ārya-tri-kāya-nāma-mahāyāna-sūtra
The Noble [teachings]. Sutra of the Great Chariot. Three Bodies
I praise all the Enlightened ones and bodhisattvas!
So I heard once.
The blessed one was staying at Gridhrakuta in Rajagriha with his entourage of innumerable, immeasurable bodhisattvas, gods and nagas. The blessed one was worshipped and offerings were made.
At that time, the bodhisattva Kshitigarbha was in the entourage. Rising from his seat, he addressed the Blessed One:
In how many bodies is the Blessed One mighty?
The Blessed One answered:
Kshitigarbha! The Blessed One, the Tathagata, has the power of three bodies. [It is] the body of the Teaching, the body of perfect enjoyment and the manifested body.
Son of the [Noble] family! The three bodies of the Tathagata are these. The perfect purity of one's own nature is the body of Doctrine. Perfect purity of deep concentration-the body of perfect enjoyment. Perfect purity of conduct is the manifested body of all the Enlightened ones.
Son of the [Noble] family! The body of the Tathagata Teaching is an object that has no nature of its own, like space.
The body of perfect enjoyment is an object that arises like clouds.
The manifested body is the deeds-activity of all the Enlightened ones, the essence of the nature of everything, which is like rain.
Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha turned to the Blessed One:
How are the three bodies of the Blessed One thus clarified seen?
The Blessed One replied to bodhisattva Kshitigarbha:
Son of the [Noble] family! The three bodies of the Tathagata are seen in this way.
The body of Teachings is seen by all [who possess the] countenance of the Tathagata. The body of perfect pleasure is seen by all [who possess the] essence of the bodhisattvas. The manifested body is seen by all ordinary beings who act with faith.
Son of the [Noble] family! The body of the Teaching - abides as similar to the intrinsic nature of all the Enlightened Ones. The body of perfect enjoyment - abides as corresponding to the deep concentration of all Enlightened Ones. The manifested body abides as corresponding to the act-activity of all the Enlightened ones.
Son of the [Noble] family! Purity on the level of the foundation of everything is the body of the Teachings, the original wisdom that is like a mirror. Purity on the level of the darkened mind is the original wisdom of equality. Purity on the level of mindfulness is the original wisdom of comprehending everything individually, the body of perfect pleasure. Purity at the level of five-gate consciousness is the original wisdom of full realization, the manifested body.
Then bodhisattva Kshitigarbha said to the Blessed One:
Blessed One! I have heard holy teachings from the Blessed One! Very blessed! Sugata! Very blessed!
The Blessed One replied:
Son of the [Noble] family! Fully comprehend this enumeration of the Teachings of the Blessed One. By this is gained immeasurable spiritual merit, which is inexpressible, incalculable, infinite.
The Blessed One said this. Universe, together with the bodhisattva Kshitigarbha, the gods, the nagas, the yakshas, the gandharvas - rejoiced and praised what the Blessed One had said.
Thus concludes the noble [teaching], the sutra of the Great Chariot called "The Three Bodies.