The thing that one needs to understand about spirituality is that it is multileveled. There is spirituality at its root. This is the place where one is taught to believe. And, this is a very essential factor to keep in mind. People are taught to believe it whatever greater power they are taught to believe in. It is not a natural occurrence. Then, there is the formality of that spirituality. All of the doctrines and factors which define whatever branch of spirituality one is following or studying.
 
The question then arises, are these formalities and these doctrines important in one’s system of belief? The ultimate answer is, no. They are not. They are not what is needed for someone to simply believe. This being said, they are a necessity if one hopes to rise to the deeper realms of understanding in whatever form of spirituality one is practicing or studying.
 
In Hinduism, for example, which gave birth to Buddhism, there is the understanding of Samara. In both Hinduism and Buddhism, Samsara is a fundamental concept that refers to the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This cycle is driven by karma. Karma is the moral code of cause and effect and is seen as a journey through various lives in different forms and realms of existence. The ultimate goal for both Hindus and Buddhists is to break free from this cycle and achieve, “Moksha,” or liberation.
 
The term Samsara is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning, “To wander,” or “To flow through.” This phrase reflecting the endless nature of the cycle of birth and death until one reaches the final stage of human evolution, enlightenment. Every action performed by an individual influences their future existence, determining the nature of their rebirth, due to their karma.
 
It is essential to note that karma is individually created by each person. It is defined and instigated by what each individual decides and then chooses to do what they do. Thus, your karma, what you will receive next, is defined by what you have done to others and to the greater whole of this Life Space.
 
Karma plays an essentially crucial role in the understanding of Samsara. It is the law that every action has consequences, which can be either positive or negative. Good deeds lead to favorable rebirths, while bad deeds can result in less desirable forms of existence. The balance of one’s karma determines their place in the cycle of Samsara.
 
In Buddhism, Samsara is often depicted as a wheel, known as the, “Bhavacakra,” or “The Wheel of Life.” Bhavacakra illustrates the various realms and states of existence. At the center of this wheel are three poisons: ignorance, attachment, and aversion. These three poisons perpetuate the cycle of Samsara by generating karma.
 
Ignorance, or, “Avidya,” in Sanskrit is the root cause of Samsara. It is the fundamental misunderstanding of the true nature of reality, leading beings to cling to a false sense of Self and to the impermanent things of the world. This ignorance fuels desire, attachment, hurtful actions, and aversion, which, in turn, generate karma and perpetuate the cycle of Samsara.
 
For each religion: Hinduism and Buddhism, there are specific paths designated for one to overcome the perils of Samsara.  For example, the ultimate objective for Hindus is to attain, “Moksha,” “Liberation,” and to be freed from the cycle of Samsara. This liberation can be achieved through various paths, including the path of knowledge-based yoga, Jnana Yoga, the path of devotion-based yoga, Bhakti Yoga, or the path of righteous-action, Karma Yoga.
 
In Buddhism, Samsara represents the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that traps beings in a state of suffering and impermanence. By understanding the nature of Samsara, and thereby ending the role of karmic ignorance, it is believed that the practitioners should follow the Noble Eightfold Path to achieve liberation and attain Nirvana. In this way, Buddhism offers a profound and transformative path towards freedom from the cycle of Samsara and the ultimate realization of peace and wisdom.
 
The point that this brings us to is that, the truth of any path of spiritually is as free as the practitioners allows themselves to be. If one is walking a good and karma-free path, with no need for education and/or formalities of their faith, good of them. That is all they need. Most people are not like that, however. They need guidance on their path to achieving a deeper understanding of life and a means to not create negative karma. Thus, the study and understanding of doctrines like Samsara may help some to realize their greater Self.
 
What you do with your life is your choice. Who you do what to is also your choice. Just know, if you wish to walk a better, grander path, and live a more pure, enlightened, and negative karma free existence, you really need to take control over your thoughts and your actions and instigate a conscious framework where you can live a better life, leave a positive wake, and hopefully find your own level of enlightenment.