dharma-dhātu, (1) (7748)

dharma-dhātu, (1)
Entry 7748, Page 278, Col. 2

(DarmaDAtu, Darma-DAtu)
dharma-dhātu, (1)¦ m. (cf. Pali dhamma-dhātu), sphere of religion; regularly rendered by Tib. chos kyi (of religion) dbyiṅs (whereas khams is the usual Tib. for dhātu, q.v.); acc. to Das, dbyiṅs = space, expanse; sphere …also that which is massed in indefinite compass: tulye (so read with WT) nāma dharmadhātu-praveśe SP 60.8, see s.v. tulya; dharmadhātu-gagana-gocarāṇāṃ tathāgata- mahājñāna-sūryacandramasāṃ Gv 500.8 (the sun and moon of the great knowledge of the Tathāgata have the heaven of the sphere of religion as their scope, gocara); °tum eva vicārayamāṇo RP 4.10 (meditating on…); sarva-dharma- dhātu-prasṛtaṃ tathāgatajñānam RP 4.12; dharmadhātu- viśuddhiḥ Mvy 110, as one of the five jñāna, q.v. (where note variant of Dharmas 94); śive virajase 'mṛte dharma- dhātau pratiṣṭhāpayiṣyati LV 227.1, he will establish (creatures) in the auspicious, pure, immortal sphere-of- religion; (parijñāto) dharmadhātur vyavasthāpitaḥ sattva- dhātuḥ LV 351.9, he (Buddha) has completely understood the sphere of religion and established the ‘sphere’ (community, mass; see s.v. dhātu 6) of creatures (presumably sc. in religion); dharmadhātu-paramāṇy ākāśadhātuparyava- sānāni sarvabuddhakṣetrāṇy LV 290.7--8 (…which make the sphere of religion their supreme interest…? but Tib. chos kyi dbyiṅs kyis klas pa, prob. which are beyond the [Page279-a+ 71] dharmadhātu, otherwise Foucaux); dharmadhātv-asaṃ- bheda-cakraṃ LV 423.1, wheel that causes no confusion in the sphere of religion; ananta-madhya-dharmadhātv- avikopana-cakraṃ 3; dharmadhātu-samavasaraṇa-cakraṃ 7, wheel of attainment (see samavasaraṇa) of the sphere of religion. The cpd. dharma-dhātu seems to be used differently in AbhidhK, see LaV-P's Index. On the other hand, the use of it described by Lévi, Sūtrāl. p. *24, can be recon- ciled with that which I have described, and which is the only use I have noted in my texts. (2) n. of a former Buddha: Mv i.137.10.