Interpretations of Dhammakāya in Early Pāli Texts : หน้า 39/141

Gombrich, while differently translating the term in this passage as a bahubbiha compound 'dhamma-bodied,' similarly interprets it as an indication that the Buddha's true import is due to 'his teaching,' not his personality.^26 Likewise, Harrison proposes that the term dhammakāya in the Aggāņa-sutta is to be translated as a bahubbihi compound,^27 and that its first component, dhamma, is used in the sense of the Buddha's teaching.^28 In contrast, Need believes that the meaning of 'dhammakāya' in this passage is unclear and can hardly be certain. Nevertheless, he suggests a caution against the interpretation of the first component, 'dhamma,' in the sense of text.^29 Similarly, Reynolds seems to suggest that the interpretation of 'dhammakāya' in the early Pāli suttas as 'teaching' or scripture has been developed at a later date.^30 Nitta, while reluctant to ascribe an exact meaning to the term dhammakāya in the sutta, similarly expresses a disagreement towards the claim that the original meaning of dhammakāya is exclusively a 'collection of the teachings.'^31 Harvey is more specific in regard to the interpretation of the term 'dhamma' as the first component of 'dhammakāya.' On interpreting the term in the Aggāņa-sutta, he suggests a bahubhiha compound, interpreting 'dhamma,' that is the Tathāgata's body, as the noble eightfold path.^32 26 Richard Gombrich, "The Buddha’s Book of Genesis," Indo-Iranian Journal 35(1992), p. 165. 27 Harrison, op. cit., p. 50. 28 Ibid., p. 54. 29 Need, op. cit., pp. 377-378. As he comments: .....care should be taken with respect to reading the compound as "one who has the teachings as his body," or "one whose body has been developed in accordance with the teachings," where teachings is understood as "text" or "canon". 30 Reynolds, op. cit., p. 376 n. 6. He comments: As we shall see, the term dhammakāya was already in use in the canon. However in the later context it is clear that dhammakāya is being identified with the scriptural legacy. 31 He notes further that, even though the term has encountered a series of changes of meanings in the Pāli commentarial tradition, it has consistently been employed to express the Buddha's essence. Tomomichi Nitta, "The Meaning of "Dhammakāya" in Pāli Buddhism," Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies 51, no. 1 (2002), p. 47. 32 Harvey, The Selfless Mind, op. cit., p. 234. Harvey also interprets 'dhamma' that is the Tathāgata's nature as Nibbāna.