法身章
Chapter on Dharmakaya
法身義四門分別。初釋名者。法是軌持義。身是依止義。則法為身。亦名自性身。二體性者略有十種。一依佛地論。唯以所照真如清淨法界為性。餘四智等並屬。報化。二或唯約智。如無性攝論。以無垢無罣礙智為法身故。謂離二障。諸德釋云。此據攝境從心名為法身。匪為法身是智非理。今釋一切諸法尚即真如。況此真智而不如耶。既即是如何待攝境。三亦智亦境。如梁攝論云。唯如如及如如智獨存。名為法身。四境智雙泯。經云。如來法身非心非境。五此上四句合為一無礙法身。隨說皆得六。此上總別五句相融形奪泯茲五說。通然無寄以為法身。此上單就境智辨。七通攝五分。及悲願等法行功德。無不皆是此法身收。以修生功德必證理故。融攝無礙如前智說。八通收報化色相功德。無不皆是此法身收故。攝論中三十二相等。皆入法身攝有三義。一相即如故歸理法身。二智所現故屬智法身。三當相並是功德法。故名為法身。九通攝一切三世間故。眾生及器無非佛故。一大法身具十佛故。三身等並在此中。智正覺攝故。十總前九為一總句。是謂如來無礙自在法身之義。三出因者有四。一者了因。照現本有真如法故。二者生因。生成修起勝功德故。三者生了無礙因。生了相即二果不殊故。四者總此勝德為所依因。印機現用為所成果。四業用者亦有四。一此理法身。與諸觀智為所開覺。經云。法身說法授與義故。二依此以起報化利生勝業用故。三或作樹等密攝化故。四遍諸塵道毛端等處。重重自在無礙業用也。
**Four Aspects of the Dharma Body (Dharmakāya)**
**1. Name and Explanation** "Dharma" means that which holds and defines. "Body" means that which serves as support. So "Dharma Body" means the Dharma itself is the body. It is also called the "Self-Nature Body."
**2. Its Nature** There are ten general interpretations:
1. According to the *Buddhabhūmi Śāstra*, it is only the pure realm of reality, the suchness that is realized. The four wisdoms and so on belong to the Reward Body and Emanation Body.
2. Some say it is only wisdom. For example, Asanga's *Compilation of the Mahāyāna* says the Dharma Body is the undefiled, unobstructed wisdom, which is free from both afflictive and cognitive obstructions. Commentators explain this means that because the mind subsumes all objects, we call it the Dharma Body. But it's not that the Dharma Body is wisdom rather than reality. Another explanation: since all things are already just suchness, how could such wisdom itself not also be suchness? Since wisdom is suchness, why talk about it "subsuming" objects?
3. Some say it is both wisdom and reality. As *Liang's Compilation of the Mahāyāna* says, only thusness and the wisdom of thusness alone exist; this is called the Dharma Body.
4. Some say both wisdom and reality are transcended. A sutra says, "The Tathāgata's Dharma Body is neither mind nor object."
5. These four statements can be combined into a single, unobstructed Dharma Body; any statement can be spoken.
6. The overall and particular statements of the above five, by merging and negating each other, transcend all five. This unobstructed state is the Dharma Body. So far, this has only been discussed in terms of wisdom and reality.
7. The Dharma Body also includes all five aspects of the path (moral discipline, concentration, wisdom, liberation, the knowledge and vision of liberation), as well as compassion, vows, and all Dharma-practice merits. All of these are included in the Dharma Body because the meritorious qualities cultivated on the path must realize principle. This is integrated unobstructedly, as in the earlier explanation of wisdom.
8. The Dharma Body also includes all the forms and marks of the Reward Body and Emanation Body, such as their meritorious qualities. For this reason, *The Compilation of the Mahāyāna* states that the thirty-two marks, etc., are also included in the Dharma Body. Why? Because (1) these marks are identical to suchness, so they belong to the Reality Dharma Body. (2) They are manifested by wisdom, so they belong to the Wisdom Dharma Body. (3) Their very forms are themselves meritorious qualities of Dharma, so they are called the Dharma Body.
9. The Dharma Body also includes all three realms (the world of sentient beings, the world of environment, and the world of truth). For both sentient beings and their environment are none other than the Buddha. The single great Dharma Body contains the ten kinds of Buddha. The three bodies (Dharma Body, Reward Body, Emanation Body) are all included within it, because they are contained within the realm of correct wisdom.
10. The previous nine are unified into a single, all-embracing statement. This is what is meant by the Tathāgata's unobstructed, free, and independent Dharma Body.
**3. Its Causes** There are four:
1. **The cause of illumination**: It illuminates and reveals the inherent suchness. 2. **The cause of generation**: It generates and establishes supreme meritorious qualities through cultivation. 3. **The cause where illumination and generation are unobstructed**: Illumination and generation are not separate, so their two results are not different. 4. **The totality of these supreme merits as the supporting cause**: They serve as the basis for efficiently manifesting responses to beings as the resulting function.
**4. Its Functions** There are also four:
1. This Reality Dharma Body serves as what is awakened to by all contemplative wisdoms. A sutra says, "The Dharma Body speaks the Dharma, bestowing meaning." 2. Based on this, the Reward Body and Emanation Body arise, performing the supreme functions of benefiting beings. 3. It may manifest in forms such as trees and so on, as a secret means of transformation and guidance. 4. It functions freely and unobstructedly throughout all realms—atoms, pores, hairs, and beyond—repeatedly and spontaneously.