also: ほうかい
noun
universe; dharma realm
Buddhist term for the entire cosmos or the realm of all phenomena; often used in Mahayana contexts.
法界はすべての存在を含むとされる。
The dharma realm is said to encompass all existence.
noun
realm of thought; mental realm
Buddhist concept referring to the sphere of mental activity or consciousness; less common than the cosmic sense.
瞑想によって法界の広がりを感じる。
Through meditation, one senses the vastness of the realm of thought.
noun
underlying principle of reality; true thusness
Deep Buddhist philosophical term for the fundamental nature of reality, synonymous with 真如 (shinnyo). Rare outside doctrinal texts.
法界は真如の現れであると説かれる。
It is taught that the dharma realm is a manifestation of true thusness.
noun
jealousy over unrelated matters; jealousy of lovers
Only with reading ほうかい
Abbreviation of 法界悋気 (ほうかいりんき), a set phrase meaning groundless jealousy or envy of others' romantic relationships. Only read ほうかい.
See also: 法界悋気
「法界悋気」の略としての「法界」は、やきもちの意味で使われる。
As an abbreviation of 法界悋気, 法界 is used to mean groundless jealousy.
From Middle Chinese 法界 (pjop kɛiH), a translation of Sanskrit dharmadhātu. The abbreviation sense is a shortening of 法界悋気, a Japanese coinage using the Buddhist term in a secular, idiomatic way.