- 金刚界
- (金剛界, 金刚界)
(sa) vajradhātu, [lang id =1028]金界 The 'diamond', or (sa) vajra, element of the universe; it is the [lang id =1028]智 wisdom of Vairocana in its indestructibility and activity; it arises from the (sa) garbhadhātu [lang id =1028]胎藏界q.v., the womb or store of the Vairocana [lang id =1028]理 reason or principles of such wisdom, v. [lang id =1028]理智. The two, (sa) garbhadhātu and (sa) vajradhātu, are shown by the esoteric school, especially in the Japanese Shingon, in two (sa) maṇḍalas, i.e. groups or circles, representing in various portrayals the ideas arising from the two, fundamental concepts. (sa) vajradhātu is intp. as the [lang id =1028]智 realm of intellection, and (sa) garbhadhātu as the [lang id =1028]理 substance underlying it, or the matrix; the latter is the womb or fundamental reason of all things, and occupies the eastern position as 'cause' of the (sa) vajradhātu, which is on the west as the resultant intellectual or spiritual expression. But both are one as are Reason and Wisdom, and Vairocana (the illuminator, the [lang id =1028]大日 great sun) presides over both, as source and supply. The (sa) vajradhātu represents the spiritual world of complete enlightenment, the esoteric (sa) dharmakāya doctrine as contrasted with the exoteric (sa) nirmāṇakāya doctrine. It is the sixth element [lang id =1028]識 mind, and is symbolized by a triangle with the point downwards and by the full moon, which represents [lang id =1028]智 wisdom or understanding; it corresponds to [lang id =1028]果 fruit, or effect, (sa) garbhadhātu being [lang id =1028]因 or cause. The [lang id =1028]金剛王五部 or five divisions of the (sa) vajradhātu are represented by the Five (sa) dhyāni-buddhas, thus: centre [lang id =1028]大日Vairocana; east [lang id =1028]阿閦 Akṣobhya; south [lang id =1028]寶生Ratnasambhava; west [lang id =1028]阿彌陀 Amitābha; north [lang id =1028]不 [lang id =1028]空 [lang id =1028]成就 Amoghasiddhi, or Śākyamuni. They are seated respectively on a lion, an elephant, a horse, a peacock, and a (sa) garuda. v. [lang id =1028]五佛; also [lang id =1028]胎.
Dictionary of Buddhist terms. 2013.