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{{short description|In Mahāyāna Buddhism refers to the mundane world, essentially the sum of existence that is other than nirvana}}
{{Buddhist term
| fontsize=100%
| title=Sahā
|pi=सह
|pi-Latn=Saha
|sa=सहा
|sa-Latn=Sahā
|zh=娑婆
|zh-Latn=Suōpó
|ja=娑婆
|ja-Latn=Shaba
|ko=사바
|ko-Latn=Saba
|th=
|th-Latn-
|bo= <big><big>མི་འཇེད་འཇིག་རྟེན་<br>[[wylie_transliteration|Wylie]]: mi 'jed 'jig rten</big></big>
|vi=Sa bà
}}
'''Sahā''' or more formally the '''Sahā world''' ([[Sanskrit]]: ''sahāloka'' or ''sahālokadhātu'') in [[Mahāyāna Buddhism]] refers to the mundane world, essentially the sum of existence that is other than nirvana.

It is the entirety of conditioned phenomena, also referred to as the [[trichiliocosm]].
As a term, its usage is comparable to the Earth (''pṛthivī'') or as the place where all beings are subject to the cycle of birth and death (''[[saṃsāra]]''). It is the place where both good and evil manifests and where beings must exercise patience and endurance (''[[kṣānti]]''). It is also described as the place where [[Śākyamuni Buddha]] teaches the Dharma.

The Sahā world is divided into three distinct realms or worlds (''traidhātuka'' or ''[[trailokya]]'').

Its ruler is [[Brahmā_(Buddhism)#Brahmā_Sahampati|Mahābrahmā Sahāmpati]].

==Etymology==
''Sahā'' is a Sanskrit term meaning "together" or "enduring."

Chinese texts sometimes translate the term as '''忍土''' ([[pinyin]]: ''Rěntǔ''), literally "land of endurance."<ref>{{cite web |title=sahā world |url=https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/S/9 |website=Nichiren Buddhism Library |accessdate=2019-08-23}}</ref>

==Composition==
===Realm of Desire===
{{Main|Desire realm}}
The [[desire realm]] (kāmadhātu) is where all sentient beings consist of a physical body and are susceptible to the experience of sense faculties. These beings are generally composed of 18 elements (''dhātu''), that include the [[Ayatana|sense bases]] and their respective modes of [[Vijñāna|consciousness]].

In Buddhist cosmology, the desire realm is often described as being composed of four continents (cāturdvīpaka) which surround Mount Sumeru, which itself is surrounded by oceans and mountain ranges. The four continents are
*[[Jambudvīpa]] in the South
*[[Pūrvavideha]] in the East
*[[Uttarakuru]] in the North
*[[Avaragodānīya]] in the West

===Realm of Form===
{{Main|Buddhist_cosmology#Form_Realm_(Rūpadhātu)}}
===Realm of Non-Form===
{{Main|Buddhist_cosmology#Formless Realm (Ārūpyadhātu आरूपधातु)}}

==As a Pure Land==
The [[Vimalakirti Sutra]] further elaborates on the nature of the Sahā world.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McRae |first1=John R. |title=The Vimalakīrti Sutra |date=2004 |publisher=Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research |url=http://www.bdk.or.jp/document/dgtl-dl/dBET_Srimala_Vimalakirti_2004.pdf}}</ref> It is treated as a [[pure land]] of its own, under the jurisdiction of Śākyamuni Buddha. It has ten features distinct from other pure lands:
#The poor are attracted by charity
#The transgressors are attracted by pure precepts
#The angry are attracted by forbearance
#The lazy are attracted by exertion
#The perturbed are attracted by meditation
#The foolish are attracted by wisdom
#Those who experience the [[eight difficulties]] are saved by explanation of how to eliminate difficulties
#Those who take pleasure in the [[Hinayana]] are saved by the teaching of the [[Mahayana]]
#Those without merit may be saved by the various good roots
#The liberation of sentient beings is constantly being accomplished by means of the [[four attractions]]

==See also==
*[[Buddhist cosmology]]
*[[Trailokya]]
*[[Saṃsāra (Buddhism)]]
*[[Sahā Triad]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Buddhism-stub}}

[[Category:Buddhist cosmology]]
[[Category:Pure lands]]
[[Category:Mahayana Buddhist terminology]]
[[Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts]]

Sahā - Revision history

>Marcocapelle: /* References */more specific categorization