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Buddha renounced his father’s kingdom and went to the jungle where he did six years of ascetic practice. Upon
becoming enlightened, he turned the wheel of the Dharma many times for many students and so became very famous in
India. After awhile, his family invited him to come back to his homeland to teach. Buddha said he would not come to
the palace, but that he would stay outside the main city. So the Buddha’s father and a local ruler named Zangdon who
was under his dominion, had a special retreat dwelling built for the Buddha and his students. Buddha came and stayed
there and began giving regular teachings.
Buddha was already known as the “Omniscient One,” being knowledgeable about every aspect of the past, present, and
future. But King Zangdon had his doubts about that. In order to test him, Zangdon collected one grain of rice from each
of two thousand five-hundred families. Each grain was wrapped individually, numbered, and put into a common basket
which was brought before the Buddha. King Zangdon wanted to see if the Buddha could tell him which grain came
from which family So one by one, the Buddha examined the grains and told him which households they had come
from. The king observed his list of numbers and names and saw that the Buddha’s answers were all correct. There were
no mistakes. He bowed respectfully to the Buddha and declared, “Now, I know you are omniscient. You are obviously
enlightened.” Finally, Zangdon became very devoted. This is just an example of the qualities of the mind of a supreme
emanation.
The second Nirmanakaya, or birth emanation incarnates even in the animal and non-visible realms, using different
names and forms, male or female, as they are needed. There are many Jataka stories of Buddha taking birth in animal
worlds as a fish, a turtle, a bird, a monkey, a bear, and a lion, as well as among humans and even in the god realms.
These are all birth emanations or “tulkus.” They may or may not appear in the traditional way, wearing robes and all.
Tulkus may not even necessarily be recognized as buddhas, but in every case, they are born to remove obstacles and
dualistic conceptions, to free sentient beings from ignorance, and bring about the perfect understanding of primordial
wisdom.
The third nirmanakaya is called the “artisan emanation.” These appear as objects of art and the artists who make them
for the benefit of sentient beings. Thangkas, statues, and even music are some of the forms these emanations take.
Beautiful, inspired works of art which bring clarity, peace, joy, and something special which seems to touch the heart
center, are all known as artisan emanations.
There was a famous musician named Rlanga who felt that he was the supreme guitarist. And he was a very special
musician, but he was also proud and arrogant. He thought he was incomparable to anybody in the world. He was
always playing his music and never had any opportunity to see Buddha or receive teachings. He appreciated the
Dharma, but he was attached to playing music and felt he should spend his time practicing. He really thought he was
the greatest.
Rlanga heard the Buddha was going to enter mahaparinirvana and thought that he should visit him soon to receive
teachings and have some contact. But he was still very involved in music and maintaining his pride. So right before he
entered mahaparinirvana, the Buddha thought, “Now what is it I still have to give sentient beings with this body? Who
may I serve? Who is left?” Through his wisdom he saw Rlanga in his present condition. So Buddha emanated as one
very special musician and went to the door of Rlanga with a thousand-stringed mandolin. When Buddha started to play
and the famous musician heard that music, he began to listen closely and thought, “Who could that be?” He had to
come outside and bring his mandolin. Soon, he noticed that Buddha hardly even moved his fingers. Plucking one string
resonated all the others. Rlanga was unable to do this. The vibration of the music seemed to separate out the whole of
space into many different voices of the Dharma which were of real benefit to this famous musician. He thought, “So
there is someone more accomplished than myself! I am not the best...” At that moment his arrogance and pride
dissolved. He felt very grateful to hear the Dharma through that mandolin.
Any kind of art which provides temporary or ultimate help for sentient beings by awakening love and compassion is
known as an artisan emanation.
The emanations of various things manifest in a variety of ways. These can appear as rain, fire, or wind. During times
when sentient beings are troubled with diseases, they may come in the form of special herbs and medicines for healing,
or perhaps when beings are in danger of losing their lives, suddenly something miraculous occurs and saves them. All
of these things are various forms of the nirmanakaya.
There is really just one Buddha. Every person who becomes enlightened has the ability to transform or emanate in these
three kaya states. So basically again, a buddha is anyone who has fully developed love, compassion, wisdom, and
skillful means, and whose obscurations and habitual patterns have been purified; one who has realized a totally free,
devotional state. That being, that person, that individual is known as an enlightened being or a Buddha.
This is the teaching of the Three Kayas.
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