Understanding Dhammakāya and Enlightenment : หน้า 71/141

1. The term dhammakāya is related to enlightenment. This agrees with our earlier observation regarding the relation of ‘dhammakāya’ to the Buddha and Paccakabuddhas. 2. Dhammakāya is not exclusive to the Buddha, but attainable also to his disciples. Once obtained, it is ‘his/her dhammakāya.’ 3. The phrase ‘my dhammakāya’ spoken by Gotami precludes the interpretation of the term as ‘teaching,’ but allows an interpretation as ‘quality/property.’ Whereas the ‘teaching’ belongs generally to the Buddha, ‘quality/property/ capacity’ can belong also to anyone who obtained it. 4. The dhammakāya can be brought up (sāmvādhlta) - can be developed to a higher level until the highest perfection is met. This implies that there are at least two different levels of dhammakāya which supports our earlier conclusion from the Āgamaṇa-sutta that the term could refer to a particular transcendental state, and that each state being a ‘whole’ or ‘totality’ of transcendental constituents in the corresponding level. 5. Unlike ‘dhammakāya’ in the Āgamaṇa-sutta which can be translated as an adjective, ‘dhammakāya’ in this passage is used strictly as a noun. It affirms that both forms of translation should be accepted according to the context of the passage where the term is located. 6. With the description of dhammakāya in the passage, the term dhamma in the compound seems to convey the sense of ‘transcendental reality’ that is attainable and developable to its perfection. Gotami’s mention of ‘my dhammakāya’ also affirms our earlier remark, that both the Buddha and his noble disciples have some properties or qualities in common. Such properties refer to dhammakāya(s). Thus, the great nun’s mention of her dhammakāya suggests that she is ‘an heir’ by dhamma, and that such a title arises on her acquisition of dhammakāya.