The Three Kayas

[jonesboy]

The Three Kayas

A TEACHING BY KHENCHEN PALDEN SHERAB RINPOCHE &

KHENPO TSEWANG DONGYAL RINPOCHE

THE THREE KAYAS ARE ACTUALLY ASPECTS OF ENLIGHTENED BEING. They are the Buddha reflected in three

different ways in order to help sentient beings. The meaning of the Sanskrit word Buddha is awakened or fully realized

one. What is realized? The original nature is realized perfectly as it is, with nothing changed or exaggerated but as it is

at both the relative and absolute levels or as relative and absolute truth. One who is awake to this understanding is a

Buddha. This realization involves the complete transcendence of obscurations. We haven’t fully awakened to our true

nature because of these obscurations whereas Buddha Shakyamuni realized the original nature perfectly because he was

purified of obscurations.

The word ‘buddha’ refers to all realized beings. It is not that only one particular enlightened being is known as Buddha.

Those who realized their true nature in the past are known as buddhas, those who realize it now may be called buddhas,

and those who come to this realization in the future will be known as buddhas. “Buddha” is a general term which does

not merely refer to a single individual but to every realized being.

The whole purpose of enlightened beings is to benefit sentient beings. In order to do this, they appear in many different

forms or bodies. The principle emanations are known as the three kayas: dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and

nirmanakaya. There are even four and five kayas, divided further to qualify other manifestations of enlightened being,

but it is all one Buddha. Kaya is a Sanskrit word that means “body,” in the sense of many qualities gathered together,

joined and united as one. Kaya here refers to the embodiments of loving-kindness, compassion, wisdom, and skillful

means which appear in the world to help sentient beings

[jonesboy]

DHARMAKAYA

The Sanskrit word dharma means “phenomena,” both external and internal, subjective and objective. Dharmakaya

refers to the primordial or true nature of phenomena, which is beyond conception or dualistic thought. It is not partial.

It does not discriminate. It is Great Equanimity. This embodiment of wisdom is known as dharmakaya.

We are all aware of a great variety of phenomena. There are many things that we know and feel. However, they all can

be summarized into two categories: subjective phenomena and objective phenomena. Both develop through the

interaction of the elements. If we look carefully at the elements, each of them are aggregations of many subunits. Every

element is composed of individual atoms and these consist of many subatomic particles bound together as the atomic

structure of that element. None of these particles are independent things. Each is dependent on others for its existence.

If we look deeply and carefully into any single element, we will find our investigation in terms of subject and object

ultimately dissolves in the intuition of Great Emptiness. This is the ultimate examination we can make. To go further is

beyond our dualistic conceptions. Understand the real nature of the external world to be no other than Great Emptiness.

If we look at subjective phenomena, we find that they are similar to the elements. Mind can be conceptually divided

into eight categories or many more, but it functions as a single aggregate. If we search for where our present thought

comes from, we will not find an exact source. If we look to where it goes, we cannot know its destination. We cannot

even find the spot where it exists. In this way, we can see that mind, the subject, is arising in Great Emptiness,

inexpressible by mundane conceptions or speech.

Both the internal and external are based in one primordial nature. Outer or inner, there is no distinction; all are one

Emptiness beyond dualistic thought, beyond existence and nonexistence, both and neither. It goes far beyond the

conventional notion of emptiness or vacuity. It is not some “thing” to which we can cling. It is always here, never

increasing or decreasing, but remaining as it is, as it was, and how it will be all the time. Circumstances cannot change

the primordial nature. Perfect realization of this nature is realization of dharmakaya.

[Rain95]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

DHARMAKAYA

Every element is composed of individual atoms and these consist of many subatomic particles bound together as the atomic structure of that element. None of these particles are independent things. Each is dependent on others for its existence.

Isn't it weird that stuff like this is considered Buddhism when the concept of atoms was not invented until 1803? Should be a different name for this stuff that is so removed from what Buddha taught.

I think it should be called Scienceism or Energyism. It really should be a new religion.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by Rain95

Isn't it weird that stuff like this is considered Buddhism when the concept of atoms was not invented until 1803? Should be a different name for this stuff that is so removed from what Buddha taught.

I think it should be called Scienceism or Energyism. It really should be a new religion.

So people teaching nowadays can't bring up todays knowledge in reference or it is again proof it isn't Buddhism.

Sounds silly and again a way to disparage that which you don't believe.

[Rain95]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

proof it isn't Buddhism.

Discussion of atoms is Buddhism? Probably only in the USA and UK. I doubt Buddhism in Japan or China teaches about atoms.

[Rain95]

You know what is really weird, is all of these words we are using like Energy, Atoms, Practice and even Primordial have their sources in Latin from around the 14th century. So basically Western language and meaning is being inserted into Buddhism by Western translators.

Like take the word Primordial. It sounds all mysterious but like all of these words, Buddha did not use it. You know what this esoteric sounding word means in Buddhism? It means the first or original. Like the "first buddha." But why do we write primordial Buddha and not just the first Buddha? Because it sounds fancier?

Then we use this Latin word Primordial to refer to our true nature. It makes it sound so "Buddhist" I suppose but then this word did not exist to early Buddhists. It would be great to learn Buddhism from Buddha in Buddha's language. Would probably be a much better and different teaching than we have now days.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Rain95

Discussion of atoms is Buddhism? Probably only in the USA and UK. I doubt Buddhism in Japan or China teaches about atoms.

Wrong... again.


HHDL ' The Universe is a single ATOM '

The mind and life institute has lots of Videos of discussion between Buddhist Monks and Scientist who have discovered that Buddha's Teachings fit perfectly into modern day Scientific discoveries. Buddhism is compatible with Science......

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by Rain95

Discussion of atoms is Buddhism? Probably only in the USA and UK. I doubt Buddhism in Japan or China teaches about atoms.

But you don't know do you....

[jonesboy]

SAMBHOGAKAYA

Great Emptiness is our primordial nature. This Emptiness is not like a black hole or a state of nothingness. Emptiness is

more like a state of fullness. By means of the primordial nature, everything is arising without effort, without thought,

spontaneously appearing with clarity. That is the sign of Emptiness. If there were no Emptiness or primordial truth,

everything would be blocked, nothing could move, nothing could develop, and nothing could manifest. This

spontaneous radiance of unceasing clarity is the meaning of the Sanskrit term, sambhogakaya.

Sam means “perfect,” bhoga means “enjoyment,” and kaya is roughly translated as “body.” Thus, “the body of perfect

enjoyment” is the radiant wisdom aspect of our original nature. The sambhogakaya is displayed as the Five Wisdoms.

The first of these is Dharmadhatu Wisdom. The second is known as Mirror-like Wisdom. The third is the Wisdom of

Equality. The fourth is Discriminating Awareness Wisdom. The fifth is known as All-Accomplishing Wisdom. These

Five Wisdoms are the clarity aspect of our true nature.

While we are in the world of samsara or as long as we are not realized, these wisdoms are known as the “eight

consciousnesses.” When you purify the obscurations, these eight are transformed into the Five Wisdoms. Therefore, the

nature of our present consciousness is based on these Five Wisdoms.

[jonesboy]

NIRMANAKAYA

All Buddhas are emanations of one Buddha. The different levels, aspects, or kayas of Buddha exist only for the purpose

of benefiting sentient beings. Each Buddha can appear in any of these three kayas. Dharmakaya Buddhas such as

Samantabhadra appear only to highly realized beings, such as tenth-bhumi bodhisattvas who can also receive teachings

from the Five Dhyani Buddhas. Beginning practitioners, or those with dualistic thoughts and conceptions, would have

difficulty perceiving and receiving teachings from Sambhogakaya and Dharmakaya Buddhas.

The third Buddha is known as the Nirmanakaya Buddha. Nirmana is a Sanskrit term which means to “manifest in

form.” Not just in one style or form, but in all kinds of ways, in order to benefit all sentient beings whether they are

highly realized, beginners, or even heavily obscured. The Nirmanakaya Buddha is for everyone. The Nirmanakaya can

be divided into four groups: (1) Supreme emanations, (2) Birth emanations (3) Artisan emanations, (4) Emanations of

various things.

The Supreme emanation takes birth in the world as a unique person. Buddha Shakyamuni and Guru Padmasambhava

are examples of this kind. They have special forms of body, speech, and mind. The special qualities of the body are

known as the thirty-two major marks and the eighty minor marks. For instance, their bodies have a radiant glow and are

free from old age and sickness. They also have a subtle blue light going up from the crown chakra and merging into the

sky as well as special patterns of the wheel of Dharma on their palms.

They have sixty qualities of speech which most people do not have. For example, when Buddha gave teachings, as soon

as his voice was heard, it would give a soothing, relaxed, peaceful feeling. At the same time, whatever words he spoke

could be heard at once in many different languages. Students from other lands would hear the Buddha’s voice in their

native tongues. Also, his speech was not affected by distance. An audience of hundreds or thousands had no problem

hearing, even though they were very far away. Buddha’s voice could reach to ten thousand students as clearly as to

those sitting right in front of him.

The mind of realization has the three qualities of love, compassion, and wisdom, as well as the ten powers and eight

kinds of fearlessness. Altogether there are thirty-two qualities of mind. A Buddha has no obstruction to seeing the past,

present, or future. Everything is clear to the eye of wisdom. A Buddha’s speech and body qualities are somewhat more

obvious, but many people doubt such wisdom. They think it cannot be exactly as stated in the Sutras. Even in

Shakyamuni Buddha’s time they investigated this. They closely examined whether Buddha was totally enlightened and

perfectly clear in relation to objects or not.