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Buddha Body ([[sangs rgyas sku]])
*Brahmin, Skt. — [[bram ze]], member of the priestly caste of ancient India. This term often indicates hermits and spiritual practitioners. It should be noted that the Buddha rejected the caste system and proclaimed on several occasions that the true brahmin is not someone so designated through an accident of birth, but one who has thoroughly overcome defilement and attained freedom. See [[Caste]]. [AJP] from The Great Image ISBN 1-59030-069-6
*One of the five fruitional aspects of a buddha. The term "buddha-body" ([[kāya; Tib. sku]]) refers not only to the physical body of a buddha, but also to the varying 'dimensions' in which the embodiment of fully enlightened attributes is present. As such, the buddha-body can be categorised in different ways, corrsponding to the different levels of the teaching. For example, sūtras of the Lesser Vehicle ([[Hīnayāna]]) speak of the buddha-body of reality ([[dharmakāya]]) and the buddha-body of form ([[rūpakāya]]), while sūtras of the Greater Vehicle ([[Mahāyāna]]) generally mention three buddha-bodies ([[trikāya]]), dividing the latter into the buddha-body of perfect resource ([[sambhogakāya]]) and the buddha-body of emanation ([[nirmāṇakāya]]). In the sūtras and treatises expounding buddha-nature ([[tathāgatagarbha]]), such as Maitreya's Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle ([[Mahayanottaratantrasastra]]), an enumeration of four buddha-bodies ([[catuhkāya]]) is mentioned. Here, the budddha-body of essentiality ([[svabhāvikakāya]]) is added to the aforementioned three buddha-bodies, to indicate either an active/ passive distinction in the buddha-body of reality, or the underlying indivisible essence of the three buddha-bodies. In the tantras of the RNying-ma school, there is an eumneration of five buddha-bodies ([[pañcakāya]]) where the buddha-body of awakening ([[abhisambodhikāya; Tib. mngon byang gi sku]]) refers to the apparitional functions of the three buddha-bodies, and the buddha-body of indestructible reality ([[vajrakāya; Tib. rdo rje'i sku]]) refers to their indivisible essence. Finally, in Atiyoga, when the buddha-bodies are actualised, the buddha-body of reality is known as the youthful vase body ([[gzhon nu'i 'bum pa'i sku]]) and the buddha-body of form is known as the body of great transformation ([['pho ba chen po'i sku]]). [[GD]] (from the Glossary to [[Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings]])
 
[[Category:  Key Terms]]

Latest revision as of 10:21, 5 July 2006

  • Brahmin, Skt. — bram ze, member of the priestly caste of ancient India. This term often indicates hermits and spiritual practitioners. It should be noted that the Buddha rejected the caste system and proclaimed on several occasions that the true brahmin is not someone so designated through an accident of birth, but one who has thoroughly overcome defilement and attained freedom. See Caste. [AJP] from The Great Image ISBN 1-59030-069-6
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