noun
living Buddha; saintly monk
Refers to a Buddhist monk or person regarded as a living embodiment of the Buddha, exceptionally virtuous or compassionate.
あの僧侶はまるで生き仏のように慈悲深い。
That monk is as compassionate as a living Buddha.
noun
living person; someone still alive
Colloquial use, often in contrast to the dead; can carry a nuance of 'a person who is still breathing' or 'a living soul'.
See also: 仏
生き仏を死人扱いするな。
Don't treat a living person like they're dead.