this world; this life; the shore of this world
Buddhist term contrasting with 彼岸 (the other shore, nirvana). Refers to the mundane world of suffering and delusion.
See also: 彼岸
As long as you cling to this world, you cannot attain enlightenment.
The contrast between this shore and the other shore is one of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism.
彼岸 is 'the far shore' of enlightenment in Buddhist thought, while 此岸 is 'this shore', the mundane world of suffering.
From the Buddhist concept of 'this shore' (此岸) as opposed to 'the other shore' (彼岸). The kanji 此 means 'this' and 岸 means 'shore'.