"Rulai" was translated from the Sanskrit word "Tathāgata". "Ru" means "suchness" (tathatā), or "according to the reality" (Yathābhūta?), i.e. the ultimate reality of all dhammas, while "lai" means "come". "Rulai" (Tathāgata) is interpreted in the Buddhist scriptures as "coming by the path of Tathāgata" or "coming according to the reality". Tathāgata is a general term and another name for "the Buddha". Thus Gotama Buddha can be called Gotama Tathāgata, and Amita Buddha can be called Amita Tathāgata.
“如來(lái)”這個(gè)名詞是從梵語(yǔ)Tathāgata譯出來(lái)的?!叭纭弊志褪恰罢嫒纭保╰athatā),即一切法(事物)的真實(shí)狀況,它又包含“如實(shí)”(Yathābhūta?)的意義。佛經(jīng)對(duì)“如來(lái)”的解釋是:“乘真如之道而來(lái)”,又說(shuō)“如實(shí)而來(lái)”。“如來(lái)”是一個(gè)通用名詞,它是“佛陀”的異名。如釋迦牟尼佛,可以稱釋迦牟尼如來(lái);阿彌陀佛,可以稱阿彌陀如來(lái)。