Common Knowledge in Pure Land Teaching
淨土小常識
122. Two Kinds of Dharma Bodies (Dharmakaya)
(continued)
4. Applicability of the Concept
The concept of two kinds of Dharma Bodies is only applicable to Amitabha Buddha, not to any other Buddhas. Master Tanluan proposed this concept for the sake of emphasizing the unique characteristics of Amitabha Buddha, which are different from all other Buddhas.
When Master Tanluan spoke about “various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas having two kinds of Dharma Bodies”, he meant the oneness of Amitabha Buddha with all of the Bodhisattvas in the Land of Bliss. He generally used this term to describe the splendor of the Land of Bliss, like the adornments of the three Karmas - of body, mouth, and mind.
There is another term: “the Dharma Body of Dharma Nature,” which emphasizes this law, which is equal, without any differences, and the same for all Buddhas. In contrast, the Dharma Body of Expediency is restricted to Amitabha Buddha alone.
122 二種法身(續)
四、通局
二種法身僅限於彌陀、不通諸佛,因為曇鸞大師在《往生論註》中是為了突出彌陀淨土不共諸佛淨土的殊勝之處才提出二種法身之說,如果這樣來看,那麼便不得不說二種法身之說是僅限於阿彌陀佛的。
但曇鸞大師在《往生論註》中也提到「諸佛菩薩有二種法身」,不過這裡的諸佛菩薩是言總意別,諸佛指極樂淨土之阿彌陀佛,菩薩則指極樂淨土之聖眾,這與曇鸞大師於《往生論註》卷下論述三業功德時所說之「諸佛菩薩莊嚴身口意三業,用治眾生虛誑三業也」意趣相同。
除此二種法身僅限彌陀說之外,還有一種說法認為法性法身側重在理,而理是平等無差別的,所以阿彌陀佛的法性法身與諸佛的法性法身必然是相同的。這種說法認為法性法身通於諸佛,方便法身僅限於阿彌陀佛。
Namo Amituofo!
