Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
122. Two Kinds of Dharma Bodies (Dharmakaya)
(continued)
In other words, if Amitabha Buddha always dwells in the state of the Dharma Body of Dharma Nature, he can never deliver sentient beings. In this respect, he must be given the name Amitabha with specific forms and characteristics in order to deliver sentient beings.
Though it is said that there are two kinds of Dharma Bodies, this does not mean they are two different bodies. It simply expresses the Dharma Body from two different angles. The Dharma Body of Dharma Nature emphasizes the absolute truth and law, and the Dharma Body of Expediency emphasizes phenomena to deliver sentient beings.
So, Master Tanluan describes the relationship between the two Dharma Bodies and says, “Different but inseparable, and one but not the same.” They are inseparable because their substance is just one. Though they are one in the same entity, they are also different in their various aspects.
It is like a piece of gold which is cast to form a lion. A gold nugget is transformed to a gold lion. No gold no lion, no lion no gold. The gold refers to the Dharma Body of Dharma Nature and the lion refers to the Dharma Body of Expediency.
(to be continued tomorrow)
122 二種法身(續)
換言之,如果阿彌陀佛一直處在法性法身那種超越一切的、絕對的狀態中,那麼便無法救度所有眾生,所以才示現為相對的、有差別的名為阿彌陀佛的佛,以這種方式救度一切眾生,這便是方便法身。因此可以說法性法身是處在一如之境界的狀態,而方便法身則是顯現為具體形相的狀態。
不過雖然說是二種法身,但卻並不意味著真的有兩種不同的佛身,而是將佛身的功德從兩種角度加以表述,法性法身側重在與絕對的真理相一致的理的角度(但並不是只有理),方便法身則是側重在顯現救度眾生之相的事的角度。
因此曇鸞大師才在《往生論註》卷下論述二種法身的關係時言「異而不可分,一而不可同」,也就是說法性法身與方便法身雖然不同,但其體是一,所以並不能完全分開(不能分為兩種佛身);但這二種法身其體雖然是一,但畢竟也有不同的地方,所以又不能說是同一的。
所以並不是在法性法身之外別有方便法身的顯現,但也不是在方便法身之外別有一個法性法身孤立的存在。恰如將一塊黃金鑄造成獅子,黃金全體成為了獅子,黃金之外別無獅子,獅子之外也別無黃金。黃金比喻法性法身,獅子比喻方便法身。
Namo Amituofo!
