1.
cycle of rebirth; samsara; reincarnation
The Buddhist concept of the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that all living beings undergo until they attain enlightenment.
A key concept in Buddhism and Hinduism. In Japanese Buddhism, 輪廻 describes the cycle of suffering through repeated births and deaths in the six realms (六道). Attaining 悟り (enlightenment) allows one to escape this cycle.
Common collocations
- 輪廻転生 (transmigration of souls, metempsychosis)
- 輪廻から逃れる (to escape the cycle of rebirth)
- 輪廻を繰り返す (to go through cycles of rebirth)
Also read as りんえ in some classical Buddhist texts, though りんね is the standard modern reading. Frequently appears in literature, anime, and games as a theme.
Related Words
Compare:
生まれ変わり (reincarnation)