The One That Has Come

The One That Has Come (S. Tathagata, C. Ju-Lai, J. Nyorai) - This refers to the One That Has Come down into this world from the realm of the absolute spiritual reality (S. Tathata) to enlighten living beings and then reenters Nirvana, returning back to that absolute reality.

It is the embodiment of the eternal Buddha, the nature of enlightenment. More specifically, it refers to the innate threefold body (life) of enlightement.

Chih-I's Prose and Verse of the Lotus Sutra (C. Fa-Hua Wen-Chu, J. Hokke Mongu) says:

The name ‘The One That Has Come’ (S. Tathagata) has a great deal of meaning - we will now clarify the idea of the two Tathagatas and the three Tathagatas - this will make other illustrations easier to understand.

The Two Tathagatas:

The Discourse on Attainment (Satyasiddhi Sastra) says:

“The vehicle that comes from the path of absolute reality as-it-is and attains enlightenment (in this world) is called 'The One That Has Come' (S. Tathagata)”.

• The vehicle is the absolutely true wisdom.
• The reality is the absolutely true object.
• The path is the cause.
• Enlightenment is the effect.
• If we only discussed the vehicle, there would be no absolute truth to be known.
• If we only discussed the reality, there would be no one to know the absolute truth.
• When object and wisdom are blended, cause and effect will follow.
• When the object has not yet been totally revealed, it is considered to be the cause.
• When its source has been fathomed, it is considered to be the effect.

Upon being awakened to the meaning of the path, there is a vehicle that comes from the path of absolute reality and attains enlightenment. This is called ‘The Spiritual Body of The One That Has Come (Dharma-kaya Tathagata).

Because of the wisdom of absolute reality, the [ [[[vehicle]])] is on the path of absolute reality. It comes and is born into the three existences (the past, present & future, that is, this world) and is revealed (manifested) as having become truly enlightened. This is called ‘The Body of Response of The One That Has Come’ (Nirmana-kaya Tathagata).

The Three Tathagatas:

The Great Discourse (Maha Prajna Paramita Sastra) says:

“In understanding according to the Dharma and teaching according to the Dharma we speak of The One That Has Come (S. Tathagata).”

A. The Absolutely True Object:

Being neither cause nor effect, with or without a Buddha enlightened to it, its nature and aspect are always as they are, being the same everywhere in all places.

Therefore is it called ‘The One That Is As-It-Is’ (S. Tatha, C. Ju, J. Nyo).

It is unchanging but upon appearing (in this world) it is called ‘Come’ (S. Agata, C. Lai, J. Rai).

This indicates the Spiritual Body of The One That Has Come (Dharma-kaya Tathagata).

B. The Absolutely True Wisdom:

The wisdom that comes from the absolutely true path of reality attains the wonderful enlightenment. This wisdom is called ‘according to the principle (of reality)’.

From the principle it is called ‘The One That Is As-It-Is’

From the wisdom it is called ‘Come’

This is the Body of the Reward of The One That Has Come (Sambhoga-kaya Tathagata).

Therefore The Discourse says:

“In understanding according to the Dharma…we speak of The One That Has Come”

C. By means of the absolutely true object and wisdom being blended, one is here and there able to reveal that which has truly become enlightened.

Quicksilver is blended with gold, with which one can paint images of many colors.

Merits and virtues are refined with the Spiritual Body (Dharma-kaya), which here and there respond, manifest and go away. So there are the eight signs of attaining enlightenment and the turning of the wheel of the Wonderful Dharma.

This is the Body of the Response of The One That Has Come (Nirmana-kaya Tathagata).

Therefore The Discourse says:

“In teaching according to the Dharma we speak of The One That Has Come"

Also see Nichiren's interpretation of the threefold life of The One That Has Come (S. Tathagata).

Source

tientai.net