The Three Buddha Bodies and Three Truths
The seperation of the Three Buddha Bodies and declaring the Dharma Body Supreme at the expense of the other Two Bodies is the teaching of the Shingon sect.
The historical Shakyamuni Buddha is the Manifestation Body or physical aspect of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. His great spritual power or His great vow and compassion to cause the masses of beings to attain Buddhaood, is the Reward or Bliss Body of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. And Myo ho renge kyo is the Law Body or teaching of the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni. These correspond to the Three Truths of Temporary Existence, Non-substantiality(mind or the void) and the Middle Way(neither temporary existence nor non-substantiality but having characteristics of both).
The Three Bodies are inseperable. To worship the Law Body of the Buddha at the expense of the Manifestation Body and Bliss or Reward Body, is to worship an illusion.
Posted by markrogow at March 26, 2008 03:50 PM