<p>I would say no, not a synonym, but related. The Dharmakaya (in Sanskrit) is the Truth Body of Buddha. I believe it has the most significance in Mahayana Buddhism where it refers to the purified very subtle body which has the nature of bliss and is mixed inseparably with emptiness. 
The real nature of reality is that phenomena lack, or are empty of, true, independent existence.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-27T18:17:35.340Z
2018-08-27T18:17:35.340Z
Mike Hume
<p>Is it correct to say that <em>dhammakaya</em> (the sum of all Buddha's teachings) is a synonym of 'the real nature of reality'?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-02T10:00:16.573Z
The word "dhammakaya" is used in (or used by) more than one school of Buddhism, e.g. [Theravada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhammakaya_Movement) and [Mahayana](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/11757/254).
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-02T10:01:09.817Z
Related question: [Can we consider 'tathagatagarbha' and 'dhammakaya' as synonyms?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/10429/254)
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-21T13:29:55.433Z
More like "the teachings/body of knowledge on the real nature of reality" if referring to the Theravada definition.
Codosaur
<terminology>
Is dhammakaya a synonym of 'real nature of things'?
# Is dhammakaya a synonym of 'real nature of things'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-02)

Is it correct to say that *dhammakaya* (the sum of all Buddha's teachings) is a synonym of 'the real nature of reality'?

**Tags:** terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The word "dhammakaya" is used in (or used by) more than one school of Buddhism, e.g. [Theravada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhammakaya_Movement) and [Mahayana](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/11757/254).  
> **username_1**: Related question: [Can we consider 'tathagatagarbha' and 'dhammakaya' as synonyms?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/10429/254)  
> **username_2**: More like "the teachings/body of knowledge on the real nature of reality" if referring to the Theravada definition.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-08-27. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I would say no, not a synonym, but related. The Dharmakaya (in Sanskrit) is the Truth Body of Buddha. I believe it has the most significance in Mahayana Buddhism where it refers to the purified very subtle body which has the nature of bliss and is mixed inseparably with emptiness.
The real nature of reality is that phenomena lack, or are empty of, true, independent existence.


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