娑しゃ婆ば

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.

• 娑しゃ婆ばは苦くるしみの多おおい世せ界かいだと仏ぶっ教きょうでは説とかれる。

  Buddhism teaches that this world is a place of much suffering.

• 彼かれは娑しゃ婆ばの欲よくから離はなれて修しゅ行ぎょうに専せん念ねんした。

  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.

• 刑けい務む所しょを出でて、久ひさしぶりにしゃばの空くう気きを吸すった。

  After leaving prison, I breathed the air of the free world for the first time in a long while.

• 軍ぐん隊たいを除じょ隊たいして、やっとしゃばに戻もどってきた。

  After being discharged from the army, I finally returned to civilian life.