Understanding Dhamma and Brahman in Buddhism : หน้า 54/141

In the case that 'brahma-' refers to the neuter 'brahman' In the other case in which the term brahma- is translated as 'brahman'63 the ultimate,64 the third parallel65 suggests that the term dhamma in the passage equals ultimate reality, but in the Buddhist sense. This directly precludes the interpretation of the term dhamma in the passage as the Buddha's ‘verbal teaching,’ while allowing its interpretation as ‘transcendental realities.’ The equation of the Buddha and dhamma, as well as the connection between the Buddha’s designations and the titles of his ‘true son’ is implied in the same manner as in the above case. Thus, the translation of 'brahma-' in the Brahmins’ titles either as the masculine ‘Brahmā’ or as the neuter ‘brahman’ leads to the same conclusion that the term dhamma constituting the compound dhammakāya refers to ‘transcendental realities.’ It refers to the dhamma that is the incorruptible Buddha’s essence;66 dhamma which gives birth to noble disciples, dhamma which is the shared qualities of the Buddha and his noble disciples which distinguishes them from worldly people, and dhamma the ‘verbal expression’ of which is regarded as the Buddha’s verbal teaching. Therefore, the present study concludes that dhamma, that is, the ‘body’ of the Tathāgata, refers to ‘transcendental realities’ in general. 63 Some scholars are more inclined to choose this translation. For example, see Wilhelm Geiger, "Dhamma Und Brahman," Zeitschrift für buddhismus (1921): 73-83, 79, Harrison, op. cit., note 20, p. 78. Here, Harrison refers to a number of scholars who translate ‘brahma-’ in this case as ‘brahman,’ which he thinks more correct. Gombrich, while translating the term in this case as the masculine ‘Brahmā,’ acknowledges also the possibility of translating it as the neuter ‘brahman.’ Gombrich, “The Buddha’s Book of Genesis?” op. cit., p. 165. 64 As Geiger states, ‘Ursprünglich umfasst dieses Wort die Summe aller der geheimnsvollen magischen Kräfte, die im Opfer und in der priesterlichen Tätigkeit enthalten sind.’ Wilhelm Geiger, "Dhamma Und Brahman," Zeitschrift für buddhismus (1921), p. 74. Cf. Gombrich, op. cit., p. 165., p. 12. 65 As a reminding, the ‘third parallel’ refers to the parallel of the term ‘dhamma’ in the three titles of Buddhist noble disciples (dhammaja, dhammanimmit, dhammadayāda) with the term ‘brahman’ in the titles of brahmins (brahmaja, brahmanimitta, brahmadāyāda.) 66 Cf. S.III.120. ‘Seeing the Buddha’ purportedly means ‘seeing the Buddha’s incorruptible nature or essence’ as opposed to ‘seeing the Buddha’s corruptible physical body’ which is useless.