Thought for Thu, 15 Apr 2010

In Buddhism, there is a teaching called the "three bodies" (sanjin),
also called the "three properties" or the "three enlightened properties".
These are the three kinds of form that a Buddha may manifest as:

1) the Dharma Body (dharmakaya or hosshin) is the form in which a
Buddha transcends physical being and is identical with the undifferentiated
unity of being or Suchness (Skt. tathata, Jp. shinnyo);

2) the Bliss or Reward Body (sambhogakaya or hojin) is obtained as the
"reward" for having completed the bodhisattva practice of aiding other
beings to end their suffering and having penetrated the depth of the
Buddha's wisdom. Unlike the Dharma Body, which is immaterial, the Bliss Body
is conceived of as an actual body, although one that is still transcendent
and imperceptible to common people;

3) the Manifested Body (nirmanakaya or ojin) is the physical form in which
the Buddha appears in this world in order to guide sentient beings.
It is considered that the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, is nirmanakaya.
Honen believed that Amida is sambhogakaya.