Sambhogakaya, Sambhogakāya: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Sambhogakaya 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)
The four aspects of the Saṃbhogakāya are part of the Sixteen Aspects (ṣoḍaśākārā) of Gnosis (jñāna) in terms of ultimate reality.
- the Saṃbhoga-body (sambhoga-kāya)
- the Saṃbhoga-mind (sambhoga-citta)
- the Saṃbhoga-speech (sambhoga-vāc)
- the Saṃbhoga-gnosis (sambhoga-jñāna)
Sambhogakāya (सम्भोगकाय) (Sanskrit; in Tibetan: longs sku) — (lit. “Enjoyment body”) — Within the compass of the form body, the glorified aspect of a buddha that appears only to selected disciples. The enjoyment body is said to be possessed of the major and minor marks of a buddha and to teach Mahayana Dharma in Akaniṣṭha heaven to high-level bodhisattvas for as long as samsara lasts
Sambhogakāya (सम्भोगकाय) refers to the “Buddha-body of Perfect Resource” and is associated with the “secret empowerment” (Tibetan: gsang-dbang) which represents one of the “Four Empowerments” of the Unsurpassed Yoga Tantras (including Mahāyoga) which are also known in Sanskrit as caturabhiṣeka.—The secret empowerment (gsang-dbang), which purifies ordinary speech and its vital energy into the Buddha-body of Perfect Resource (sambhogakāya).
Sambhogakāya (सम्भोगकाय) refers to the “enjoyment body”, according to Buddhist teachings followed by the Newah in Nepal, Kathmandu Valley (whose roots can be traced to the Licchavi period, 300-879 CE).—In the Mahāyāna, the Buddha became understood as has having "three bodies", the trikāya, which consists of the dharmakāya, "the reality body", the Buddha as the ultimate reality of emptiness, sambhogakāya, "the enjoyment body", the Buddha as a divine mystical being, and nirmāṇakāya, "the transformation body", the Buddha in human form. The sambhogakāya, is seen as the form of the Buddha which taught the Mahāyāna sūtras. This celestial understanding of buddhahood lead to a burgeoning of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in divine form.
Saṃbhogakāya (संभोगकाय) refers to the “enjoyment body”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, [while explaining the knowledge circle (jñānacakra)]: “[...] [The Knowledge Circle is] the śmaśāna (“charnel ground”) [holy site] and appears to be a jewel. [The Yoginīs and their consort heroes are] performers of self-existing pleasure. Therefore, [this] maṇḍala (layer) comprising the three circles is [connected with] the Enjoyment Body (saṃbhogakāya). Four lines are [drawn] on the circuit [of the Knowledge Circle] in terms of the purity of the Fourfold Pleasure. [...]”.
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)
The Sambhogakāya (Sanskrit: "body of enjoyment", Tib: longs.sku) is the second mode or aspect of the Trikaya.
The Sambhogakaya is a "subtle body of limitless form". Both "celestial" Buddhas such as Bhaisajyaguru and Amitābha, as well as advanced bodhisattvas such as Avalokitesvara and Manjusri can appear in a "enjoyment-body. A Buddha can appear in an "enjoyment-body" to teach bodhisattvas through visionary experiences. Those Buddhas and Bodhisattvas manifest themselves in their specific pure lands. These worlds are created for the benefits of others. In those lands it is easy to hear and practice the Dharma. A person can be reborn in such a pure land by "the transfer of some of the huge stock of 'merit' of a Land's presiding Buddha, stimulated by devout prayer.
Sambhogakāya See Trikāya.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Saṃbhogakāya (संभोगकाय).—m., ‘enjoyment-body’: Mahāvyutpatti 117. Contrasts with dharma-k° and nirmāṇa-k°; see s.v. kāya, end. In Sūtral. ix.60 and 61 sāṃbhogyaḥ (or, commentary, °gikaḥ) kāyaḥ; commentary on 60 says, °giko yena parṣan- maṇḍaleṣu dharmasaṃbhogaṃ karoti; Lévi, passionnel. Not in Abhidharmakośa Index. See Mus, Barabudur (II) 648 ff. (corps communiel; or, 650, corps glorieux; Mus finds it, not named, in Saddharmapuṇḍarīka). Perhaps saṃbhogo Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 314.2 refers to this; compare Suzuki, Studies, 145, and see niṣyanda- buddha.
Sambhogakāya (सम्भोगकाय):—[=sam-bhoga-kāya] [from sam-bhoga > sam-bhuj] 2. sam-bhoga-kāya m. ‘body of enjoyment’, Name of one of the three bodies of a Buddha, [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 247]
Saṃbhogakāya (संभोगकाय):—m. der Körper des Genusses, Bez. einer der drei Körper eines Buddha [Vyutpatti oder Mahāvyutpatti 3.] [WASSILJEW 127. fg. 263. 286.] [Hiouen-Thsang 1, 241.] Vie de [Hiouen-Thsang 231.] [KĀLACAKRA 3, 16.]
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Saṃbhōgakāya (ಸಂಭೋಗಕಾಯ):—[noun] (Buddh.) he who is the personification of happiness or bliss.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Sambhoga, Kaya.
Full-text (+89): Bao shen, Shou yong shen, Zhen fu, Zi shou yong shen, Sambhoga, Ta shou yong shen, Jue xiang, Bao shen fu, Shou fa le fu, San shen, San pu jia jia ye, Er se shen, Trikaya, San mei ye shen, Fu shou, Nishyandabuddha, Lian hua cang shi jie, Shou yong tu, Bao hua fu, Shi se shen.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Sambhogakaya, Sambhoga-kaya, Saṃbhoga-kāya, Sambhoga-kāya, Sambhōga-kāya, Sambhogakāya, Saṃbhogakāya, Saṃbhōgakāya, Sambhōgakāya, Sambhogakayas; (plurals include: Sambhogakayas, kayas, kāyas, Sambhogakāyas, Saṃbhogakāyas, Saṃbhōgakāyas, Sambhōgakāyas, Sambhogakayases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 1 - Homage (mchod par brjod pa) < [Book 1 - The beginning of the story of the Doctrine]
Chapter 14 - Kun spang and the founding of monastery at Jo nang < [Book 10 - The Kālacakra]
Chapter 29 - Sonam Gyatso (vii): Labors for the doctrine < [Book 10 - The Kālacakra]
Advayavajra-samgraha (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri)
Part 3 - The three Kayas < [Introduction]
Chapter 8 - Pancakara < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]
Part 1 - Introduction (to the Advayavajra-samgraha) < [Introduction]
Hevajra Tantra (analytical study) (by Seung Ho Nam)
6. The Tenets of Vajrayana in Hevajra Tantra < [Chapter 1 - Tantric Buddhism]
3.1. The Generation Stage < [Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra]
1.3. (i) Existence of Gotra < [Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 3e.2b - The nirmanakayas who are tamers of beings < [B. The explanation of the kayas and wisdoms]
Part 3e.2a - The self-existing nirmanakaya < [B. The explanation of the kayas and wisdoms]
Part 3d.1 - Sambhogakaya: The brief teaching < [B. The explanation of the kayas and wisdoms]
The gods of northern Buddhism (by Alice Getty)
Buddha-nature (as Depicted in the Lankavatara-sutra) (by Nguyen Dac Sy)
4.1. Origin and Development of the Dharmakāya < [Chapter 4 - The Thought of Buddha-Nature in the Laṅkāvatārasūtra]
4.2. Dharmakāya in the Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra < [Chapter 4 - The Thought of Buddha-Nature in the Laṅkāvatārasūtra]
The Individuality of the Buddha-nature < [Introduction]