In Buddhism, SAMSARA is often defined as the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Or, you may understand it as the world of suffering and dissatisfaction, the opposite of nirvana, which is the condition of being free from suffering and the cycle of rebirth.

In literal terms, the Sanskrit word SAMSARA means “flowing on” or “passing through.” It is illustrated by the Wheel of Life. It might be understood as the state of being bound by greed, hate, and ignorance, or as a veil of illusion that hides true reality. In traditional Buddhist philosophy, we are trapped in samsara through one life after another until we find awakening through enlightenment.
However, the best definition of SAMSARA, and one with more modern applicability may be from the Theravada monk and teacher Thanissaro Bhikkhu:
“Instead of a place, it’s a process: the tendency to keep creating worlds and then moving into them.” And note that this creating and moving in doesn’t just happen once, at birth. We’re doing it all the time.”