The Three Kyas Stra In the Indian Language [Sanskrit]: rya Trikya nma Mahyana Stra In the Tibetan

Language: Phakpa Ku Sum zheyjaway Thekpachhenpoi Do ['phags pa sku gsum zhes bya ba'i theg pa chen po'i mdo] In the English Language: The Mahyana Stra known as The Exalted Three Kyas

ADORATION TO ALL BUDDHAS AND BODHISATTVAS.

Thus have I heard: At one time, the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror was abiding at Vultures Peak Mountain in Rjagriha. Immeasurably, innumerably many bodhisattvas, gods, nagas, and retinues were all abiding together in one congregation, paying reverence and making offerings to the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror. At that time, the Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha, who was sitting there in that assembly, rose from his seat, and then addressed the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror with the following words: How many kyas does the Bhagavn possess? The Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror bestowed teaching thus: Kshitigarbha, the Bhagavn Tathgata possesses three kyas: the Dharmakya, the Sambhogakya, and the Nirmaakya. Son of good lineage, concerning the Three Kyas: Utterly pure essential nature is the Dharmakya. Utterly pure meditative absorption is the Sambhogakya. Utterly pure conduct is the Nirmaakya of all Buddhas. Son of good lineage, the Dharmakya of the Tathgata, like the sky, has the significance of the absence of inherent existence. The Sambhogakya, like a cloud, has the significance of emergence. The Nirmaakya is the enlightened activity of all Buddhas, and, like rain, has the significance of permeating everything. The Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha addressed the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror with the following words: How should one view the explanation of the Three Kyas of the Bhagavn? The Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror bestowed teaching to the Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha thus: Son of good lineage, one should view the Three Kyas of the Tathgata in the following way: One should view the Dharmakya as that which is the true identity of the Tathgatas. One should view the Sambhogakya as that which is the true identity of the Bodhisattvas. One should view the

Nirmaakya as that which is the true identity of ordinary individuals who act with a sense of dedication1. Son of good lineage, the Dharmakya dwells in harmony with all Buddhas and their essential nature. The Sambhogakya dwells in harmony with all Buddhas and their meditative absorption. The Nirmaakya dwells in harmony with all Buddhas and their enlightened activity. Son of good lineage, the transmutation of the storehouse consciousness is Mirror-Like Wisdom, and the Dharmakya. The transmutation of the afflicted mind is Equalizing Wisdom. The transmutation of the mental consciousness is Discriminating Wisdom, and the Sambhogakya. The transmutation of the consciousnesses of the five doors is Action-Accomplishing Wisdom, and the Nirmaakya. Then, the Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha addressed the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror with the following words: Bhagavn, that I have heard the Sacred Dharma from the Bhagavn is extremely good. Sugata, it is extremely good. The Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror bestowed teaching thus: Son of good lineage, whosoever thoroughly retains this Dharma discourse of the Bhagavn shall obtain limitless, inexpressible, incalculable, and unfathomable merit. The Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror granted teaching with those words, and Bodhisattva Kshitigarbha, together with the worlds of gods, nagas, yakshas, and gandharvas, rejoiced, and deeply praised what had been spoken by the Transcendent and Accomplished Conqueror.

THE MAHYANA STRA KNOWN AS THE EXALTED THREE KYAS IS COMPLETE. Translated from Tibetan by Erick Tsiknopoulos in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India; November 2012. Thanks to Dr. Lobzang Gyamtso for his help with reviewing the translation and providing commentary and explanation for many points in the text.

1 Generally, this means beings who are dedicated in their practice of the Dharma, but who have not yet attained the bodhisattva levels, in particular those on the Path of Accumulation and the Path of Application, before the the first bodhisattva level is attained. They act with a sense of dedication because they have not yet manifestly realized emptiness, and practice out of that dedication supported by the teachings, conceptual frameworks, and devotion. However, in the context of this Sutra, it could apply to anyone who is not yet (or at least not evidently) a bodhisattva, but who is dedicated to their Dharma practice or study. The Nirmaakya manifests itself as such people, who appear ordinary but are, in reality, emanations of the Buddha.