Wisdom and Action as One in Dharmakaya

A bodhisattva is someone who chooses to wake up for the good of all beings. The heart of this choice is bodhicitta, the wish to help and the promise to train in wisdom and compassion until that wish becomes real in daily life.

Good intentions need a steady shape. Vows give that shape. Samaya-like vows are gentle promises that keep mind, speech, and action aligned with awakening. They protect your intention, guide small choices, and show you how to repair quickly when you slip. Kept sincerely, vows turn inspiration into a path you can walk.

This path moves on two wings. Wisdom sees clearly. Compassion acts wisely. Wisdom is seeing emptiness. People and things are not fixed. They arise from causes and conditions. Emptiness is not nothing. It is open and alive. Because things are not fixed, change is possible, learning is possible, and kindness works. Compassion feels the pain of beings and chooses what truly helps. It listens, speaks clearly, sets kind limits, protects when needed, gives when possible, and repairs harm.

You can remember them as Vajrayogini and Vajrapani. Vajrayogini points to the open nature of mind and cuts clinging. Vajrapani moves that clarity into deeds, words, and firm choices. When both wings move together, seeing guides doing, and doing deepens seeing. Practice becomes stable and useful.

As conduct becomes clean and the heart stays open, the mind settles. In that clarity you begin to recognize what the teachings call Dharmakaya. Dharmakaya means enlightened mind. It is clear knowing, free of confusion, full of compassion. From this awakened mind, helpful forms appear so beings can connect and receive help. In the pages that follow, we will meet Dharmakaya in simple words and see how to relate to it in practice.

Use this simple arc. Set the aim with bodhicitta. Hold the aim with vows. Walk with two wings. Recognize Dharmakaya as the mind’s deepest nature, then let compassion move from it in ordinary life.

Your Fourteen Living Vows

Read these each week. If one breaks, repair it the same day.

I keep a daily meeting with silence.

I act from the heart, not from fear.

I treat every person as a mirror and a teacher.

I protect a pure intention before every action.

I stay with the path even when forms change.

I avoid self-importance. I point to truth.

I care for the body as a sacred tool.

I use symbols as doors, not chains.

I choose honesty over pretending.

I begin my own rebirth from within.

I honor wisdom and love and keep them one.

I trust timing. I move and I rest with faith.

I avoid final answers. I keep deepening.

I return to serve. Whatever I gain, I share.

Pocket practice to hold it all: Three breaths. Remember the two wings. Choose one helpful act today. Do it fully. At night, forgive what failed, thank what worked, and rest in quiet awareness.

With this foundation set, we can now present Dharmakaya in simple words.

Dharmakaya in Simple Words

Dharmakaya means the enlightened mind of a buddha. It is clear knowing, free of confusion, full of compassion, and able to benefit beings everywhere. From this awakened mind, buddhas appear in many helpful forms so we can meet and learn from them. (Robina Courtin)

What “Dharmakaya” means

Dharma means truth or how things really are.

Kaya means body or embodiment.

Dharmakaya is the “truth body,” the awakened mind itself. (Robina Courtin)

What Dharmakaya is

A mind with no delusions left and all good qualities perfected.

Only wisdom and virtue remain.

It knows everything that exists and has limitless compassion for every being. (Robina Courtin)

How help reaches us: the three bodies

Awakened mind helps beings by appearing in forms we can meet.

Dharmakaya: enlightened mind itself.

Sambhogakaya: subtle, enjoyment body, the pure forms known by great bodhisattvas.

Nirmanakaya: emanation body in our world, like Shakyamuni Buddha. (Robina Courtin)

A quick picture
Think of the sun, its light, and a warm ray touching your hand.

Dharmakaya is the sun.

Sambhogakaya is the sunlight.

Nirmanakaya is the warm ray you can feel.

One or many

One by nature: teachings often say there is one Dharmakaya.

Many by expression: there are countless forms and emanations that appear to help.

Some masters discuss this point. Ven. Robina cites Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the “one Dharmakaya, many manifestations” view. (Robina Courtin)

How to relate in practice

You can pray or meditate in either way. Both are fine.

Direct: speak to Dharmakaya as the deepest truth and rest a few breaths in open awareness.

Through a form: call on Tara or your teacher, receive help, then let the image melt into clear, open knowing. The source is the same enlightened mind. (Robina Courtin)

How to recognize Dharmakaya activity

Brings clarity, courage, and care.

Reduces fear and grasping.

Guides you to kind speech and useful action.

Invites direct seeing, not blind belief. (Robina Courtin)

Daily reminder

Three soft breaths.

Remember: Dharmakaya is clear knowing and boundless care.

Choose one helpful act today and do it fully.

At night, let all images dissolve into quiet awareness for a few breaths.

Rest as clear awareness. Act with a kind heart. This is Dharmakaya lived. (Robina Courtin)

Sit quietly and let the breath settle. Look into the knowing of this moment. Do not push and do not pull. Thoughts and feelings rise and pass. Leave them as they are. Rest in the open nature of mind.

Remember that Dharmakaya is the enlightened mind of a buddha. Relate to forms when helpful, since forms are rupakaya, the activity of that awakened mind. Keep the vows as a soft guide for the heart. From this resting, compassion moves by itself as simple helpful action. View, practice, and conduct remain one life.

Here. Now. Help.

“When wisdom sees emptiness and compassion becomes kind action, the mind opens into clear knowing. In lived experience, everything appears in awareness. This does not mean the small personal mind creates mountains. It means that appearance and knowing are inseparable in experience, empty and vivid. Awareness is the doorway to the nature of mind. When that knowing is completely free of confusion and perfected in all qualities, it is called Dharmakaya.”