaning. However, this is not always true. Language evolves, and meanings independently change in each language.

Example: The Chinese character 湯 for soup (hot water) has come to mean bath (hot water) in Japanese. They have the same root meaning of "hot water", but a 湯屋 sign on a bathhouse in Japan would lead a Chinese person to think it was a "soup house" or a place to get a bowl of soup. See this: Japanese Bath House

This dictionary uses the EDICT and CC-CEDICT dictionary files.
EDICT data is the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group, and is used in conformance with the Group's license.

Chinese Buddhist terms come from Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms by William Edward Soothill and Lewis Hodous. This is commonly referred to as "Soothill's'". It was first published in 1937 (and is now off copyright so we can use it here). Some of these definitions may be misleading, incomplete, or dated, but 95% of it is good information. Every professor who teaches Buddhism or Eastern Religion has a copy of this on their bookshelf. We incorporated these 16,850 entries into our dictionary database ourselves (it was lot of work).



Combined, these cover 1,007,753 Japanese, Chinese, and Buddhist characters, words, idioms, names, placenames, and short phrases.

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