living Buddha; saintly Buddhist monk
Rare term for a monk who is revered as a living Buddha or a person of exceptional saintliness. Compare with 生き仏, which is more common.
See also: 生き仏
The monk was so virtuous that he was called a living Buddha.
Compound of 生き (living) and 如来 (Tathāgata, a title for a Buddha). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose in Buddhist contexts to describe an exceptionally holy monk.