Dharmakaya
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Dharmakaya (chos sku).
- The first of the Three Kayas, which is devoid of constructs, and space-like as this nature of all things. The basic and all-pervasive nature of all phenomena. Dharmakaya also is designated as the 'body' of enlightened qualities. Dharmakaya should be understood individually according to ground, path and fruition. [RY]
The kayas: Various aspects or states of buddhahood. One recognizes two, three, four, or five kayas.
- Two Kayas: dharmakaya, the absolute body, and rupakaya, the body of form.
- Three kayas: the dharmakaya, or absolute body; the sambhogakaya, or body of divine enjoyment; and the nirmanakaya, or manifested body. These correspond to the mind, speech, and body of an enlightened buddha and are expressed as the five wisdoms.
- Four Kayas: the svabhavikakaya, or essential body, is to be added to the three kayas and represents their inseparability (dbyer med).
- Five kayas: to the three kayas one adds the avikaravajrakaya, the "unchanging vajra body," and the abhisambodhikaya, "body of total enlightenment." Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche