three mysteries ［三密］ ( san-mitsu): Also, three secrets. Three mysteries of body, mouth, and mind. A principle of Esoteric Buddhism. According to Esoteric Buddhism, since Mahāvairochana Buddha (the Buddha depicted in esoteric sutras) is omnipresent, all beings are the mystic body of that Buddha, all sounds his mystic mouth (voice), and all thoughts his mystic mind. Yet, because the Buddha’s body, mouth, and mind are unimaginably profound and beyond ordinary people’s understanding, these aspects are called “mysteries.” Moreover, the body, mouth, and mind of ordinary people are not essentially different from those of the Buddha, although their Buddha nature is obscured by illusions. In this sense, the body, mouth, and mind of ordinary people in their essential aspect are also called the three mysteries. In terms of practice, the mystery of the body means the forming of mudras, which are gestures with the hands and fingers; the mystery of the mouth refers to the recitation of mantras, or mystic formulas; and the mystery of the mind indicates meditation on an esoteric mandala or one of the figures appearing in it. Esoteric Buddhism teaches that, through these three practices, the body, mouth, and mind of ordinary people are united with those of Mahāvairochana Buddha, thus enabling them to attain Buddhahood in their present form.