ABSTRACT
The idea of the nirmAOakAya most likely has its origin in the idea of the mind-made body (manomayakAya) found in early Buddhism. Both are magically created through supernatural power (Skt: Pddhi, Pali: iddhi).1 The mind-made body is mentioned at least three times in the NikAyas, and it always precedes the description of the six supernatural powers (abhiññA ), except in the PoRRhapAdasutta. In both the SAmaññaphalasutta of the DCghanikAya and the MahAsakuludAyisutta of the MajjhimanikAya, it is stated that a meditator concentrating with a pure mind will be able to create from his coarse physical body another refined body. This created body is made of mind (manomaya), its form having all his original body’s limbs, and complete with all faculties.2 The process of mentally creating another body from one’s own is compared to the act of drawing out a reed from its sheath, a sword from its scabbard, or a snake from its slough. The Visuddhimagga explains that if a meditator wishes to create a mind-made body, he should emerge from the basic fourth jhAna (Skt: dhyAna), advert to his own body and resolve that the body is hollow.3 This ability to double oneself is named ‘the knowledge of the mind-made body (manomaya iddhi ñAOa)’ in the suttas. So it is a creation by the supernatural power of iddhi attained through the practices of jhAna. This is also mentioned in the Chinese *DCrghAgama, but in a different sEtra which corresponds to the Ambatthasutta of the DCghanikAya.4 The description of supernatural power and even the similes used are exactly the same as in the Pali version.
