Q:
Master, what are the manifestation body, the reward body (the
physical body), and the dharma body in Buddhism? How do we attain the
three-fold body?
M:
The dharma body is the Truth or the Tao, the True Self, the heavenly
kingdom, God, and Creator. It exists eternally. It has never been born
and will never perish. It is indivisible, neither good nor bad, compassionate
nor wicked. The manifestation body comes from the dharma body - that
which is neither good nor bad, has never been born and will never perish.
Therefore, the manifestation body is also the dharma body. We sentient
beings pray a lot because we suffer much anguish! These prayers form
a kind of atmosphere, which can transform itself and move to some place,
where it emits a beam of light. This light is the manifestation body.
It originates from that huge source of light that has never been born
and will never perish, which is dazzlingly brilliant and nameless, has
no upper limit, and does not move. We can say that the beam of light
thus transmitted from this huge source is the manifestation body. It
becomes denser as it descends and takes a form. At the higher level,
this form is light, transparent light, and is intangible. It can be
seen, though not by the physical eyes. However, sometimes it is visible
to the physical eyes as well. As the beam of light descends further,
it becomes denser and changes into a physical body of flesh. The physical
body looks just like the brilliant, transparent body above, except that
the brilliant body is more beautiful, attractive, better-looking to
the eye, and more powerful because it is not confined by this silly
tool of flesh. So this is the meaning of the dharma body, the manifestation
body, and the physical body.
A
person who has attained the Truth should be able to use his three-fold
body. We, who have not attained the Truth, have only the physical body.
We are always falling ill. We are helpless, unable to help ourselves,
or take care of ourselves or others. A person who has attained the three-fold
body, through the unity of the physical body, the manifestation body,
and the dharma body, is able to do anything. His physical body is connected
to the manifestation body, which, in turn, is linked to the highest
power in the universe - that which exists forever, has never been born,
and will never perish. Therefore, the three are together in oneness.
Catholics speak of this as the Trinity. So this is the meaning of the
three-fold body of the Buddha in Buddhism. A person with a three-fold
body is an Enlightened Master, a Buddha, a Bodhisattva, a Christ, a
Saint, or one who has attained the Truth. Understand? [Applause] 
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