Samsara is like being stuck on a cosmic carnival ride you didn’t exactly sign up for. It seems fun at first, then you drop your cotton candy, and start feeling nauseous. But you can’t get off the ride! The Ferris wheel keeps going around and you’re stuck. So this cosmic Ferris wheel is actually the cycle of disatsfaction and suffering that Buddha encourages us to break from from.

Basically samsara is our life as an ordinary human because our mind still has the habits of ignorance, attachment, and anger.

For example, when we experience reality through the lense of anger, it’s painful. When we’re separated from something or someone we’re very attached to, this longing and loss really hurt. 

Due to ignorance of the true nature of reality, we simply aren’t aware that our mind is projecting how things appear to us. That annoying relative, diffucult colleague, or hot, married neighbor possess these qualities ONLY because of the way our mind views them. 

Habits of ignorance, attachment, and anger are what keeps us bound to suffering, lifetime after lifetime. And, you know, samsara has become kind of a pop-culture word lately. I’ve even heard songs about it! But let me tell you, samsara is not something we want to romanticize. It’s not great at all! It’s the projection of a mind filled with delusions, whereas nirvana is the projection of a pure mind.

So, when the Buddha talks about adopting a path that leads to liberation, he’s referring to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. This beautiful Eightfold path is a gradual path that leads us out of samsara and into Nirvana.

How do we get out of samsara?

So how do we get out of here? The Four Noble Truths explained by Buddha tells us why we are stuck in samsara and how to get out. Buddha even left us a map: the Noble Eightfold Path.

It’s less like a GPS  or a treasure map, and more like an invitation to live wisely, kindly, and with a little more awareness each day.

The Four Noble Truths are often translated as the “Four Truths of the Noble Ones.” They’re not just theoretical ideas; they are the truths that enlightened beings directly perceive.

1. The Truth of Suffering – Life is inherently unsatisfactory. We experience different forms of suffering all the time.
2. The Truth of the Origin of Suffering – All suffering originates from craving—attachment to things being the way we want them.
3. The Truth of Cessation – We can achieve lasting inner peace and freedom from suffering.
4. The Truth of the Path – The path to the end of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Noble Eigthfold Path: An inner compass

So how do we get out of samsara? The Buddha gave us the perfect escape plan: the Noble Eightfold Path. Think of it like eight practical steps that help us stop creating suffering and start walking toward freedom. They’re not rules or commandments but more like wise advice for living a happier, kinder, more meaningful life.

Here’s the Noble Eightfold Path in plain language:

• Right View – Two parts: 1) understanding karma 2. Recognize that our thoughts and actions shape our happiness or suffering.
• Right Intention – Choose kindness, compassion, and letting go of harmful desires. It’s about deciding what direction you want your heart to go.
• Right Speech – Speak honestly, kindly, and with a good intention. Words can build bridges or burn them down.
• Right Action – Live ethically. Don’t harm others, and try to leave things better than you found them.
• Right Livelihood – Earn a living in a way that doesn’t harm people, animals, or the planet. Work that feels aligned with your values.
• Right Effort – Put energy into what nourishes peace and wisdom, and gently let go of what feeds negativity.
• Right Mindfulness – Stay present. Be mindful of the spiritual practices you set out to do each day.
• Right Concentration – Train your mind through meditation so it becomes calm, focused, and able to see truth clearly.

Followed together, these eight steps are like stepping-stones out of the sticky mud of samsara and onto solid ground.

A Simple Daily Practice: Welcome Everything

The Buddha said, “All experience is preceded by mind, led by mind, made by mind.” This means that everything we go through—every joy, every struggle—is influenced by how our mind interprets it.

A mind full of anger will see enemies everywhere. A mind full of compassion will see beings that need kindness. The way out of samsara isn’t by escaping life but by awakening within it.  Awakening is about recognizing that our mind is shaping our reality every single moment.

And this brings us to an incredible practice: I welcome everything. Instead of resisting, we can open our heart to whatever arises, knowing that our view is what determines our experience.

And just think—if you’re here, engaging with the teaching of Buddha, you’re on the Path. In your past lives, you had to create incredibly good karma to meet with spiritual teachings, teachers, and community in this life.

Keep going. Your journey toward deeper wisdom and peace has already begun.

Interested in studying the Buddhist path systematically with a Sangha?  Learn more about our ongoing study program.

References:  Bhikkhu Bodhi.  Sutta Central.  Sangha: https://suttacentral.net/mn9/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin