noun
three realms of existence
Buddhist term for the three realms of desire, form, and formlessness that make up samsara. Often contrasted with 欲界, 色界, and 無色界.
仏教では、三界は迷いの世界とされる。
In Buddhism, the three realms are considered the world of delusion.
noun
whole universe enlightened by Buddha
Abbreviation of 三千大千世界, referring to the vast cosmos of a billion worlds that a Buddha illuminates. Rare outside Buddhist contexts.
See also: 三千大千世界
「三界」は、三千大千世界の略称として使われることがある。
三界 is sometimes used as an abbreviation for 三千大千世界.
noun
past, present, and future existences
Buddhist concept of the three temporal states of existence. Cross-referenced with 三世 (さんぜ). Rarely used independently.
See also: 三世 (さんぜ)
三界は過去・現在・未来の三世を指すこともある。
三界 can also refer to the three temporal states of past, present, and future.
suffix
far-off ...; distant ...
Suffix-like use in compounds to indicate great distance or remoteness. Not productive in modern Japanese; found in fixed expressions.
「三界」がつく言葉には、遠く離れた場所を表すものがある。
Some words containing 三界 express a far-off place.
The formless realm, the highest of the three realms.
The full term for the billion-world universe, of which 三界 is an abbreviation.
Refers to the three temporal states of past, present, and future, overlapping with sense 3 of 三界.
From Middle Chinese 三界 (sam kɛiH), a Buddhist term composed of 三 'three' and 界 'realm, world'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the Buddhist cosmological concept.