Vairocana is a supreme cosmic Buddha who is said to contain all world systems within his all-encompassing cosmic body.[8] The Avatamsaka sutra also states that the wisdom of the Buddha (the Tathagata) is present everywhere in the universe, indeed, it is present within every living being.

In the Buddhāvataṃsaka Sūtra , Vairocana is described as having attained enlightenment immeasurable ages ago and residing in a world purified by him while he was a bodhisattva. He also presides over an assembly of countless other bodhisattvas.