Pieters (August 20, 1991)
What are the three bodies of the Buddha? These words are contained in the Kaikyoge

Murano (September 11, 1991)
We say that the Buddha has tri-kaya (three-bodies): Sambhoga-kaya, Dharma-kaya, and Nirmana-kaya. When we say that the Buddha is one who has attained Buddhahood after performing the Bodhisattva practices, we say of the Sambhoga-kaya of the Buddha. When we say that the Buddha is the Dharma itself, we say of the Dharma-kaya of the Buddha. When we say that the Buddha is one who saves us, we say of the Nirmana-kaya of the Buddha. The Sambhoga-kaya tells us of the career of the Buddha; the Dharma-kaya, the truthfulness of the Buddha; and the Nirmana-kaya, the compassion of the Buddha.

The Dharma was personified from the outset of Buddhism. When the Buddha was about to pass away, he said to Ananda, “If you think that there will be no teacher after I pass away, you are wrong. The Dharma will be your teacher.”

The Dharma was personified also in another way. The Buddha is one who knows the Dharma, not the creator of it. The Dharma exists first, and then the Buddha appears. Without the Dharma, the Buddha would not be able to attain enlightenment. Therefore, the Dharma is the teacher of the Buddha.

Shingon Buddhism separates the Dharma-kaya from the Sambhogakaya, and gives the name of Mahavairocana to the Dharma-kaya. According to Shingon Buddhism, Mahavairocana Buddha is the Highest Buddha, Sakyamuni being only one of the four Buddhas under him. Nichiren was against Shingon on this point.

Pureland Buddhism establishes Amitabha Buddha as the savior, treating Sakyamuni only as the teacher, not the savior. The parable of Niga-byakudo (Two-rivers-white-road), which was told by Zendo, tells us of all this clearly. There is a river with two large whirlpools of fire and water, severed by a narrow white bridge. There is only one bridge on the river. Sakyamuni stands on this side of the river with people to be saved. He tells them, “Go ahead. Cross the bridge. Don’t be afraid.” On the other side of the river is Western Paradise with Amitabha Buddha as the lord. Amitabha, from afar with a loud voice, calls the people on this side of the river, “Come, and you will be saved.”