"...The tantric tradition is the only one which explains the Dharmakaya in terms of Inherent clear light, the essential nature of the mind; this would seem imply that all phenomena, samsara and nirvana, arise from this clear and luminous source. Even the New School of Translation came to the conclusion that the "state of rest" of a practitioner of the Great Yoga--Great Yoga implies here the state of the practitioner who has reached a stage in meditation where the most subtle experience of clear light has been realized--that for as long as the practitioner remains in this ultimate sphere he or she remains totally free of any sort of veil obscuring the mind, and is immersed in a state of great bliss.
"We can say, therefore, that this ultimate source, clear light, is close to the notion of a Creator, since all phenomena, whether they belong to samsara or nirvana, originate therein. But we must be careful in speaking of this source, we must not be led into error. I do not mean chat there exists somewhere, there, a sort of collective clear light, analogous to the non-Buddhist concept of Brahma as a substratum. We must not be inclined to deify this luminous space. We must understand that when we speak of ultimate or inherent clear light, we are speaking on an individual level." — His Holines the Dalai Lama
What the Dharmakaya Is
Dhamrakaya is Inherent clear light and the essential nature of the mind.
All phenomena experienced in samsara and nirvana, arise from "this clear and luminous source".
Thus, the inherent clear light == the clear and luminous source == Dharmakaya
Description of the practitioner of Great Yoga
"The state of rest" of a practitioner is "the state of the practitioner who has reached a stage in meditation where the most subtle experience of clear light has been realized".
Thus the state of rest refers to the mind at rest in the samadhi called "Great Yoga"
The Stage of the Ultimate Sphere
By implication the stage of ultimate sphere is a level of meditative experience.
This stage is known as "The ultimate sphere".
Two things happen to the practitioner who remains in the ultimate sphere. He or she
- "remains totally free of any sort of veil obscuring the mind", and
- "is immerse in a state of great bliss".
The Clear Light Defined
"Ultimate source" -- "the clear light" == the ultimate sphere called "clear light" == Dharmakaya
"The clear light is closest to the notion of a Creator, since all phenomena, whether they belong to samsara or nirvana, originate therein."
All phenomena originate in the clear light. Phenomena experienced in samsara (this life of birth and death) or in nirvana (enlightenment).
The following is an error in thought that the Dalai Lama affirms to be a fallacy::
"collective clear light, analogous to the non-Buddhist concept of Brahma as a substratum."
The reason why it is untrue: the deification of the clear light risks its worship which is a form of superstition. Ritual worship of deities is not Buddhist. Therefore the clear light is not a God to be worshiped.
Buddhist do not worship Buddhas or Buddhist deities, for they symbolize positive qualities of the human mind and thus are used to help relieve suffering both in this world and the next.
Ultimate clear light is experienced on an individual level.
Therefore the clear light is not a God or a Creator.
These two paragraphs imply that the deification of God and the existence of God violate the Buddhist tenet of non-self.
Buddha is not A God or Creator
Given that God lives a life of infinite existence that lasts an exceedingly long time called "eternal life", it follows that God is immortal, since immortality as a form of permanence lasts an infinite length of time.
Non-self is understood to be the principle of impermanence.
Ergo God's existence violates the Buddhist principle of impermanence which states that all sentient beings last for a finite length of time.
Therefore the Primordial Buddha of Vajrayana is not a God or Creator. Instead, he represents the higher consciousness of clear light in which all phenomena of samsara and Nirvana are experienced without being attached to them.
In this context, "higher consciousness" refers to the state of mind attained through deep meditation, ritual chanting and other rituals specific to Vajrayana.
The Dalai Lama's answer on a Creator and Creation: http://hhdl.dharmakara.net/hhdlquotes22.html
Seven Virtues: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_virtues
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