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

Question: Among these factors of existence, how many serve as superior obstacles to the right view included in the factors of the path? Answer: Ignorance and the volitional formations arising from it, even if only a part, can be a superior obstacle. As for right view, so too for right intention and right effort. For right speech, right action, and right livelihood, bodily and verbal actions, even if only a part, serve as superior obstacles. For right livelihood and right concentration, the remaining factors of existence serve as superior obstacles, it should be known.

Explanation: Question: Among the twelve factors of existence, how many can serve as obstacles to the right view included in the factors of the Eightfold Path? Answer: Ignorance and the volitional formations arising from it, even if only a part, can become obstacles to the superior dharma, not to mention more parts, which are even greater obstacles. Ignorance and volitional formations not only obstruct right view but also right intention and right effort in the same way. The bodily and verbal actions of the volitional formations, even if only a part, become obstacles to right speech, right action, and right livelihood in the superior dharma. The remaining factors of existence such as consciousness, contact, feeling, perception, and grasping, if even a part, will become obstacles to right livelihood and right concentration in the superior dharma.

The twelve factors of existence are an obstacle to the correct practice of the Eightfold Path, and they are an obstacle to the practice of other path factors, as well as to the practice of the Four Noble Truths of suffering, origin, cessation, and path. Therefore, no matter what dharma is practiced, ignorance is an obstacle, and the common goal of practicing all dharmas is to remove the obstacle of ignorance.

Question: Among these factors of existence, how many are solely of the impure category, and how many are common to both impure and pure categories? Answer: Four are solely of the impure category; the rest are common to both impure and pure categories. Question: How is the birth factor common to both categories? Answer: If born in the evil destinies and places of difficulty, it is solely of the impure category. If born in the human and heavenly realms, places without difficulty, it is common to both impure and pure categories. It should be known that the other factors, according to what is appropriate, are all common to both categories.

Explanation: Question: Among these factors of existence, how many are solely connected to the impure category? How many are connected to both impure and pure categories? Answer: Four are solely connected to the impure category; the rest are connected to both impure and pure categories. Question: Why is the birth factor connected to both categories? Answer: If born in the three evil destinies and places with disasters, birth is solely connected to the impure category. If born in the human and heavenly realms, places without disasters, birth is connected to both impure and pure categories. Accordingly, it should be known that the other factors, according to what corresponds, are all connected to both impure and pure categories.