chapter 3

Chapter 3: Distinguishing the 3 bodies

At that time, the Bodhisattva Void Body stands up among the assembly, brings the robe to the right shoulder, kneels on the right knee, holds the palms together respectfully and bows to Buddha’s feet, using a supreme umbrella decorated with banners and many kinds of exquisite golden or jade flowers to offer to the Tathagata, saying, Blessed One, how can a great bodhisattva correctly practice on the profound secret of the Tathagata? Buddha says, child of the lineage, listen carefully, Buddha will analyze and explain for you.

Child of the lineage, the Tathagatas have 3 bodies, a transformed body, a corresponding body (karma?), and a Dharma body. Such 3 bodies constitute fully and completely the unsurpassed Enlightenment, if you understand it correctly, you will quickly be liberated from birth and death. Child of the lineage, how should a bodhisattva understand a transformed body? You should know that Buddha in the past, in the position of one who cultivate virtues, practice the great, magnificent dharma for the sentient beings, even until consummation. Thanks to the might and strength of the practice, Buddha acquires great freedom. Having acquired the great freedom, Buddha knows all sentient beings, their wish, their deeds, and their worlds. Then, not waiting for an opportunity, not missing an opportunity, adapting to the place, the time, the deed, all depending on these factors, Buddha speak the Dharma under various body forms, this is called the transformed body. Child of the lineage, how should a bodhisattva understand the corresponding body? You should know that Buddha wish to make the bodhisattva become well-versed, as such Buddha speak of the true basis, and thanks to the consummation of the oneness of Nirvana and birth-death, eliminating all fear and exultance of sentient beings who attach to self; these make up the basis for countless qualities of Buddhahood, thanks to the might of the vows corresponding to the suchness of wisdom of suchness of true cause, Buddha forms a body with 32 great noble marks and the 8 beauty traits, and behind the neck there appears a white halo, this is called the corresponding body. Child of the lineage, how should a bodhisattva understand the Dharma body? You should know that because of eliminating all obstacles that arise from defilement and the basis for knowledge, because of having the full and complete virtuous Dharma, and only having the suchness of the way of the suchness of wisdom. This is called the Dharma body.

Child of the lineage, the previous 2 bodies are unreal, only the third one is real, making up the basis for the previous 2. Why? If Buddha deviates from the suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom, Buddha will not have any qualities. However, Buddha’s wisdom is perfect, all defilement has been eradicated, and Buddha has acquired the position of the ultimately pure Buddhahood. Thus, suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom encompass all qualities of Buddhahood.

Child of the lineage, Buddha definitely benefits self and others. Benefitting self is suchness of the way. Benefitting others is suchness of wisdom. Suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom result in freedom in benefitting self and others, accomplishing boundless miraculous goals, thus the qualities of Buddha has infinite variations. Child of the lineage, just like because of using wrongful and distracted thoughts to speak of all kinds of defilement, habits and repercussion (ripening of karma); similarly, one uses suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom to speak of the Dharma of Buddha, of Solitary Enlightened ones, Hearers. Thanks to suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom, all Buddha dharma is completed with freedom, this is the topmost phenomenon, inconceivable. Child of the lineage, just like drawing furniture in space, this is inconceivable; using suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom to  consummate the qualities of Buddha is just as inconceivable. Why do suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom not discriminate and yet still accomplish all phenomenon? This is just like Buddha entering Nirvana, but thanks to the freedom of the might of vows, yet is still able to accomplish all phenomenon. suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom which are free to accomplish all phenomenon is just the same. Child of the lineage, the great bodhisattva enters the samadhi of no-mind, but thanks to the previous vows’ might, can awake from the Samadhi and still can accomplish all phenomenon; similarly, suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom do not discriminate, yet can still accomplish the work. Just like there is no discrimination between the sun and moon, or water and mirror, or light, but when these three factors combine, an image is formed; similarly, suchness of the way and suchness of wisdom do not discriminate, but thanks to the freedom of the might of vows, sentient beings see the corresponding body and transformed body. Child of the lineage, there are many water mirror that does not have an image available, but thanks to light, manifests in many different forms, but space does not have such forms. Similarly, those who accept the mainstream teachings are the image of the dharma body. Thanks to the might of the vows, the two bodies accomplish all froms, but the Dharma body has no various forms.

Child of the lineage, because of the 2 bodies, the Tathagatas are known as the redundant Nirvana, because of the Dharma body, the Tathagatas are known as the non-redundant Nirvana, because anything that is redundant has been absolutely eliminated. Also, because of the 3 bodies, the Tathagatas are known as not abiding in Nirvana. The 2 bodies do not abide in Nirvana; if separated from the Dharma body, there will be no independent Buddha body. Why do the 2 bodies not abide in Nirvana, because the 2 bodies are unreal, produced and destroyed as of (by) thought, not constantly abiding, always appearing and not fixed. However, the Dharma body is not like that. Thus the 2 bodies do not abide in Nirvana, while the Dharma body is of oneness with the 2 bodies, so it also does not abide in Nirvana. Thus, according to the 3 bodies, one can say that Buddha does not abide in Nirvana.

Child of the lineage, the lay person is restrained and bounded by the 3 signs, there is separation from the 3 bodies, not reaching the 3 bodies. What are the 3 signs, 1 is change, 2 is forgiveness, 3 is completion. Such 3 signs yet cannot explain what should be explained, cannot eliminate what cannot be eliminated, cannot purify what cannot be purified, thus it cannot reach the 3 bodies. If such 3 signs can explain, eliminate or purify, then they will bring to perfection the 3 bodies of Buddha. Child of the lineage, since the lay person cannot destroy the 3 mindset (perceptions), thus he is far from the 3 bodies, unable to reach them. What are the 3 mindset, 1 is argument, causing trouble for sentient beings, 2 is leaning on a basis, 3 is the basis itself. By means or way of temporary destruction, the mindset of causing trouble is destroyed, by means of eradication, the mindset of leaning on a basis is destroyed, by means of the Unsurpassed method, the mindset of basis is destroyed. When the mindset of causing trouble is destroyed, the transformed body comes into being, when the mindset of leaning on a basis is destroyed, the correspondent body comes into being, when the mindset of a basis is destroyed, the dharma body is formed. Thus, the Tathagata completes the 3 bodies.

Child of the lineage, as of the first body, the Tathagatas share the same work, as of the second body, the Tathagatas share the same wish, as of the third body, the Tathagatas share the same nature and character.

 Child of the lineage, the first body of the Tathagata has many forms, because the sentient beings have many forms, thus this body is called plenty. The second body of the Tathagata, the opinion of the Disciple is of one form, thus it appears as one form, thus this body is called one. The third body of Buddha surpasses all forms, not belonging to the field/area of forms, thus this body is not one, not different.

Child of the lineage, the first body depends on the correspondent body to manifest, the second body depends on the Dharma body, and the third body is real, and does not require a support.

Child of the lineage, such 3 bodies can be said to have the meaning of permanence, it can also have the meaning of impermanence. The Transformed body often turns the wheel of Dharma, depending on the circumstances and causes, incessant means, not terminated, thus it is called permanent; however, it is not the basis, the full greatness of the qualities is not manifest, thus it is called impermanence. The body from endless time until now continues without ceasing, and able to hold all special qualities of Buddha, since sentient beings are infinite, the miraculous means and practice is also infinite, thus it is called permanent; but it is not the basis, and the full and complete means is not manifest, thus it is called impermanent. The Dharma body does not have a boundary, does not have various different forms, but it is the basis in itself, just like space, thus it is called permanent. Child of the lineage, if one leaves the suchness of wisdom, there will no longer be present the supreme knowledge and wisdom, if one leaves the suchness of the way, there will no longer be present the supreme scene (seeing in the past and future, not just present). At one side is the suchness of the Dharma, at the other side is the suchness of wisdom, such 2 sides of suchness are suchness, not one, not separate. Thus, for the Dharma body, the wisdom becomes purified, and elimination is purified, thanks to these two purifications, the Dharma body is completely purified.

Child of the lineage, there are 4 differences in distinguishing the 3 bodies: there is the transformed body and not the correspondent body, there is the correspondent body without (and not) the transformed body, there is the transformed body which is also the correspondent body, there is one which is neither the transformed body nor the correspondent body. What is the transformed body but not the correspondent body, this means that even when Buddha has already entered into Nirvana, yet thanks to the free might of vows, still benefit sentient beings depending on the circumstances. What is the correspondent body but not the transformed body, it is the body that is seen by the bodhisattva in the 10 grounds. What is the transformed body but also the correspondent body, this is the body in the redundant Nirvana (hữu dư). What is not transformed body, and also not the correspondent body, it is exactly the dharma body. Child of the lineage, such Dharma body is manifest by the 2 non-belonging. What are the 2 non-belongings, it is that in the dharma body the attachment to the self and to the dharma is all emptiness, not have, not not-have, not one, not two separate entity, unquantifiable, not surpassing quantity, not wise, not dim-witted, just like that, suchness of wisdom does not see an attachment to the self or to the dharma, does not see that which does not have or not not-have, even not seeing not wise or not dim-witted, thus you should know the purity of the scene and purity of wisdom is indistinguishable, not in between; it provides a ground for the basis of destruction (of suffering?) and the basis of the means (way to do so), as such, the dharma body has the full ability to manifest all types of work of the Tathagatas

Child of the lineage, as for this body, the self, elements, environment, objects, results, all rely on the basis (of suchness), and it is inconceivable. If you understand this meaning, you will know too that this body is the great vehicle, the character of the Tathagata, the embryo of the Tathagata. If you rely on this body, the mind of the position of newly generated enlightenment and the mind of the position of cultivating virtues, the mind of the position of irreversibility, the mind of the position of bodhisattva becoming Buddha in one more future life, the mind of the position of Vajra, the mind of the position of Buddhahood all appear, countless and infinite exquisite qualities of the Tathagata also appear. Child of the lineage, relying on the Dharma body, one can complete the great Samadhi and the great wisdom, and as such the transformed body which relies on the great Samadhi and the corresponding body replying on the great wisdom all are fulfilled. Such Dharma body, from Its own self being is said to be permanent and self; from Its great Samadhi, It is said to be joy; from Its great wisdom, It is said to be pure. As such, the Tathagatas is always abiding, free, joyful and pure.

Thanks to the great Samadhi, all types of meditation, the Surugama Samadhi, and all equal Samadhi, all areas of chanting, the great methods of chanting and all equal chanting area, great compassion, all Dharani and magical abilities, all free and equal, all such Buddha Dharma are accomplished. Thanks to the great wisdom, the 10 powers, 4 fearless, 4 eloquence, 180 separate methods, all such inconceivable methods are accomplished. Just as the wish jewel able to let appear many kinds of precious jades, similarly, thanks to the jewel of the great meditation and great wisdom, infinite miraculous methods of the Tathagatas appear

Child of the lineage, the dharma body is as such, and the great meditation, great wisdom of It surpass all definition, not bounded to any definition, indistinguishable, impermanent, uninterrupted, this is called the middle way; though separate and different, the character does not separate nor does it differ, though there are 3 in number, but the character is not 3, does not increase or decrease, just like a dream and illusion that does not have the ability to be bounded to the concept of a basis; it is the suchness of the dharmakaya, the realm of liberation, surpassing all realms of the king of death, even surpassing the darkness of birth and death, it is the place where sentient beings cannot cultivate and reach at (using their own definition), it is the dwelling place of Buddha and bodhisattvas

Child of the lineage, just like a person who wants to have some gold, he looks for it everywhere and finds a gold mine. He then strikes at it and chooses the more refined part, to be put to a refinery and make pure gold, using this gold to make various jewelry. Though there are different kinds of jewelry, the nature of gold remains the same. As such, child of the lineage, anyone who wants to liberate himself from the world, and cultivate virtues within the sphere and boundary of the world, then he will see the Tathagatas, and the Disciples, having seen them, they ask, Blessed One, which is virtue? Which is sin? What is cultivating virtues and acquiring the purity of practice? The Tathagatas and the Disciples, having heard that person ask, think, this person wishes to acquire purity, and wish to listen to the Dharma. Thinking so, they speak to him and make him understand. That person listens and keeps it in mind, initiates the mind of cultivating virtues and acquires the strength of exerting effort, eliminating all obstacles that are caused by indulgence, destroying all sins. Towards the realm of Dharma, they steer away from all disrespect, stopping all activities and regret, thus they enter the first ground. Since the mind of this first ground eliminates all obstacles preventing one from benefiting sentient beings, the second ground is attained. Since the mind of this second ground eliminates all obstacles of causing troubles to sentient beings, the third ground is attained. Since the mind of this third ground eliminates all obstacles towards a pure and gentle mind, the fourth ground is attained. Since the mind of this third ground eliminates all obstacles towards skillful means, the fifth ground is attained. In the fifth ground, one eliminates the obstacle of seeing that the noble path and the worldly path oppose each other (antagonistic), thus the sixth ground is attained. In the sixth ground, one eliminates the obstacle of seeing the presence of forms of practice, thus the seventh ground is attained. In the seventh ground, one eliminates the obstacle caused by not seeing the destruction, thus the eighth ground is attained. In the eighth ground, one eliminates the obstacle caused by not seeing birth, thus the ninth ground is attained. In the ninth ground, one eliminates the obstacle towards the 6 understanding, thus the tenth ground is attained. In the tenth ground, one eliminates the obstacle caused by ignorance towards the method of the basis of knowledge, thus the Tathagata ground is attained. The Tathagatahood is ultimate pure because It has 3 purities. Which are the 3? One is the purity attained from eliminating all defilement, two is purity from eliminating all suffering, and three is purity attained from eliminating all habits. Just like gold that is melted in a refinery; after it is refined, it no longer has any impurities, which proves that gold is pure in nature, not that there is no gold. Just like impure water that is filtered becomes free of impurities, which shows that the nature of water is pure, not that there is no water. Similarly, the Dharma body is free from all defilement; when suffering and the causes of suffering have been eradicated, there is no more habits left. This proves that the Dharma body is originally pure, not that there is no nature and character. Just like void air rendered foggy by dust, when this smog has been swept away, the air becomes pure, not that there is no air; the Dharma body is just like that, when all sufferings have been eradicated, it is called pure, not that there is no nature or character of the Dharma body. Just like a person who dreams that he has been swept away by the flood, thus he uses both his hands and feet to swim over, and manages to reach to the other shore, that is thanks to both his mind and body not slacking, not receding. When he awakes from his dream, he no longer sees any water, nor does he see this shore or that shore, but it does not mean that there is no mind: When the ignorant, distracted thought about birth and death is eliminated, wisdom becomes pure and bright, not that there is no wisdom. As such, when there is the Dharma body, all distracted thought no longer arises, thus it is called pure, not that the Tathagatas do not have a real character/body.

Moreover, child of the lineage, the dharma body purifies obstacles of defilement (hoặc chướng), thus it manifests itself as the corresponding body, purifies obstacles of habits and manifests as the corresponding body, purifies obstacles towards wisdom and manifests as the Dharma body. Just as in space there appears lightning, from lightning appears light; similarly, the dharma body manifests and causes the appearance of the corresponding body, the corresponding body manifests the transformed body. Thanks to a clear and pure form, the Dharma body manifests itself, thanks to clear wisdom, the corresponding body is manifest, thanks to the clarity of meditation, the transformed body is manifest. Such 3 purities are the suchness of the nature of Dharma, suchness of non-different, suchness of oneness, suchness of liberation, suchness of salvation, hence, the character and form of the Tathagatas is of the same kind, no difference. Child of the lineage, if anyone says that the Tathagata is my great Teacher, resolutely believing so, that person, in the deepest mind, understands the Dharma body of the Tathagatas as indistinguishable. And child of the lineage, as such, towards all methods, that person eliminates all incorrect thought process, and knows that the Dharmas are not two (separate borders), indistinguishable, the character of a Saint who cultivates virtue. Towards the method, correctly cultivate the concept of not having any two sides, in the same way and to the same effect, the obstacles are removed; the person removes the obstacles in the same way as when he ultimately purifies suchness of the method and suchness of wisdom; the person ultimately purifies suchness of the method and suchness of wisdom in the same way as when he accomplish all freedom, completely and extensively. The true sign of suchness of wisdom and suchness of the way is the removal of and filtering out all obstacles. If a person recognizes it as such, this is the seeing of a saint, and thus is called truly seeing the Tathagata, why, since this is seeing the suchness of the way of the Dharma, just as It is. As such, a Tathagata knows all other Tathagatas, while the Disciples and Solitary Enlightened being sublime all three realms, but cannot see suchness of the way, even though they wish to. Even Saints are unable to see, no need to speak of lay people, who cast doubts on, distinguish wrongly, and unable to reach there. This is no different from a rabbit trying to swim across the great sea, since the strength of the rabbit is too feeble, the lay people are the same, they are unable to consummate suchness of the way of the Dharma. On the other hand, the Tathagatas distinguish supremely, thus are able to acquire the great freedom towards all Dharma, acquiring fully all pure and profound wisdom; that is the realm of the Tathagatas, and not together with any other person. As such, we know that the Tathagatas in countless eons do not spare their own lives, undergoing hard and difficult conditions to cultivate virtues, and hence able to acquire the supreme body, unsurpassed, inconceivable, surpassing the realm of language, peaceful, miraculous and free from all fear.

As such, child of the lineage, if one is able to see the suchness of the theory of the Dharma, he will not be born, will not age or die, having infinite longevity, not sleep or rest, not thirst or hunger, the mind often deep in meditation, not shifting or distracted. If one tries to debate with the Tathagatas, that is not seeing the Tathagatas. Whatever the Tathagatas speak, there is benefit, whoever listens will be liberated, and thanks to hearing the Dharma, he will obtain endless benefits, even vicious birds, voracious beasts, evil people or demons will not come across them. However, the Tathagatas do not have the not remembering (vô ký), not having the wish to know all Dharma (yet still know), not having the thought that birth-death and Nirvana differ. Whatever the Tathagatas proclaim are all certain. All actions of the Tathagatas are with wisdom, all works are filled with compassion, there is none which does not benefit the sentient beings. Child of the lineage, towards this Sutra of Golden Light, any sons or daughters of the lineage who hear, trust and understand, that person will not fall into hell, or become pretas, animals, asura; that person will often be born in human and deva’s world, but not lowly place, often meeting the Tathagatas, listen to and accept the Dharma, and born in the pure world of the Tathagata: all this is thanks to being able to listen to this very profound Dharma. Sons or daughters of the lineage like this are known by the Tathagatas and will be recognized as irreversible from supreme Enlightenment. Anyone in whose ear this profound Sutra fall upon, that person does not speak ill of Buddha, nor destroy the Dharma or despise the Sangha. That person helps others who have not sown roots of virtues do so, and those who have already done so they help them mature and increase such roots of virtue. They encourage everyone in all kinds of worlds to practice according to the 6 paramitas.

At this time, the bodhisattva Void air body, Brahma king, Indra, the Four great Kings, devas, from their seats stand up, bare the right shoulder, respectfully hold their palms together, and bow to the Tathagata’s feet, and say, Blessed One, wherever there is this great sutra the Golden Light, that nation has 4 kinds of benefits. 1 The royal army is strong, not facing any enemies, the king and the citizens are free from sickness, enjoy good health and longevity, peaceful and auspicious, making Buddha Dharma prosper. 2 The royal family and ministers are peaceful with each other, staying away from flatter; the king also has high regard for them. 3 Monks and the citizens practice Buddhism, free from sickness, peaceful, no one suffers from sudden death, cultivating rich fields of virtues. 4 Day and night the body enjoys good circulation, balanced; the devas also keep and protect them, the mind of compassion, equality, without hurt or harm, making everyone respect the Three Jewel, everyone cultivate the Bodhi practice. Such are the 4 benefits. Blessed One, we will often observe the people who practice and uphold this Sutra, wherever they are we will bring great benefits to them, all to help spread this Sutra. The Blessed One says, how benign, children of the lineage, you should follow just what you have said. If you exert efforts to spread this king of Sutra, you at the same time make the Buddha Dharma abides long in the world.