Ādi-Buddha

Ādi-Buddha (Tibetan: Dang-po'i sangs-rgyas) is a compound Sanskrit term from ādi (आदि) "first" and buddha, meaning the "Primordial Buddha." In Vajrayana Buddhism the term refers to a self-emanating, self-originating Buddha, present before anything else existed. It is not said to be the creator, but the originator of all things.

In Vajrayana Buddhism

Adi-Buddha is a deity in an emanationist sense. Though all Buddhist figures are said to be emanations of the Adi-Buddha, certain famous Bodhisattvas are revered as its actual personality. This personality is often referred to as Dharmakaya, or "Buddha-body of reality." For example, in the Nyingma school Samantabhadra is Adibuddha, in the sense of Spirit of Truth. In the Gelug and Kagyu schools Vajradhara (Tib. Dorje Chang) is regarded as Adi-Buddha, while in Shingon Buddhism it is Vairocana (Jap. Dainchi Nyorai).

In Theosophy

In one of the Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett "Adi-Buddhi" is identified with Yin Sin or "the one form of existence" and also with Dharmakāya "the mystic, universally diffused essence."

Further reading

• Ādi-Buddha at Theosopedia