The Āgama Oral Explanation Sūtra on the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination

(3) Original text: The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination fundamentally arise from ten phenomena of the body. These ten phenomena emerge from the body. Seven phenomena arise from one [aspect], three phenomena arise from four [aspects]. The seven phenomena arising from one are: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, divisive speech, harsh speech, false speech, and frivolous speech; together they are unified under form as one. The three phenomena arising from four are: jealousy, hatred, and delusion; they arise from sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. These ten phenomena combine to form the Five Aggregates, thus constituting the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. The ground is likened to ignorance; volitional formations become the Flourishing Aggregates. Volitional formations perform the actions leading to birth and death. Self-planting seeds are called volitional formations. Once volitional formations exist, consciousness arises, receiving a body subject to birth and death. With consciousness, name-and-form arises.

Explanation: The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination are originally ten phenomena manifested by the body of the Five Aggregates. Seven phenomena manifest from the physical body (form aggregate), while three phenomena manifest from the four mental aggregates (sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness). Name-and-form constitutes the Five Aggregates; the ten phenomena on name-and-form constitute the Five Aggregates. The seven phenomena are killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, divisive speech, harsh speech, frivolous speech—all unified in the physical body. The three phenomena are jealousy, hatred, and delusion, manifesting from sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. The ten phenomena combine to form the Five Aggregates, which are the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. Ignorance is likened to the ground; volitional formations become the Five Flourishing Aggregates. The Five Flourishing Aggregates operate within ignorance. The karmic seeds of the Five Flourishing Aggregates are born in the ground of ignorance, thus volitional formations arise. Once volitional formations arise, there is consciousness which receives the birth and death of the body of the Five Aggregates. With consciousness, name-and-form arises.

Original text: The body again performs ten actions, completing the Five Aggregates. Once name-and-form exists, the Six Entrances arise. They again perform the activities of the Flourishing Aggregates. After the seeds of volitional formations are planted, they will again undergo the cycle of transformation. Because it is the cause and condition for birth and death, it is called Dependent Origination. The ten actions of the body as the Twelve Links are: jealousy is ignorance; hatred is birth-and-death; obsessive doubt is consciousness; killing is name-and-form; stealing is the Six Entrances; sexual misconduct is contact; divisive speech is sensation; false speech is craving; harsh speech is formation; frivolous speech is clinging. Because existence and non-existence arise, there are the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.

Explanation: The physical body again performs ten actions; with the ten phenomena mentioned above, it becomes the body of the Five Aggregates. After name-and-form appears, the Six Entrances arise. The Six Entrances again operate the activities of body, speech, and mind of the Five Aggregates. After seeds are planted, there is the continuous revolving of the Five Aggregates body in future lives. Thus it becomes the cause and condition for birth and death, therefore it is called the Law of Dependent Origination. The ten actions performed by the physical body are also the Twelve Links. Among them: jealousy is ignorance; hatred is birth-and-death; obsessive doubt is the six consciousnesses; the karmic action of killing is name-and-form; the karmic action of stealing is the Six Entrances; the karmic action of sexual desire is contact; the karmic action of divisive speech is sensation; the karmic action of false speech is craving; the karmic action of harsh speech accomplishes the Five Flourishing Aggregates; the karmic action of frivolous speech is clinging. The potential for future existence, the arising and ceasing of life, represents the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.

Original text: Why? Sexual desire is ignorance. Hatred is birth-and-death. Obsessive doubt is consciousness. These three internal things are the root. Once these three things exist, the seven things arise, completing the karmic actions of the Five Flourishing Aggregates. Jealousy is the root of the activities of the Five Aggregates, therefore it belongs to the category of doubt. The activities of the Five Aggregates body are pleasant to the mind, then it is wholesome; unpleasant to the mind, then hatred arises. Thus the ten karmic actions leading to birth and death are performed. External dharmas manifest from the body, reflecting one's own mind. Doubt means failing to distinguish right from wrong, failing to recognize birth and death—this is the mind-consciousness. If a practitioner wishes to sever the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, they should first sever the ten actions of the body of the Five Aggregates. Then ignorance is severed. Once ignorance is severed, the body of the Five Aggregates will cease.

Explanation: Why is this said? Sexual desire is ignorance; hatred is birth-and-death; obsessive doubt is the six consciousnesses. These three internal things are the root of the Five Aggregates. Once the root exists, the seven things arise—killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, divisive speech, frivolous speech, harsh speech—completing the karmic actions of the Five Flourishing Aggregates. Jealousy is the root of the activities of the Five Aggregates, therefore it belongs to the category of doubt. If the activities of the Five Aggregates body are pleasing to the mind, it is wholesome; if displeasing, hatred arises. Thus the ten karmic actions leading to birth and death are created. External phenomena manifest from the physical body, reflecting one's own mind. Doubt signifies an inner failure to distinguish right from wrong, an inability to recognize birth and death—this is the mind-consciousness. Practitioners who wish to cut off the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination should first cut off the ten actions performed by the body of the Five Aggregates. Then ignorance is cut off. Once ignorance is cut off, the body of the Five Aggregates will cease to exist.