Fa xing shen, Fǎ xìng shēn: 4 definitions

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

法性身 [fa xing shen]—Dharmakāya of Nature — [Term] Abbreviated as Dharmakāya (法身 [fa shen]). It is one of the Three Bodies of the Buddha (佛三身 [fu san shen]). The Buddha's body, like the Dharma-nature, pervades the ten directions, having immeasurable and boundless adornments with auspicious marks and characteristics (相好莊嚴 [xiang hao zhuang yan]). With immeasurable light (光明 [guang ming]) and immeasurable sound (音聲 [yin sheng]), it saves immeasurable Dharmakāya Bodhisattvas (法身菩薩 [fa shen pu sa]) in the ten directions. This is called the Dharmakāya of Nature. The Prajñāpāramitā-śāstra (智度論 [zhi du lun]), Scroll 9, states: "The Buddha has two kinds of bodies: first, the Dharmakāya of Nature; second, the body born of parents (父母生身 [fu mu sheng shen]). This Dharmakāya of Nature fills the ten directions of space (虛空 [xu kong]), with immeasurable and boundless forms, perfectly upright and adorned with auspicious marks and characteristics, possessing immeasurable light and immeasurable sound. The assembly listening to the Dharma also fills space." The Commentary on the Rebirth Treatise (往生論註 [wang sheng lun zhu]), Scroll Down, states: "The unconditioned Dharmakāya (無為法身 [wu wei fa shen]) is the Dharmakāya of Nature. Since the Dharma-nature is tranquil and extinct (法性寂滅 [fa xing ji mie]), the Dharmakāya is without form (無相 [wu xiang]). Because it is without form, it can manifest all forms; therefore, being adorned with auspicious marks and characteristics is precisely the Dharmakāya." There are discussions regarding whether the Dharmakāya of Nature is with form (有相 [you xiang]) or without form. See the Appendix to the Dharmakāya entry (法身條附錄 [fa shen tiao fu lu]). (Dharmakāya)