The belief in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is referred to as what in Buddhism?

In Buddhism, the belief in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is known as samsara. This concept signifies the continuous process of being born, living, dying, and being reborn into different forms of existence, influenced by one’s actions and experiences.

Samsara is intrinsically linked to the understanding of suffering and the impermanence of life, which are central themes in Buddhist teaching. The goal of Buddhism is to transcend samsara by attaining nirvana—freedom from this cycle—through spiritual practice and moral living. This distinction is crucial, as nirvana represents the ultimate state of liberation and enlightenment, while samsara describes the ongoing cycle that one seeks to escape.

The term karma relates to the actions that influence samsara—the ethical consequences of one’s actions that determine future rebirths—instead of describing the cycle itself. Dharmachakra, on the other hand, refers to the "Wheel of Dharma," symbolizing the teachings of the Buddha and the path to enlightenment, rather than the cycle of rebirth. Understanding these definitions helps clarify why samsara is the correct term for the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in Buddhism.