法性

(sa) dharmatā. Dharma-nature, the nature underlying all thing, the (sa) bhūtatathatā, a Mahāyāna philosophical concept unknown in Hīnayāna, v. 真如 and its various definitions in the 法相, 三論 (or法性), 華嚴, and 天台 Schools. It is discussed both in its absolute and relative senses, or static and dynamic. In the <Mahāparinirvāṇa sūtra> and various śāstras the term has numerous alternative forms, which may be taken as definitions, i. e. 法定 inherent dharma, or Buddha-nature; 法住 abiding dharma-nature; 法界 (sa) dharmakṣetra, realm of dharma; 法身 (sa) dharmakāya, embodiment of dharma; 實際 region of reality; 實相 reality; 空性 nature of the Void, i. e. immaterial nature; 佛性 Buddha-nature; 無相 appearance of nothingness, or immateriality; 真如 (sa) bhūtatathatā; 如來藏 (sa) tathāgatagarbha; 平等性 universal nature; 離生性 immortal nature; 無我性 impersonal nature; 虛定界: realm of abstraction; 不虛妄性 nature of no illusion; 不變異性 immutable nature; 不思議界 realm beyond thought; 自性淸淨心 mind of absolute purity, or unsulliedness, etc. Of these the terms 真如, 法性, and 實際 are most used by the <Prajñāpāramitā sūtra>s.