Dharmakaya, Dharma-kaya, Dharmakāya: 7 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
2. General definition
Languages
1. Pali
2. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Dharmakaya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: The Inner Kalacakratantra: A Buddhist Tantric View of the Individual

The four aspects of the Dharmakāya are part of the Sixteen Aspects (ṣoḍaśākārā) of Gnosis (jñāna) in terms of ultimate reality.

the Dharma-body (dharma-kāya)
the Dharma-mind (dharma-citta)
the Dharma-speech (dharma-vāc)
the Dharma-gnosis (dharma-jñāna)

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: WikiPedia: Buddhism

The Dharmakaya may be considered the most sublime or truest reality in the Universe. Buddhas are manifestations of the Dharmakaya, and are called Nirmanakayas. Unlike ordinary unenlightened persons, Buddhas (and Arhats) do not die (though their physical bodies undergo the cessation of biological functions and subsequent disintegration). In the Lotus Sutra (sixth fascicle) Buddha explains that he has always and will always exist to lead beings to their salvation. This eternal aspect of Buddha is the Dharmakaya.

Source: Shambala Publications: General

Dharmakāya Skt. See Trikāya.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

dhammakāya : (adj.) the Normal body.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Dharmakāya (धर्मकाय).—

1) an epithet of Buddha.

2) a Jaina saint.

Derivable forms: dharmakāyaḥ (धर्मकायः).

Dharmakāya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms dharma and kāya (काय).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Dharmakāya (धर्मकाय).—m. (in Pali recorded only as [bahuvrīhi] adj. in quite different sense, having a body that is, or is characterized by, the Doctrine, Dīghanikāya (Pali) iii.84.24, said of the Buddha; see below for similar use in [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit]); (1) the mass of conditions of existence, see s.v. kāya (2); (2) perhaps to be rendered spiritual body (?), contrasted with rūpa- kāya, q.v.: (dṛṣṭo mayopādhyāyānubhāvena) sa bhagavān dharmakāyena (in his spiritual form, or the like; he had not seen him physically) no tu rūpakāyena (but not in his physical form) Divyāvadāna 19.11; similarly 360.19 (…na dṛṣṭo rūpakāyo me 20—21); na rūpakāyatas tathāgataḥ prajñā- tavyaḥ…dharmakāyaprabhāvitāś ca buddhā bhagavanto na rūpakāya-prabhāvitāḥ Samādhirājasūtra 22.7 (Régamey, Absolute Body, Material Body; R. does not understand prabhāvita quite rightly; it means recognized, see [Boehtlingk and Roth] s.v. bhū with pra, caus., 3); similarly 22.9 and especially 34, with the explana- tion, dharmeṇa kāyu nirjito, (His) body is born (? see nirjita) by dharma; see Régamey p. 23; elsewhere, with the same contrast, the word dharma-k° is used as a [bahuvrīhi] adj. (compare the Pali usage above, with which this usage may be directly connected), na hi tathāgato rūpakāyato draṣṭavyaḥ, dharmakāyās tathāgatāḥ Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 513.15; instead of rūpakāya, simply kāya may be used in contrast, dharma- kāyā buddhā bhagavantaḥ, mā khalu punar imaṃ bhik- ṣavaḥ satkāyaṃ kāyaṃ manyadhvaṃ, dharmakāya- pariniṣpattito māṃ bhikṣavo drakṣyanty Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 94.11—13; (3) perhaps to be rendered in the same way as (2), but considered the highest of three bodies of a Buddha, the [Page277-b+ 71] others being saṃbhoga- and nirmāṇa-k°; this is a late formula (Régamey, l.c. above) and I have noted the triad only in Mahāvyutpatti 116—118 among texts included in this work (see under the others); (4) without specific contrast with other kāyas but most likely belonging to (2) rather than (3): sa dharmakāya-prabhāvito (see Samādhirājasūtra 22.7 above) darśanenāpi sattvānām arthaṃ karoti Śikṣāsamuccaya. 159.7; manomaya-dharmakāyasya tathāgatasya Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 192.1 (Abhidharmakośa knows a manomaya-kāya, app. not identified with dharma-k°, see LaV-P. Index; according to ii.209 it pertains to the rūpa-dhātu); probably, na rājan kṛpaṇo loke dharma- kāyena saṃspṛśet Divyāvadāna 560.2 (verse). [In Lalitavistara 401.21 all mss. and Calcutta (see LV.) read Dharmakāya as name of one of the four devatās of the bodhi-tree; Lefm. Dharmakāma, with Tibetan chos ḥdod; the em. seems plausible.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Dharmakāya (धर्मकाय):—[=dharma-kāya] [from dharma > dhara] m. ‘law-body’, Name of one of the 3 bodies of a Buddha, [Vajracchedikā; Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 246]

2) [v.s. ...] ‘having the l° for body’, a Buddha, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] a Jaina saint, [Horace H. Wilson]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of Avalokiteśvara, [Buddhist literature]

5) [v.s. ...] of a god of the Bodhi tree, [Lalita-vistara]

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Relevant text

Search found 27 books and stories containing Dharmakaya, Dharma-kaya, Dharmakāya, Dharma-kāya; (plurals include: Dharmakayas, kayas, Dharmakāyas, kāyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 2 - How luminosity dwells within space and wisdom without adding or taking away < [B. The explanation of the kayas and wisdoms]

Part 3c - The peaceful dharmakaya < [B. The explanation of the kayas and wisdoms]

Part 2 - The fruition refuge < [B. The particular objects of refuge]

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Conclusion

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Text Sections 165-166 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]

Text Section 194 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]

Text Sections 225-226 / Stanza 10 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]

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Chapter 2 - Lecture Concerning Kurukula < [Part Two]

Chapter 2 - The Three Identifications < [Part One]