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.
Buddhism teaches that this world is a place of much suffering.
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.
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.
After leaving prison, I breathed the air of the free world for the first time in a long while.
After being discharged from the army, I finally returned to civilian life.
worldly desires; worldly ambitions
worldly desires; attachment to the secular world
Kanji spelling; used in Buddhist contexts and literary writing.
Katakana variant sometimes seen in casual writing for the colloquial sense.
Kana spelling is standard for the colloquial sense 'the free world'.
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.