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

(17) Original text: Question: How is it that craving conditions grasping through three types of conditions? Answer: Due to the concomitant operation with craving, within the process of accommodating grasping among all dharmas, there is the mental formation of delighting in attachment; thus, craving is the concomitant condition for grasping. Due to the uninterrupted force of cessation operating, it becomes the immediate condition for the arising of grasping. In future existences, craving will continuously arise and operate, making liberation difficult to attain; because craving continues unbroken, it becomes the distant condition for the induction of grasping in the far distant kalpas of the future.

Explanation: Question: Why does craving condition grasping through three types of conditions? Answer: Because craving operates concomitantly with grasping, and within the process of accommodating grasping among all dharmas, there exists the mental formation of delighting in attachment through craving; thus, craving is the concomitant condition for grasping. Due to the uninterrupted force of cessation operating, it becomes the immediate condition for the arising of grasping. In future existences, craving will continuously arise and operate, making liberation difficult to attain; because craving continues unbroken, it becomes the distant condition for the induction of grasping in the far distant kalpas of the future.

Original text: Question: How is it that grasping conditions becoming through three types of conditions? Answer: Because mental formations continuously accompany grasping, enabling the karmic actions performed to bring about the results in the various destinies; thus, grasping is the concomitant condition for becoming. Furthermore, due to the force of grasping, in the place of rebirth, it can induce consciousness and other factors; thus, grasping becomes the immediate condition for the cessation and arising of consciousness and other factors. Also, because grasping can induce the functions of the factors within that realm, grasping is the distant condition for the induction of the cessation of consciousness and other factors in the far distant kalpas.

Explanation: Question: Why does grasping condition becoming through three types of conditions? Answer: Because mental formations continuously accompany grasping, enabling the karmic actions performed to bring about the results in the six destinies of rebirth; thus, grasping is the concomitant condition for becoming. Furthermore, due to the force of grasping, in the place of rebirth, it can induce consciousness and other factors; thus, grasping becomes the immediate condition for the cessation and arising of consciousness and other factors. Also, because grasping can induce the functions of the factors within the three realms of becoming, grasping is the distant condition for the induction of the cessation of consciousness and other factors in the far distant kalpas.

Original text: Question: How is it that becoming conditions birth through three types of conditions? Answer: Because it perfumes and activates the seeds for that [birth], it is the concomitant condition. Due to its force, it operates without interruption and continues; thus, it is the immediate condition. Although it ceases in the far distant [future], its fruits continue to operate; thus, it is the distant condition. As with becoming conditioning birth, it should be understood that birth conditioning aging-and-death as a condition is likewise.

Explanation: Question: Why does becoming condition birth through three types of conditions? Answer: Because becoming perfumes and activates the karmic seeds for birth, it is said that becoming is the concomitant condition for birth; all karmic actions within the three realms of becoming are conditions for birth in future existences. Due to the force of the three realms of becoming operating without interruption, becoming becomes the immediate condition for the arising of birth in future existences. Although the three realms of becoming will cease in the far distant kalpas of the future, the karmic results within the three realms of becoming will continue to operate; thus, the three realms of becoming are the distant condition for the induction of birth. The principle of becoming conditioning birth is thus, and the conditioning of aging-and-death by birth is also the same, with these three types of conditions.