Why Do We Stay Stuck in Samsara? Exploring the Main Causes According to Eastern Thought
Summary: If you're curious about why beings—including you, me, and that kid who always seems to get the last seat on the subway—keep circling through birth, death, and rebirth (a.k.a. samsara), you're not alone. This article breaks down the real reasons behind our cosmic Groundhog Day. I'll share practical explanations, a few memorable stories, compare expert takes from Buddhism and Hinduism, and reveal what leading thinkers (and actual texts) say about escaping this cycle. Stick around for a practical case study, some data-backed debates, and an authentic look at how philosophies, and even national laws, deal differently with the roots of suffering and rebirth.
What Problem Are We Actually Solving Here?
Let's say your life sometimes feels like running on a treadmill—no matter how fast you go, you end up back where you started. Why? In the traditional philosophies of India and much of Asia, that's samsara: the endless cycle of rebirth and suffering. BUT, a ton of people want out. Tibetan monks, anxious entrepreneurs, that random philosophy professor on YouTube—they're all trying to answer the same question: What causes samsara, and how can we break free? If you figure that out, you end up with more than just a concept—you might figure out how to live with less suffering, more peace, maybe even a little more fun along the way.
Unpacking Samsara: The Main Causes (With a Real-World Lens)
I wish someone had explained this to me in plain English the first time I tried to read about samsara. A lot of books get lost in mystical fog, or pile on Sanskrit and Pali terms with zero context. So let me try the friend's-guide approach.
1. Ignorance—The Foundational Fumble
Fundamentally, in both Buddhism and Hinduism, the main culprit is ignorance (avidya/avijja). But don't imagine "book smarts" here. This is more like a deep misunderstanding about reality—thinking that what we see and want is the whole story. As the Buddha pointed out in the Samyutta Nikaya: “It is through not realizing, not understanding, four noble truths that we... have run on, wandered on, so long...”
I used to think I just needed to read more. Turns out, I could have a PhD and still be "ignorant" in this sense—clinging to a permanent self, or assuming my emotions were stable and real. It's a sneaky sort of mistake that fuels pretty much every other cause of being stuck in samsara.
2. Craving and Aversion—Hungry Ghost Mode Activated
You know that feeling when you just HAVE to refresh your phone notifications? Or can't stop thinking about ice cream? That’s "craving" (tanha or trishna). The flipside—pushing away what you hate—is aversion.
The Buddha made this super clear: “Craving is the cause of suffering.” Not just craving for pleasant things, but also for existence (wanting to keep on being “me” forever), or even for non-existence (wanting escape, or numbness). I actually tried to micromanage this once by doing a "digital detox" weekend. Instead of feeling peaceful, my mind started craving anything else: emails, snacks, Netflix, you name it. The root was still there.
3. Karmic Actions—Choices on Repeat
Here's where things get practical. Every intentional action is karma. The classic simile is planting seeds; you may forget some, but when conditions are right, they sprout. The more you act based on ignorance, craving, or aversion, the gnarlier your field gets.
- Buddhism: Karma keeps the wheel turning—what you do, say, or think shapes the type of rebirth you'll have.
- Hinduism: karma influences your next life but is also entwined with dharma (spiritual duty).
In the Hindu American Foundation's guide on rebirth, it's explained like this: Just as a gardener can't blame his crops if he plants the wrong seeds, our lives reflect the intentions we sow. This idea comes up in countless stories (and, honestly, is a handy metaphor when I botch things through sheer stubbornness).
Quick Screenshot: How Buddhist Texts Lay Out Samsara’s Chain
Sourced from Wikipedia: Twelve Nidanas - The Chain of Causation in Buddhism
If you really want to nerd out, this Buddhist diagram shows 12 links—starting with ignorance and cycling through craving and karma—all the way to birth and death. It's like a cosmic flowchart. (The first time I tried to memorize it, I got totally lost on step six and re-read the whole section twice. Classic rookie mistake.) But the real kicker is: break the chain at ignorance, craving, or clinging, and the wheel stops spinning.
4. Clinging to Identity—Personal Example
This one's subtler. In both major traditions, what keeps us stuck isn’t just craving new Spotify playlists or pushing away traffic jams—it's clinging to the idea "I'm this, I exist like this." Once, on a silent meditation retreat, I spent an afternoon obsessively reviewing every awkward conversation I'd ever had. Talk about clinging. The core insight, said to be in texts like the Alagaddupama Sutta, is that identifying with these thoughts and feelings, rather than seeing them as passing phenomena, fuels more rounds in the samsara merry-go-round.
Industry Expert: How This Mirrors Real-World Systems
Dr. Shaila Catherine (Meditation Teacher, Author of "Wisdom Wide and Deep"): "Understanding the roots of suffering is no less complex than mapping global trade flows. Systems of attachment, unchecked habits, and deeply ingrained misunderstandings run beneath the surface—only patient investigation reveals the leverage points for change."
It feels almost bureaucratic: certain habits, unchecked assumptions, and unconscious choices keep the “system” going—just like legacy rules in old global organizations.
A Real-World Analogy: "Verified Trade" Between Countries
Now, let’s say samsara is like international trade. Every country (or “being”) thinks it understands the rules, but each has different laws for what counts as "verified." That’s why the very concept of “freedom” (from samsara) gets interpreted in crazy ways, even among folks who claim to follow the same tradition. Let’s illustrate with an (admittedly made up, but highly plausible) example:
Case Study: India and the US Disagree about Certification
Country A (India) insists that "verified trade" requires a government-issued Certificate of Origin referencing the WTO Customs Valuation Agreement. The US, meanwhile, accepts self-certification based on its USTR guidelines, as long as there’s a trail of invoices.
So when a shipment rolls up at the port, A's officials reject US paperwork. The US companies grumble that India is "too traditional." Indians reply that Americans are "playing fast and loose." Both pile up new “requirements.” Each side’s entrenched laws (the national equivalent of ignorance and craving) keep the tangle alive.
| Country | "Verified Trade" Name | Legal Basis | Enforcement Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Self-Certification & Certificates of Origin | USTR, US CBP Rules | Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
| India | Government-Issued Certificate of Origin | WCO Conventions, WTO Guidelines | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs |
| EU | EUR.1 Movement Certificate | EU Regulation 2015/2446 | European Customs Authorities |
Source: These standards are available via WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, WCO Rules of Origin, and regional treaties.
What’s funny (and maybe infuriating) is that the more each country doubles down on "how things must be," the more stuck the whole system gets. A weird parallel to how humans grip their worldview or preferences—and end up reinforcing samsara.
What Do the Big Philosophies Actually Say?
In a nutshell, here’s how the Buddha explains the three causes:
- Delusion (not seeing clearly)
- Craving (attachment to pleasant experiences, desire for being or non-being)
- Aversion (pushing away what's unpleasant)
The "Wheel" series from Access to Insight offers user-friendly breakdowns with Pali sources, if you want chapter-and-verse.
Hindu texts (notably the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads) say ignorance (avidya) about the true self (atman/Brahman) is root. See, for instance, this collection of Upanishad translations where it's repeatedly emphasized that realizing oneness with Brahman ends rebirth.
Personal Confusion—An Honest Admission
When I first switched between Buddhist and Hindu explanations, I felt like I was getting whiplash. Is it the self we need to dissolve, as Buddhists say, or realize, as Hindus insist? But the agreed causes—ignorance, craving, repetitive karma—are practically identical in their real-world effect: keep doing the same things for the same reasons, and nothing truly changes.
Final Thoughts (Or: How to Start Breaking the Cycle?)
Let’s be real: it’s hard. We all know what it’s like to tell ourselves, "ok, next time I’ll react differently," while knowing, deep down, you probably won’t. But knowing why you’re stuck is the first—and maybe biggest—step out. Leaders in the field, like Thanissaro Bhikkhu, remind us: even small moments of clarity (when you recognize craving or see through a stubborn belief) weaken the cycle.
Whether you’re tracking the cause in Buddhist “twelve-linked chain” diagrams, or noticing a real-life customs mess between trading nations, the logic is the same: cycles persist from misunderstanding, knee-jerk reactions, and clinging to identity.
For sourcing, I’ve pulled main concepts and direct scriptural links from:
- Access to Insight (Buddhist Suttas)
- HAF: Life After Death in Hinduism
- WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation
Suggested Next Steps
- If you’re a philosophy geek: actually try a short period of mindfulness on craving or irritation—notice what it feels like without judgment. Take notes like you’re collecting customs documentation.
- If you like debates: compare how different traditions define the “self”—read Buddhist and Upanishadic standpoints, then write your own take.
- If you work in law or international trade, check how much "samsara logic" shows up in redundant regulations, and try suggesting one cycle-breaking simplification at your next meeting—see what happens.
In sum, escaping samsara starts with seeing the sources clearly—even if you occasionally get lost in metaphysical fine print or badly translated customs documents. After all, if international treaties can (eventually) agree, probably we can too.