Samsara

About

Samsara (saṃsāra) is a fundamental concept found in many Indian religions, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Samsara refers to the cycle of life and death, also called reincarnation. Memes about samsara tend to revolve around various aspects of the doctrine with a particular focus on Buddhist interpretations of the concept. "Escaping samsara" is a recurring motif in memes, as is attaching the suffix "-sattva" to names to imply that the person is a monk who has reached moksha or nirvana, thus escaping samsara. Trumpisatva is a popular variation of the meme, often accompanied by the image of a statue resembling Trump if he were a Buddhist monk.

Origin

The word saṃsāra stems from a Pali/Sanskrit word that simply means "world." Being in the state of samsara is held in opposition to achieving nirvana, and thus escaping the endless cycle of birth and rebirth. The concept of samsara is linked to the karma theory of Hinduism, and liberation from samsara is held as the spiritual quest of various Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions.^[1]

On July 11, 2010, a version of the forwards from Grandma meme was posted to Quickmeme,^[2] where it gathered over 19,000 shares in thirteen years (seen below).

Spread

Another early meme made in reference to the concept of samsara was a copypasta posted to Reddit^[3] on /r/NavySealCopypasta on March 4th, 2015, by /u/Poka-pie, where it gathered over 50 upvotes in eight years (seen below).

What was that which you just said about me, my friend? I think you ought to know that I have completed my time as a novice-monk, and I've passed through the Gateless Gate, and I've lived for over 300 cycles of rebirth. I am trained in anapanasati and I'm the most senior bhikkhuni in my local sangha. You are nothing to me but just another human being worthy of dignity and respect. I will have compassion upon you with loving-kindness the likes of which has never been seen before in the Cycle of Samsara – you would do well to remember these words. Do you believe that you can say these things and still escape the principle of dependent origination? Perhaps you should reexamine those beliefs, brother. As we speak I am contemplating the importance of accepting your words with detachment and equanimity, so, without malice, I advise you to prepare for the storm, young one. The storm of suffering that afflicts all living creatures in this world. You are trapped in a cycle of death and rebirth, child. Not only am I extensively trained in the Mahayana Tripitaka, but I have access to the entire Pali canon as well, and I will use its teachings to their full extent to help alleviate the suffering within you which causes you to say hurtful things about others. You could reach Nirvana anywhere, any time, and I can help you achieve enlightenment in over seven hundred ways, and that's just with the study of Koan. If only you could understand what evil karma these words of yours would sow, perhaps you would have had the wisdom to keep silent. Nevertheless, this was beyond what you have been prepared for, and so I promise that I will do my best to ease the suffering that you have brought upon yourself. I will teach you the path of the Bodhisattva and you will revel in it. Your suffering may yet reach its end, child.

On July 19th, 2018, Facebook^[4] page Ｅｓｏｔｅｒｉｃ 東方 Memes – 道/儒/佛 posted a God, please Norway meme that gathered over 400 likes in five years (seen below, left). On July 19th, 2019, Facebook^[5] page ̾Sh̾a̾m̾a̾n ̾Bo̾y̾s अगर आप यह पढ़ रहे हैं あなたは同性愛者です posted a meme about samsara as well, gathering over 300 likes in four years (seen below, right).

On September 17th, 2021, Twitter^[6] account @EdenicJesus posted a tweet about "Trumpisatva" and samsara, gathering over 2,000 likes in two years (seen below, left). On August 21st, 2022, Instagram^[7] page servingthepeople posted a meme about samsara, gathering over 3,000 likes in a year (seen below, right).

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References