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Re: saMsAra = Reincarnation? (fwd) Re: saMsAra = Reincarnation?
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To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Subject: Re: saMsAra = Reincarnation? (fwd) Re: saMsAra = Reincarnation?
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From: aqk9660@is.nyu.edu (Annuradha Kumar)
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Date: 8 Mar 1995 20:09:07 GMT
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Distribution: world
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From notes@cmcl2.NYU.EDU Wed Mar 8 14: 58:34 1995
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Newsgroups: alt.hindu
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Organization: New York University
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References: <3jjb8o$pg2@ucunix.san.uc.edu>
: Lance Nelson writes:
: >I notice that in most English language textbooks, the word "saMsAra" is
: >given as the Indic translation of "reincarnation." However, I notice
: >that in my reading of VedAnta texts, "saMsAra" generally means something
: >more like "world." So, my question is: What is the correct translation
: >for the noun "reincarnation" (or, I suppose, "transmigration") in
: >Sanskrit, Hindi, and other Indian languages? Is there a word, such as
: >"punarjanma," that is actually in use to designate reincarnation without
: >reference to the cyclic world in which it occurs?
As far as i understand, Samsara does refer to the world, it also means
cycle of keep returning to the world. constant rebirth is also refer to
as samsara. I see how one can be confused, I was also confused with the
same notion. However, my professor cleared it up for me. I hope it helps.
: In Pali and many Buddhist Sanskrit texts punabhava, etc. is far and away
: the commonest term for reincarnation, although pa.tisandhi is the technical
: term for the actual moment of 'relinking' at the beginning of a given
: life-process.
: Richard Salomon writes:
: It seems to me that words like jaati, janman, etc., even without the punar,
: are in fact the equivalent, or "correct translation," of English
: "reincarnation", and are so used, at least in Sanskrit. Etymologically
: they mean just 'birth' or 'incarnation', but since all incarnation is
: reincarnation, it comes to the same thing.
: I don't think I quite agree with this. Of course jaati, etc. are very
: common e.g. in pubbajaati and the like, but it seems to me that this is the
: equivalent of the English usage with 'life': 'in a past life' and the like.
: So this is only the equivalent of the (not very correct?) English usage:
: 'in a (past) reincarnation'. It does not correspond to the usage of
: reincarnation for the process of rebirth in general.
: Lance Cousins.
: MANCHESTER, UK
: Telephone (UK): 0161 434 3646
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