Dharma world (English spelling)

Japanese: 法界 - ほっかい（英語表記）dharma dhātu

Buddhist terminology. (1) Dharma is the truth that things should be, and the dhātu is the facts and principles that are as they are, also called true nature. Dhātu (realm) is the fundamental element that constitutes matter. Buddhist thought is characterized by regarding dharma as a fundamental element and grounding it in the concept of emptiness. The Kegon sect established a world view based on the dhātu as an ideal. The dhātu is viewed from four perspectives: the ji dhātu of the phenomenal world, which is discriminated against; the ri dhātu of the universe, which holds that the entire universe is true nature; the ji dhātu of the ji dhātu, which holds that the phenomenal world and reality are one and the same; and the ji dhātu of the ji dhātu, which holds that the phenomenal world is in an endless relationship of dependent origination between one and many. These are called the four dhātu sects. In addition, there are classifications based on sutras and treatises, such as the three dhātu sects, the ten dhātu sects of hellish hungry ghosts, the ten dhātu sects of contemplation, and the ten dhātu sects of esoteric Buddhism. (2) During the period of Hinayana Buddhism, the six roots, six realms, and six consciousnesses were combined to form the eighteen realms, and the object of consciousness as one of these was called the dhātu sect. This is the legal realm in the narrow sense.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

仏教用語。 (1) 法はかくあるべき真理であり，法界とはあるがままの事理であり，真如ともいわれる。界 dhātuは物体を構成する根本的な要素。このように法を根本的な要素とみなして，それを空観で基礎づけるところに仏教思想の特性がある。法界を理念として世界観を打立てたのは華厳宗である。法界を4つの観点からとらえて，差別のある現象界の事法界，宇宙のありようすべて真如であるとする理法界，現象界と実在とは一体不二であるとする理事無礙法界，現象界が一と多との無尽な縁起の関係にあるとする事事無礙法界の法界縁起をきわめ，四法界観とした。そのほか経論により三法界，地獄餓鬼などの十法界，観門十法界，密教十法界などの分類がある。 (2) 部派仏教時代には六根，六境，六識を合わせた十八界としたが，その一つとしての意識の対象を法界といった。これは狭義の法界である。

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