afterlife; the next world; the world beyond
Primarily a Buddhist term for the world after death, but also used in general contexts to refer to the afterlife or the next life.
He believes in the afterlife.
Let's meet again in the next world.
He wished to be reborn into a happy family in his next life.
"Let's meet again in our next life," she said.
Many Buddhists believe in the afterlife.
冥土 emphasizes the dark underworld or realm of the dead, whereas 来世 focuses on the idea of a next life or existence.
現世 means this present life on earth, the direct opposite of 来世, the life to come after death.
前世 (a past life before this one) is easily confused with 来世 (the next life after this one) because both pair with 現世 in Buddhist cosmology but point in opposite time directions.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading らいせい is rare and not normally written with this kanji.
From Middle Chinese 來世 (MC lʌi ɕiᴇiH), literally 'coming world'. The reading らいせい is a rare alternative, possibly influenced by the on'yomi of 世 as せい in some compounds.