法身

(sa) dharmakāya, embodiment of Truth and Law, the "spiritual" or true body; essential Buddhahood; the essence of being; the absolute, the norm of the universe; the first of the (sa) trikāya, v.三身. The (sa) dharmakāya is divided into 總 unity and 別 diversity; as in the noumenal absolute and phenomenal activities, or potential and dynamic; but there are differences of interpretation, e.g. as between the 法相 and 法性 schools. Cf. 法身體性. There are many categories of the (sa) dharmakāya. In the 2 group 二法身 are five kinds:

(1) 理 "substance" and 智 wisdom or expression;

(2) 法性法身 essential nature and 應化法身 manifestation; the other three couples are similar. In the 3 group 三法身 are

(1) the manifested Buddha, i.e. Śākyamuni;

(2) the power of his teaching, etc.;

(3) the absolute or ultimate reality. There are other categories.