Toh 283The Noble ‌Mahāyāna Sūtra “The Three Bodies”

Summary

As the title suggests, this sūtra describes the three bodies of the Buddha. While the Buddha is
dwelling on Vulture Peak in Rājgṛha, the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha asks whether the Tathāgata has a body, to
which the Buddha replies that the Tathāgata has three bodies: a dharmakāya, a saṃbhogakāya, and a nirmāṇakāya.
The Buddha goes on to describe what constitutes these three bodies and their associated meaning. The Buddha
explains that the dharmakāya is like space, the saṃbhogakāya is like clouds, and the nirmāṇakāya is like rain.
At the end of the Buddha’s elucidation, Kṣitigarbha expresses jubilation, and the Buddha declares that whoever
upholds this Dharma teaching will obtain immeasurable merit.

Acknowledgments

Translation by the Buddhavacana Translation Group, Vienna, under the supervision of Khenpo Konchok
Tamphel. Translated into English by Rolf Scheuermann and Casey Kemp.

This translation has been completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words
of the Buddha.

Introduction

The setting of this sūtra is Vulture Peak in Rajgir (Rājgṛha), said to be the location where the
Buddha, explaining the doctrine of emptiness in the second turning of the wheel of Dharma, taught the
Prajñāpāramitā and other topics associated with Mahāyāna
Buddhism. It is here that the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha asks the Buddha a series of questions regarding the
body of the Buddha, which the Buddha answers by expounding the teaching on the three bodies.

The doctrine of the Buddha’s three bodies (trikāya) has tended to be associated with the Yogācāra school of Buddhist thought, although the
terms dharmakāya and rūpakāya (“form body”) are certainly to be found in sūtras such as the Aṣṭasāhasrikāprajñāpāramitāsūtra. It has been suggested that sūtras such as the Trikāyasūtra may have evolved after such Yogācāra treatises as the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra.

This trifold scheme can also be interpreted as describing different aspects of enlightenment or
buddhahood itself. The dharmakāya, sometimes translated as the “truth body” or “reality body,” generally
refers to the essential nature of the Buddha, as is stated in this sūtra. The saṃbhogakāya and the
nirmāṇakāya, known collectively as the form bodies, are understood as emanations of the dharmakāya, or
essential nature, of the Buddha. In other words, they are the manifestations of the enlightened activity
of the Buddha. The saṃbhogakāya, sometimes translated as “enjoyment body,” is the apparitional form the
Buddha takes for bodhisattvas and practitioners in meditative states or in dreams. The nirmāṇakāya,
sometimes translated as “manifestation body,” is the physical form of the Buddha that can be seen by any
sentient being. The Buddha, who is able to emanate in countless forms, does so in order to liberate beings
through the illumination and demonstration of the Dharma. All three bodies are ultimately considered
inseparable.

This is the only known sūtra in the Tibetan Kangyur solely dedicated to teaching the doctrine of
the three bodies. The Buddha explains here how one should view the bodies of the Buddha using analogies,
and relates the three bodies to other relevant Buddhist doctrines such as the four wisdoms.

This sūtra was first translated by W. Woodville Rockhill in his 1884 publication of The Life of the Buddha and the Early History of His Order. There is currently no
known extant version in Sanskrit, and among the different published Tibetan versions of the source text,
there do not seem to be any significant variants.

The Translation

The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra

The Three Bodies

Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas!

Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was dwelling on Vulture Peak Mountain in Rājgṛha. He
was accompanied by his entire retinue, by immeasurable, countless bodhisattvas, and by gods and nāgas.
They paid respect to the Blessed One and made offerings to him.

At that time, the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, who was sitting among the retinue, rose from his seat
and asked, “Has the Blessed One a body?”

The Blessed One replied, “Kṣitigarbha, the Blessed One, the Tathāgata, has
three bodies: a dharmakāya, a saṃbhogakāya, and a nirmāṇakāya. Son of a noble family, the three bodies of
the Tathāgata are these: the pure nature is the dharmakāya, pure meditative absorption is the
saṃbhogakāya, and pure conduct is the nirmāṇakāya of all buddhas.

“Son of a noble family, the dharmakāya of the Tathāgata consists in the fact that he has no
nature, just like the sky. His saṃbhogakāya consists in the fact that he comes forth, just like a cloud.
His nirmāṇakāya consists in the activity of all the buddhas, the fact that it soaks everything, just like
rain.”

The bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha then asked the Blessed One, “How should one view this explanation on
the three bodies of the Blessed One?”

The Blessed One answered the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, “Son of a noble family, you should view the
three bodies of the Tathāgata in the following way. That which is seen from the perspective of the Tathāgata is the dharmakāya. That which is seen from the perspective of the bodhisattvas is the saṃbhogakāya. That which is seen from the perspective of ordinary beings who conduct themselves devotedly is the nirmāṇakāya.

“Son of a noble family, the dharmakāya remains the same nature for all the buddhas. The
saṃbhogakāya remains the same meditative absorption for all the buddhas. The nirmāṇakāya remains the same
awakened activity for all the buddhas.

“Son of a noble family, the basis-of-all in its pure state is mirror-like wisdom, the dharmakāya.
The afflicted mind in its pure state is the wisdom of equality. Mental cognition in its pure state is
discriminating wisdom, the saṃbhogakāya. The five sense cognitions in their pure state are
all-accomplishing wisdom, the nirmāṇakāya.”

The bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha then exclaimed to the Blessed One, “Blessed One, the noble Dharma that
I have heard from the Blessed One is excellent, Sugata, really excellent!”

The Blessed One then declared, “Son of a noble family, whoever fully upholds this Dharma discourse
of the Blessed One will obtain merit that is immeasurable, inexpressible, incalculable, and unfathomable.”

When the Blessed One had spoken, the world, including the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha, the gods,
nāgas, yakṣas, and gandharvas, rejoiced and praised the teachings of the Blessed One.

This concludes the Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra, “The Three Bodies.”

Notes

Bibliography