If you were going to explain DharmakΔya to someone who has never encountered the topic prior, where would you begin?
score:3
Although the notion appears in all sorts of philosophical treatises, as well as in tenets, it is explained at length in texts expounding 'buddha nature' (tathagatagarbha). I would recommend in particular the study of Maitreya's Uttaratantra Shastra (Treatise on the Sublime Continuum). Although it is called 'uttara-tantra' it is included within the perfection vehicle (sutra). Maitreya's Sublime Continuum has been commented upon by various scholars of different traditions, and so there are various interpretations.
From the point of view of the cause, the general presentation is that from the accumulation of merit, one achieves the form body (rupakaya) of a buddha that fulfill others' wishes, while one obtains the truth body (dharmakaya) from the accumulation of wisdom. The truth body fulfill one's wishes. The form body is divided into the one that is so subtle that it is not seen by ordinary beings (the enjoyment body) and a grosser one that ordinary beings can see (the emanation body). It is said that Shakyamuni Buddha was a supreme emanation body (a division of emanation body) endowed with the marks and signs. As this position no longer holds when we divide the bodies of a buddha (into three, four, or five as you will see bellow), it is merely the general presentation.
From the point of view of the result, the nature truth body (part of the dharmakya) results from the naturally abiding linage while the wisdom truth body (part of the dharmakaya) results from the developmental linage. Although we say that the nature truth body (suchness without defilements) results from the naturally abiding linage (suchness with defilements), it is not caused because suchness is permanent. Suchness with defilements is not an actual cause but a terminological division.
From the point of view of the nature, the general presentation identifies 'emptiness with defilements' to the tathagatagarbha and 'emptiness without defilements' to the dharmakaya. In this context, dharmakaya refers only to the nature truth body. Both are permanent and uncompounded. In Gyaltsab Je's commentary [to Maitreya], dharmakaya sometimes refer solely to the wisdom truth body or the nature truth body. It is where divisions are important. We can divide the bodies of a buddha in three ways:
- The two bodies of a buddha
1. dharmakaya (truth body)
2. rupakaya (form body) - The three bodies of a buddha (it is referred to as Trikaya)
1. dharmakaya
2. rupakaya divided in two:
--- 1. emanation body
--- 2. enjoyment body - The four bodies of a buddha
1. dharmakya divided into two:
--- 1. nature truth body
--- 2. wisdom truth body
2. rupakaya divided into two:
--- 1. emanation body
--- 2. enjoyment body - The five bodies of a buddha
1. dharmakaya divided into two:
--- 1. nature truth body
--- 2. wisdom truth body divided into two:
-------- 1. the omnscient mind that distinguishes conventionalities
-------- 2. the one that distinguishes the ultimate
2. the form body divided into two
More post
- π When during meditation we forget where we are
- π What is the actual status of the Dalai Lama in regard of Dhamma-Vinaya?
- π What is the role of kΕans in contemporary Buddhism?
- π Why do Buddhism monk hits people in the head?
- π Masturbation: Does it break the 3rd precept?
- π What is the Noble Eightfold Path?
- π Does anybody know the composition of the 6th council and how the delegates were chosen?
- π Where did the Buddha say: "What a person considers and reflects upon for a long time, to that his mind will bend and incline."?
- π Does a monk wearing a samue break a prΔtimokαΉ£a vow?
- π What does Buddha and Buddhism say about fighting against enemy of dharma?
- π Are there any Buddhist scriptures about motivation & discipline?
- π On Suffering and Happiness
- π Once ignorance is removed ,is the cessation of suffering automatic?
- π lady sayadev, saygi u ba khin goenka lineage vipassan
- π What is the way to motivate myself for Vipasana meditation Practice daily?
- π What is observing the precepts in a Hinayana way or a Mahayana way?
- π what is memesis from a buddhist perspective?
- π Alternative to lying?
- π Should you meditate with a timer?
- π Does regret help us to correct our faults?
- π how can spirts/sould see physical things without eyes
- π "Lower rebirth" -- Are animals really "lower" than us?
- π Insights of the Middle Path
- π Do (any) Mahayana Buddhists teach subjectivity?
- π Vipassana sharpens my ability to feel the feelings of others, but I'm not yet sure how best to use that?
- π Supposed Buddhist Scripture Predicting that only through Jesus can Nirvana be reached
- π I love life and I don't want to die. How to let go?
- π Companies that practice right livelihood
- π Can Buddhism be harmful?
- π Does any real existent or genuine person end with parinibbana?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π If you were going to explain DharmakΔya to someone who has never encountered the topic prior, where would you begin?
- π How do you tell a 4-year-old who the Buddha was?
- π Meditation, compassion: How to handle people who dominate you in the office?
- π Who were the first followers of the Buddha?
- π Why emphasise the EBT when anyone who has achieved Arhathood can teach from direct experience?
- π Can you gain stream entry by focusing on the clinging and stress going on at the five clinging aggregates?
- π Who were the wise in the Buddha's discourses?
- π How to explain to someone with no knowledge about Buddhism what is meant by "extinguishing" the self?
- π Can you explain the "Maha Meru"?
- π Can you explain "Wishlessness" (one of the Three Doors of Liberation)?
- π Will someone explain rebirth and the differences between reincarnation?
- π Someone has an illness which is inevitably going to kill them. Why?
- π Who said 'if you haven't started on the Buddhist path then don't start at all'?
- π What is the (middle length) sutta, where Buddha exposes a monk, who has an ignorant view of non-self?
- π The Buddha who knew there were 31 realm but didn't mention anything about a round earth
- π Who were some people who attained Buddhahood after the historical Buddha?
- π Where is the Buddha quoted as saying do not believe anything I say until you can prove it by yourself?
- π If anatta is a reality, then how do you explain Volition or Will?
- π Is it possible to recognize a person who has achieved Arhatship?
- π What could I say to someone when they ask me "why do you meditate?"
- π How does one explain consistency within phenomena if the mind generates phenomena?
- π Can someone explain about children monks?
- π Please explain when and where to use the terms Theravada and Hinayana
- π Where is the story of the non-returner who "sold" pots on the side of the road?
- π Who said 'if you are too busy meditate for two hours'?
- π When were the earliest Buddhist writings created
- π How can you see suffering in the breath?
- π What do you wish you knew when you started down the path of buddhism?
- π Were psychedelics used in the past by Buddhists?
- π Who is the laughing Buddha?