Fashen 法身: Difference between revisions
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== Definition(s) == | == Definition(s) == | ||
Some Neidan masters apply this term to the precelestial ([[Xiantian 先天 & Houtian 後天|xiantian]]) body of each individual, adding that the awareness of that body is obstructed by the ordinary physical body. They regard the dharma-body to be the “immortal body” attained through the Neidan practice, equivalent to the Yang Spirit ([[Yangshen 陽神|yangshen]]) delivered at the end of the practice and represented by the alchemical embryo ([[Shengtai 聖胎|shengtai]]). The corresponding term for the mind is tianxin 天心 | Some Neidan masters apply this term to the precelestial ([[Xiantian 先天 & Houtian 後天|xiantian]]) body of each individual, adding that the awareness of that body is obstructed by the ordinary physical body. They regard the dharma-body to be the “immortal body” attained through the Neidan practice, equivalent to the Yang Spirit ([[Yangshen 陽神|yangshen]]) delivered at the end of the practice and represented by the alchemical embryo ([[Shengtai 聖胎|shengtai]]). The corresponding term for the mind is [[Tianxin 天心 ②|tianxin 天心]] celestial mind. | ||
⦿ SWL 14: The dharma-body is a representation of formlessness (''wuxing''). It is neither emptiness nor existence, it has neither front nor back, it is neither low nor high, it is neither long nor short. When it operates, there is nothing it does not pervade; when it is stored, it is inchoate and silent and does not leave any trace. 法身者，無形之相也。不空不有，無後無前，不下不高，非短非長，用則無所不通，藏之則昏默無跡。 | ⦿ SWL 14: The dharma-body is a representation of formlessness (''wuxing''). It is neither emptiness nor existence, it has neither front nor back, it is neither low nor high, it is neither long nor short. When it operates, there is nothing it does not pervade; when it is stored, it is inchoate and silent and does not leave any trace. 法身者，無形之相也。不空不有，無後無前，不下不高，非短非長，用則無所不通，藏之則昏默無跡。 | ||
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== Pages that mention this term == | == Pages that mention this term == | ||
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[[Category:Terms]] | [[Category:Terms]] | ||
Revision as of 13:42, 9 October 2025
This page is excerpted from F. Pregadio, Dictionary of Taoist Internal Alchemy (Brill, 2025).
Translation
Dharma-body. A term derived from Buddhism, where—in one of its main meanings—it denotes the unmanifested body of the Buddha, not subjected to birth and death (Skt. dharmakāya).
Definition(s)
Some Neidan masters apply this term to the precelestial (xiantian) body of each individual, adding that the awareness of that body is obstructed by the ordinary physical body. They regard the dharma-body to be the “immortal body” attained through the Neidan practice, equivalent to the Yang Spirit (yangshen) delivered at the end of the practice and represented by the alchemical embryo (shengtai). The corresponding term for the mind is tianxin 天心 celestial mind.
⦿ SWL 14: The dharma-body is a representation of formlessness (wuxing). It is neither emptiness nor existence, it has neither front nor back, it is neither low nor high, it is neither long nor short. When it operates, there is nothing it does not pervade; when it is stored, it is inchoate and silent and does not leave any trace. 法身者，無形之相也。不空不有，無後無前，不下不高，非短非長，用則無所不通，藏之則昏默無跡。
⦿ DDZZ 2: Spontaneously, one has a body outside the body (shen wai you shen); this is called the dharma-body of clarity and purity (qingjing). 自然身外有身，號曰清淨法身。
⦿ JDSBZ 1 Comm. Peng Haogu: The body of flesh appears to be dead, but the dharma-body is constantly alive. 肉身若死，而法身常生。
⦿ JHZZ 1: All of you should only entirely focus on reversing the light (huiguang): this is the supreme wondrous Truth. After you reverse it for a long time, this light will coagulate and become a spontaneous dharma-body, which will be filled by it. 諸子只去專一回光，便是無上妙諦。回之既久，此光凝結，即成自然法身。廓而充之。
⦿ XZHB 4: As for the true body and the true mind, they are the dharma-body and the celestial mind. 至於真正之身，法身也；真正之心，天心也。
⦿ LYTYL 4: In the learning of refining the Elixir, it is necessary to nourish the postcelestial Spirit (shen) and Breath (qi) in order to strengthen the physical body (seshen), and especially to cultivate the precelestial mind (xin) and the [inner] Nature (xing) in order to achieve the dharma-body. However, although the physical body and the dharma-body are different in purity and appearance, they should not be separated from one another. If there is no physical body, what would the dharma-body depend on? If there is no dharma-body, the physical body would be worthless. 夫煉丹之學，固須養後天之神氣以固色身，尤必養先天之心性以成法身。然色身、法身雖有精粗、表裏不同，而要不可相離也。無色身，則法身何依？無法身，則色身徒具。
Related Terms
☞ shen wai you shen 身外有身; yangshen 陽神