noun
this world; this life; the present world
Buddhist term for the mundane world of suffering and delusion, contrasted with the pure land. Also used in literary or philosophical contexts to refer to this life or earthly existence.
娑婆は苦しみの多い世界だと仏教では説かれる。
Buddhism teaches that this world is a place of much suffering.
彼は娑婆の欲から離れて修行に専念した。
He detached himself from worldly desires and devoted himself to ascetic practice.
noun
the free world; outside world
Colloquial term used by people in confined or restricted environments (prison, military, red-light district, etc.) to refer to ordinary society outside. Almost always written in kana.
刑務所を出て、久しぶりにしゃばの空気を吸った。
After leaving prison, I breathed the air of the free world for the first time in a long while.
軍隊
After being discharged from the army, I finally returned to civilian life.
From the Buddhist term 娑婆 (Sanskrit sahā, 'endurance'), referring to the world where beings must endure suffering. The colloquial sense developed from the idea of the ordinary world outside a confined space.