<p>It wasn't explicit in the Theravada but the foundation was already there. The concept got fully developed by the time of the Mahayana. Further info. is available from the wiki page <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trikaya#P.C4.81li_Canon" rel="nofollow">here</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-23T23:38:50.233Z
Ahh.. Apparently in the Aganna Sutta "Because the titles of the Tathagatha are: The Body of Dhamma, The Body of Brahma, the Manifestation of Dhamma, and the Manifestation of Brahma."
Med
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-23T23:32:50.020Z
2015-01-23T23:32:50.020Z
santa100
<p>No but the concept of dharmakaya in Theravada is known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmak%C4%81ya" rel="nofollow">dhammakaya</a>.</p>

<p>The ideas of sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya (rupakaya) on the other hand were not developed fully until <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trikaya#Mah.C4.81y.C4.81na" rel="nofollow">Mahayana</a> entered the picture.</p>

<p>According to the same Wikipedia entry, it is possible the idea of some form of rupa-kaya was taking shape though as this passage (section 9) from the <a href="http://www.columbia.edu/itc/religion/f2001/edit/docs/aggannasutta.pdf" rel="nofollow">Aggañña Sutta</a> may indicate:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"I am a true son of Blessed Lord, born of his mouth, born of Dhamma,
  created by Dhamma, an heir of Dhamma." Why is that? Because, Vasettha,
  this designates the Tathagata: "The Body of Dhamma", that is, "The
  Body of Brahma", or <strong>"Become Dhamma", that is, "Become Brahma"</strong>."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This may be a misinterpretation of sutta taken out of context because it does not seem to be repeated through other Theravadin literatures.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-23T23:50:30.913Z
2015-01-23T23:50:30.913Z
Med
<p>Did Shakayamuni Buddha talk about the Trikaya? If so where?
I am looking for suttas attributed to Shakyamuni in the times of Theravada.</p>

<theravada><the-buddha><reference-request><trikaya>
Did Shakayamuni Buddha talk about the Trikaya?
# Did Shakayamuni Buddha talk about the Trikaya?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-23)

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

**Tags:** theravada, the-buddha, reference-request, trikaya


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-23. Score: 2

It wasn't explicit in the Theravada but the foundation was already there. The concept got fully developed by the time of the Mahayana. Further info. is available from the wiki page [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trikaya#P.C4.81li_Canon)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ahh.. Apparently in the Aganna Sutta "Because the titles of the Tathagatha are: The Body of Dhamma, The Body of Brahma, the Manifestation of Dhamma, and the Manifestation of Brahma."  

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### Answer by username_0 on 2015-01-23. Score: 0

No but the concept of dharmakaya in Theravada is known as [dhammakaya](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmak%C4%81ya).

The ideas of sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya (rupakaya) on the other hand were not developed fully until [Mahayana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trikaya#Mah.C4.81y.C4.81na) entered the picture.

According to the same Wikipedia entry, it is possible the idea of some form of rupa-kaya was taking shape though as this passage (section 9) from the [Aggañña Sutta](http://www.columbia.edu/itc/religion/f2001/edit/docs/aggannasutta.pdf) may indicate:

> "I am a true son of Blessed Lord, born of his mouth, born of Dhamma,
> created by Dhamma, an heir of Dhamma." Why is that? Because, Vasettha,
> this designates the Tathagata: "The Body of Dhamma", that is, "The
> Body of Brahma", or **"Become Dhamma", that is, "Become Brahma"**."

This may be a misinterpretation of sutta taken out of context because it does not seem to be repeated through other Theravadin literatures.


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