The Concept of the Buddha: Its Evolution from Early Buddhism to the Trikāya Theory

The book is organized into seven main chapters and a conclusion. It begins by examining the concept of the Buddha in early Buddhism, where the Buddha is presented both as a historical human being subject to illness, ageing, opposition, and death, and as a superhuman figure possessing special marks, miracles, and extraordinary qualities. The second and third chapters analyze the early Indian Buddhist schools, focusing on the Sarvāstivāda two-body theory of rūpakāya and dharmakāya, and the Mahāsāṃghika tendency toward a more transcendental conception of the Buddha. The fourth chapter traces the origin and development of the dharmakāya in Mahāyāna thought, including its identification with tathatā, cosmic reality, tathāgatagarbha, mahāparinirvāṇa, non-duality, and transformation of support. The fifth chapter examines the origin and development of the saṃbhogakāya, especially through debates concerning the Buddha’s physical body, bad karma, lifespan, and salvific power. The sixth chapter studies the nirmāṇakāya, while the seventh discusses Buddha attributes, Buddha lands, other Buddhas, and models that contributed to the mature trikāya theory. The conclusion synthesizes the five basic stages in the development of the concept of the Buddha.