The Cycle of Birth & Death (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062))
Revision Note
Written by: Glenn Millington
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
What is Samsara?
Samsara is the Cycle of Life within Hindu belief and can also be called the wheel of life
It refers to the cycle of life, death and rebirth
An atman can go into the body of any living thing, such as a plant, animal or human
Once a living being dies, its atman will be reborn or reincarnated into a different body depending on its karma from its previous life
Which body the atman is reincarnated into depends on the karma from the previous life
Hindus aim to escape Samsara by doing their dharma and gaining good Karma to achieve Moksha which means that they are not reborn and are united with Brahman
Hindus believe that the constant cycle of birth, death and rebirth is not a good thing because the material world is an illusion and is full of suffering which everyone should try and escape from
Hindus view suffering as a natural part of life and Moksha is seen as release from suffering and so people cause their own suffering through their actions in previous lives
Worked Example
Which one of the following is the Hindu term for the cycle of birth, death and rebirth?
[1 mark]
A Ahimsa
B Saguna
C Samsara
D Tri-guna
Answer:
C Samsara
The Law of Karma
What is Karma
Karma is the belief that all good and bad actions will have consequences in this life or in the next
It is the intention behind each action that truly determines its karmic weight
Actions undertaken with pure intentions, regardless of the outcome, are more likely to generate good karma
Actions driven by selfish motives can lead to negative karma, even if they appear kind on the surface
Hindus refer to karma as a ‘law’ similar to a scientific law
In Hinduism, karma is a way of understanding the universe and your place
Every action you take, from your words to your actions, generates a ripple in the cosmic pond, influencing your future experiences
Karma allows Hindus to understand why some people suffer more than others
Those that suffer more are paying the price for bad actions in a previous life
Those with less suffering and better lives are reaping the rewards of good actions in previous lives
Belief in the law of karma gives Hindus a reason to do good deeds now in order to be rewarded in the next life
The karma that is collected now, which will lead to consequences in the next life, is called kriyamana karma
Karma can lead to reincarnation into a human form or other living creatures which is why living creatures are respected as part of the religion
Worked Example
Explain two ways in which a belief in karma influences the way Hindus live their lives
(4 marks)
Answer:
One way belief in karma will affect Hindu lives is that they will try and do their dharma (duty) with whatever role they have been assigned in life even if that role involves suffering (2 marks)
Hindus may also believe that someone’s suffering is justified because it is the consequence of bad actions in a previous life. This may make them less sympathetic to those who seek help (2 marks)
What is Moksha?
A Hindu’s ultimate goal in life is to escape the cycle of reincarnation and to reach moksha
Moksha is the end of the death and rebirth cycle (samsara) and is classed as the fourth and ultimate artha (goal)
It is the transcendence of all arthas
It is achieved by overcoming ignorance and desire
It can only happen after many successive reincarnations
‘The desire for liberation arises in all human beings at the end of many births through the opening of their past virtuous conduct’ (Paingala Upanishad 2:11)
Hindus believe that achieving moksha means liberation from the limits of the body, gaining ultimate knowledge of the truth, and being united, blissfully, with Brahman
Hindus believe that moksha is possible to achieve within life and not just in death
‘When all desires stationed in the heart are dispensed with one becomes liberated undoubtedly, even while living’ (Garuda Purana)
According to the Naradaparivrajaka Upanishad, the liberated individual shows attributes such as:
He is not bothered by disrespect and endures cruel words, treats others with respect regardless of how others treat him
When confronted by an angry person he does not return anger, instead replies with soft and kind words
Even if tortured, he speaks and trusts the truth
He does not crave for blessings or expect praise from others
He never injures or harms any life and he is intent in the welfare of all beings
He is as comfortable being alone as in the presence of others
He does not crave riches and is happy with a simple life
Outer appearances and rituals do not matter to him, only knowledge matters
Worshipping God does not matter and only knowledge of Self is important
He is humble, high-spirited, of clear and steady mind, straightforward, compassionate, patient, indifferent, courageous, speaks firmly and with sweet words
It is important to note that Hindus must not desire moksha itself. In order to overcome desire and achieve moksha, Hindus must also overcome the desire for moksha
Types of Liberation
What types of Liberation are there?
In Hinduism there are believed to be different kinds of liberation (moksha)
There are differences of opinion as to how many types of liberation there are
In the Hindu scripture Bhagavatam there are many verses relating to liberation
In it, Lord Krishna supreme Brahman itself reveals the secret of four types of liberation and among them which is the highest
In other Hindu texts there are five kinds of liberation mentioned
Salokya - living on the same planet as the Supreme Personality
Sarsti - having equal opulence as the Supreme Lord
Samipya - to be a personal associate of the Supreme Lord
Sarupya - having the same bodily features of those of the Supreme Person
Sayujya - merging one’s existence with Brahman
Worked Example
Explain two Hindu beliefs about moksha. Refer to sacred writings or another source of Hindu belief and teaching in your answer
[5 marks]
Answer:
Hindus believe that moksha is escape from the constant cycle of birth, death and reincarnation or the cycle of samsara (2 marks)
Hindus believe that moksha is possible to achieve within life and not just in death. Hindu scripture states that, ‘When all desires stationed in the heart are dispensed with one becomes liberated undoubtedly, even while living’ (Garuda Purana) (3 marks)
Reasoning:
Two detailed explanations of relevant and accurate beliefs with relevant and accurate reference to sacred writing or another source of Hindu belief and teaching within the second response
Examiner Tips and Tricks
There may be a question asking you to evaluate the significance of moksha for Hindus
For example, a previous question asked,
‘For Hindus, the most important aim of life is moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth)’
Evaluate this statement
In your answer you should:
refer to Hindu teaching
give reasoned arguments to support this statement
give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view
reach a justified conclusion [12 marks]
In your response you should consider the reasons why moksha is the most important aim for Hindus but also to consider alternative arguments to this
Arguments in support of the statement could include
Since moksha is liberation from rebirth and being free of the barriers of maya (illusion) / knowing then this must be the highest priority because liberation is the greatest achievement for Hundus
Moksha means to be freed of all the suffering of this world and any sane person would make that their highest goal as no one wishes to suffer
The scriptures discuss moksha at length and it is always discussed as the purest of aims in life and other aims are presented as less than this
Other aims can become barriers e.g. kama (seeking pleasure) can become addictive / so a person never has enough material comfort/sensory pleasure and they then become more entrapped
Alternative arguments could include
Other aims are all important because they are stepping stones to moksha and they are important in their own way. A Hindu will focus on what is most important at any one time, so their idea of importance will change with circumstance
Not everyone is at the stage where they can focus on this aim e.g a young person is still learning the dharma and so it is not their most important
Kama (seeking pleasure) is more important as it is to have sufficient to be able to live a comfortable life (not excess) and this satisfaction allows other goals to then be pursued
To fully achieve moksha Hindus must also not desire moksha and so this should never be the aim but instead the natural consequence of leading a good Hindu life
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