Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume 10: The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination

(12) Original Text:

Question: The six sense-bases also rely on food and drink as a condition. Why then does this text state only name-and-form as their condition? Answer: Here, name-and-form is stated as their birth-condition. Once they are born, they also rely on food and drink as a sustaining condition. Question: Contact relies on the conjunction of three [factors] as its condition. Why then does this text state only the six sense-bases as its condition? Answer: If the six sense-bases exist, the other two [i.e., the sense-objects and consciousness] are definitely present without lack. Moreover, the six sense-bases are predominant. Because the six sense-bases encompass the two kinds [of factors].

Explanation: Question: The eye-base, ear-base, nose-base, tongue-base, body-base, and mind-base also arise relying on food and drink as a condition. With food and drink, name-and-form grows, and the five [physical] sense-bases within the six sense-bases also grow. Why then does it say here that the six sense-bases are born relying on name-and-form as a condition? Answer: Here, it is stated that name-and-form is the birth-condition for the six sense-bases. The six sense-bases are born directly upon name-and-form; without name-and-form, the six sense-bases cannot exist. In the womb, the initial "name" is the mind-base. Upon the "form" of the fertilized ovum, the five [physical] sense-bases gradually arise. Therefore, name-and-form is the condition for the birth of the six sense-bases. After the six sense-bases are born, they also rely on food and drink as the condition for their spontaneous functioning. Hence, food and drink are not stated as the birth-condition for the six sense-bases.

Question: Contact arises relying on the conjunction of the three [factors: sense-faculty, sense-object, and consciousness] as its condition. Why then does it say here that contact is born relying on the six sense-bases as a condition? Answer: If the six sense-bases exist, the other six sense-objects and six consciousnesses will definitely arise; the sense-objects and consciousnesses will not be lacking. Therefore, the six sense-bases are used representatively. Furthermore, among the three [factors], the six sense-bases are superior to the six sense-objects and the six consciousnesses, playing the decisive role in the conjunction of the three. Since the six sense-bases encompass the six sense-objects and the six consciousnesses, it is therefore stated that contact arises relying on the six sense-bases as its condition.

Original Text:

Question: Whether oppressed by oneself, oppressed by others, changed by time, or induced by past karma, all can give rise to feeling. Why then does this text only show contact as its condition? Answer: Because contact is its proximate cause, for feeling is induced by contact. Feelings arising from other conditions also originate from contact. Feeling necessarily does not exist apart from contact. Therefore, it is specifically stated [that contact is the condition].

Explanation: Question: If oppressed by oneself, or oppressed by others, or due to the change of temporal conditions, or induced by actions performed in past lives, specific circumstances can all give rise to feelings. Why then does this text only show that contact is the condition for the arising of feeling? Answer: Because contact is the proximate condition for feeling. Feeling arises due to being induced by contact. Feelings arising from other conditions also originate from the condition of contact. Feeling necessarily cannot exist apart from contact. Therefore, it is specifically stated that contact is the condition for feeling.

Original Text:

Question: The sutras also state that craving arises with ignorance as its condition. Agreeable objects that accord with craving can also serve as a condition. Why then does this text state only feeling as the condition? Answer: Due to the power of feeling, when encountering agreeable objects, one either seeks union or seeks separation [depending on the feeling]. Due to the power of ignorance, one fails to know truly the characteristics such as the arising and cessation of all feelings. Because of this, one cannot restrain one's mind.

Explanation: Question: The sutras also say that craving arises with ignorance as its condition. Ignorance is the condition for craving. Agreeable sense-objects that accord with craving are also a condition for craving and can give rise to craving. Why then does this text state only feeling as the condition producing craving? Answer: Due to the power of the condition of feeling, when facing objects that seem agreeable, one either seeks union with the object (in the case of pleasant feeling) or seeks to avoid and escape the object (in the case of painful feeling). Due to the power of ignorance, one fails to truly know the characteristics such as the arising and cessation of these feelings. Therefore, one cannot restrain one's mind, and craving arises. That is why feeling is stated as the condition for craving.