The Āgama Oral Exposition on the Twelve Nidānas

(1) Original text: To sever the course of birth and death and transcend the worldly path, one should contemplate the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. What are the twelve? First, the fundamental cause is ignorance. Second, from ignorance arise karmic formations. Third, from karmic formations arises consciousness. Fourth, from consciousness arises name-and-form. Fifth, from name-and-form arise the six sense bases. Sixth, from the six sense bases arises contact. Seventh, from contact arises sensation. Eighth, from sensation arises craving. Ninth, from craving arises grasping. Tenth, from grasping arises becoming. Eleventh, from becoming arises birth. Twelfth, from birth arise aging, sickness, and death. These are the twelve links of dependent origination.

Explanation: If one wishes to sever the path of birth and death and transcend the cycle of the six realms, one should contemplate the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. What are the twelve? First, the root of the cycle of birth and death is ignorance and delusion. Second, from the ignorance of the mental faculty arise karmic formations. Third, from karmic formations arise the six consciousnesses. Fourth, from the six consciousnesses arise name-and-form. Fifth, from name-and-form arise the six sense bases. Sixth, from the six sense bases arises contact. Seventh, from contact arises sensation. Eighth, from sensation arises craving. Ninth, from craving arises seeking and grasping. Tenth, from grasping arises becoming. Eleventh, from becoming arises birth. Twelfth, from birth arise aging, sickness, and death. These are the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.

Original text: When these twelve links seek to arise, they should be extinguished by the Four Noble Truths. What are the Four Noble Truths? First, recognize suffering. Second, abandon its origin. Third, realize cessation. Fourth, cultivate the path. Furthermore, contemplate birth, aging, sickness, and death. By contemplating these four things, the path of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination is perfected. The practitioner who contemplates these four things and wishes to transcend the world must sever the twelve links of dependent origination. This is how the root of birth and death is severed.

The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination have internal and external aspects. Internally, the first is ignorance; externally, it is earth. Internally, the second is karmic formations; externally, it is water. Internally, the third is consciousness; externally, it is fire. Internally, the fourth is name-and-form; externally, it is wind. Internally, the fifth is the six sense bases; externally, it is space. Internally, the sixth is affliction; externally, it is seeds. Internally, the seventh is sensation; externally, it is roots. Internally, the eighth is craving; externally, it is stems. Internally, the ninth is feeling; externally, it is leaves. Internally, the tenth is becoming; externally, it is nodes. Internally, the eleventh is birth; externally, it is flowers. Internally, the twelfth is aging and death; externally, it is fruit.

Explanation: When these Twelve Links of Dependent Origination seek to arise, they should be extinguished by the Four Noble Truths. What are the Four Noble Truths? First, recognize suffering. Second, abandon the origin of suffering by relinquishing habitual tendencies. Third, aspire to cessation by understanding the path to extinguishing suffering. Fourth, cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path. Additionally, by constantly contemplating birth, aging, sickness, and death, the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination can be perfected. The practitioner who contemplates birth, aging, sickness, and death and wishes to transcend the world must sever the karmic activities of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. This severs the root of birth and death.

The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination have internal and external aspects. Internally, the first is ignorance and delusion; externally, it corresponds to the earth element. Internally, the second is karmic formations; externally, it is the water element. Internally, the third is the six consciousnesses; externally, it is the fire element. Internally, the fourth is name-and-form; externally, it is the wind element. Internally, the fifth is the six sense bases; externally, it is space. Internally, the sixth is calamity; externally, it is karmic seeds. Internally, the seventh is sensation; externally, it is roots. Internally, the eighth is craving; externally, it is the stems of plants. Internally, the ninth is feeling; externally, it is branches and leaves. Internally, the tenth is becoming; externally, it is nodes. Internally, the eleventh is birth; externally, it is flowers. Internally, the twelfth is aging and death; externally, it is fruit.