Do transformation bodies appear before a buddha reaches enlightenment? So that the many bodies of Shakyamuni that the fan Wang ching (Sutra of Brahmas net ) claims Vairocana manifests may have appeared before our Gautama Buddha? If the Buddha bodies do *not* all manifest at the same time then can two transformation bodies of the same Buddha appear in what will be the same Buddha field, at different times? I'm interested because I want to understand the lotus sutra and e.g. its claims about the Buddha's eternal life.

Within the Trikāya doctrine (the bodies of the Buddha) I've never felt very clear about the differences between the Dharmakaya and Sambhogakaya. I believe that the Nirmanakaya is the physicality of the Buddha (happy to be corrected on this) but I'm vague about what Dharmakaya and Sambhogakaya are and how they relate to each other. I'd appreciate if anyone can summarise the differences and the relations between them. I'm interested in answers from all traditions - I'm unsure if there are variations in interpretations of the doctrines across Buddhist schools and traditions to be honest.

Which body of the Buddha belongs to the Buddha nature? I suppose all three, but I would be interested to hear otherwise.

Dharmakāya is tricky business to explain. If you were to explain it to someone who has never heard of the concept where would you begin? How does it fit in with attraction and aversion? At the same time the explainer would have to make sure to cover the different ways the word Dharmanakaya has been used.

As I know Buddhism, it says 'Nothing is permament' I just came across this in Wikipedia : > ...a Buddha is immortal. Even though he descends in the samsara to > preach Dharma and save sentient beings from suffering, his original body remains in a transcendent realm. That body will not die upon the death of the physical body of Buddha, and hence a Buddha is beyond arising and passing away... It is given as a Mahayana Perspective of the Lotus Sutta. So, what does this really mean? Is it that there exists something even after Parinirvana? Or have I understood it wrong?

Did Shakayamuni Buddha talk about the Trikaya? If so where? I am looking for suttas attributed to Shakyamuni in the times of Theravada.