The Concept of the Buddha: Its Evolution from Early Buddhism to the Trikaya Theory

by Xing; Guang

• ISBN13: 9780415333443
• ISBN10: 041533344X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-12-20
• Publisher: RoutledgeCurzon

Summary

This book presents an analysis of one of the fundamental Mahayana Buddhist teachings, namely the three bodies of the Buddha (the Trikaya Theory), which is considered the foundation of Mahayana philosophy. The author examines how and why from the historical human buddha the philosophical concept of three bodies was formed, particularly the Sambhogakaya, which is the Buddha to be worshipped by all Mayahanists. This work is an outstanding research text for students and scholars of Mayahana Buddhism and anyone interested in Buddhist philosophy.

Author Biography

Guang Xing is a research assistant professor at the Centre of Buddhist Studies, the University of Hong Kong.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	x
Abbreviations	xi
Glossary	xiii
Introduction	1	(6)
The purpose of the research	1	(2)
The method of the research	3	(4)
1 The concept of the Buddha in early Buddhism	7	(12)
The human Buddha	7	(6)
The superhuman Buddha	13	(6)
2 The concept of the Buddha in the early Indian Buddhist Schools (I) The Sarvastivada	19	(34)
The two-body theory	19	(4)
The rupakaya	23	(12)
The dharmakaya	35	(9)
Other attributes of the Buddha	44	(1)
The time needed to become a Buddha	45	(3)
Universal virtues common to all Buddhas and differences between them	48	(1)
Taking refuge in the Buddha	49	(1)
The differences between Buddhas, pratyekabuddhas and sravakas	50	(3)
3 The concept of the Buddha in the early Indian Buddhist schools (II) The Mahasamghika and other schools	53	(16)
The Mahasamghikas	53	(13)
Other early Buddhist schools	66	(3)
4 The origin and development of the dharmakaya	69	(32)
The origin of the dharmakaya	69	(6)
The Mahayana development of the dharmakaya concept	75	(26)
The identification of the Tathagata with tathata	75	(5)
The dharmakaya as the cosmic body	80	(2)
The development of the dharmakaya in the Avatamsaka	82	(4)
The dharmakaya bodhisattvas	86	(1)
The dharmakaya as tathagatagarbha	87	(1)
The dharmakaya as mahaparinirvana	88	(6)
The dharmakaya as non-duality	94	(2)
The dharmakaya as the transformation of support	96	(5)
5 The origin and development of the Sambhogakaya	101	(35)
Introduction	101	(3)
The debate between the Sarvastivada and Mahasamghika schools on the physical body of the Buddha	104	(2)
The Buddha's bad karma	106	(13)
The problem of the Buddha's short life-span	119	(5)
The concept of the Buddha in the MPPS'	124	(5)
A solution to the complex problem of the physical body of the Buddha	129	(4)
The development of the sambhogakaya	133	(3)
6 The origin and development of the nirmanakaya	136	(11)
The origin of the nirmanakaya	136	(3)
The development of the nirmanakaya	139	(8)
7 The attributes of the Buddha and other Buddhas in early and middle Mahayana sutras	147	(32)
The light of the Buddha	147	(7)
The retinue of the Buddha	154	(2)
The twenty-one qualities of the Buddha	156	(3)
The ten Buddhas and ten Buddha bodies	159	(4)
A model for the trikaya theory	163	(2)
Other Buddhas and their lands	165	(6)
The classification of Buddha lands	171	(3)
Amitabha and Aksobhya as nirmanakayas	174	(5)
Conclusion: The five basic stages in the development of the concept of the Buddha	179	(3)
Appendix: Chronology of Chinese translation of Mahayana sutras and sastras	182	(5)
Notes	187	(46)
Select bibliography	233	(14)
Index	247