Dharmakaya

Dharmakaya (chos sku).

• The first of the Three Kayas, which is devoid of constructs, like space. The nature of all phenomena. Dharmakaya is also designated as the 'body' of enlightened qualities. 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