The Changeless Nature

Buddha Nature 69The achievement of the three kayas of the buddha is considered ascoming from these two aspects of the buddha potential. The first kaya(dharmakaya) comes about through the first aspect and the other twokayas (sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya) come through the secondaspect.The essence-kaya (svabhavikakaya) 51 resplendent with all itsqualities, should be known as being similar to the buddha statue madeof precious substances because its qualities are natural and uncreatedand because it is a treasure of the jewels that are its qualities.The embodiment of perfect expression (sambhogakaya) 52 is likethe universal monarch because it is endowed with the great majestyof the mahayana dharma.The apparitional bodies (nirmanakaya) 53 are like the goldenstatue because they have the nature of a representation.The ultimate truth of spontaneously-present buddhahood — thebuddha-nature — is to be understood through faith itself. This is likethe orb of the sun which shines but which cannot be seen by thosewithout eyes.'There is nothing whatever to remove from this,Nor the slightest thing thereon to add.Truly beholding the true nature,When truly seen — complete liberation." 54The buddha-nature is in itself devoid of any of its affects - theintrinsic characteristics of which are foreign to it. It is not howeverdevoid of the supreme qualities — their intrinsic characteristics beingundifferentiated from it.D. The Purpose of the Teachings Concerning the Buddha NatureGeneralIt was taught in various places in the teachings of the seconddharmachakra that all knowable phenomena are always void — like acloud, a dream or an illusion. This being so, why was it taught in thethird dharmachakra teachings that all beings have this essence ofbuddhahood?