Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume X (Twelve Links of Dependent Origination)

(29) Original text: Furthermore, how many branches produce the effect of agreeable and disagreeable states? How many branches produce the effect of self-existence? It is said that the first six branches produce the former effect. The latter three branches produce the subsequent effect of self-existence. One branch produces both effects.

Explanation: Furthermore, how many branches induce the karmic effect of agreeable and disagreeable states? How many branches induce the effect of self-existence? The first six branches induce the effect of agreeable and disagreeable states. The six branches—ignorance, formations, consciousness, name-and-form, six sense bases, and contact—induce the effect of agreeable and disagreeable states. The latter three branches induce the effect of the self-existence of the five-aggregate body. The three branches—existence, birth, and aging-and-death—induce this effect. One branch can induce both the karmic effect of agreeable and disagreeable states and the effect of self-existence; this is the grasping branch.

The first five branches—ignorance, formations, consciousness, name-and-form, and six sense bases—induce the contact branch. The contact branch induces the effect of agreeable and disagreeable states. Without contact, the effect of states would not arise. Without the six sense bases, there would be no contact. Without name-and-form, there would be no six sense bases. Without the consciousness of the previous life, there would be no name-and-form. Without the mental formations of the mental faculty, there would be no consciousness. Without ignorance, there would be no mental formations of the mental faculty. The latter three branches—existence, birth, and aging-and-death—induce the effect of self-existence. Because existence in the three realms is present, the effect of birth arises. Because there is birth, the effect of aging-and-death arises. As for the grasping branch, because of grasping at dharmas, it induces the effect of agreeable and disagreeable states. Moreover, it causes the five aggregates to continuously manifest in the world, inducing the effect of the self-existence of the five aggregates. Without grasping, no states would appear, nor would future existence arise; all effects would cease.

Original text: Furthermore, how many branches operate accompanied by pleasant feeling? All except two. How many branches operate accompanied by painful feeling? Namely, that [feeling branch] and one from the previously excluded. How many branches operate accompanied by neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling? This should be understood according to the principle of the pleasant feeling. How many branches do not operate accompanied by feeling? Namely, one from the previously excluded.

Explanation: Furthermore, how many branches operate accompanied by pleasant feeling? Excluding the two just mentioned [aging-and-death and existence], the remaining branches—the feeling branch and the craving branch—operate accompanied by pleasant feeling. Because there is pleasant feeling, craving arises. Because of craving, one resolves to grasp. If it were painful feeling, there would be no craving; without craving, there is no grasping. Therefore, feeling and craving accompany pleasant feeling.

How many branches operate accompanied by painful feeling? Namely, the feeling branch itself and one from the previously excluded branches—the aging-and-death branch. The aging-and-death branch also operates accompanied by painful feeling. How many branches operate accompanied by neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling? According to the same principle as those accompanied by pleasant feeling, the feeling and craving branches also accompany neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling and operate together with it. How many branches do not operate accompanied by feeling? Namely, one from the previously excluded branches—the existence branch. The existence branch does not operate accompanied by feeling.

Original text: Furthermore, how many branches are included in the suffering of change? Namely, the branches operating with pleasant feeling, and one part of the branches not operating with feeling. How many branches are included in the suffering of suffering? Namely, the branches operating with painful feeling, and one part of the branches not operating with feeling.

Explanation: How many branches are included in the suffering of change? The branches included in the suffering of change are the feeling and craving branches operating with pleasant feeling, and one part of the branch not operating with feeling—the existence branch. The meaning of the suffering of change is the painful feeling arising from the destruction of existing dharmas. When pleasant feeling cannot be maintained and disappears, mental displeasure arises, which is painful feeling. When craving cannot be maintained and disappears, painful feeling arises. When existence in the three realms cannot be held onto and disappears, painful feeling arises. All these are called the suffering of change.

How many branches are included in the suffering of suffering? The branches operating with painful feeling, and one part of the branches not operating with feeling. The feeling branch and the aging-and-death branch operate with painful feeling and are included in the suffering of suffering, because the painful feeling within feeling is inherently suffering, and aging-and-death is also inherently suffering. Suffering that is suffering in itself is called the suffering of suffering. The existence branch, which does not operate with feeling, includes one part that involves suffering, so it is included in the suffering of suffering.

Original text: How many branches are included in the suffering of conditioned existence? Namely, all branches of the suffering of change and the suffering of suffering are also branches of the suffering of conditioned existence. Or, some are included in the suffering of conditioned existence but not in the other two sufferings. Namely, the branches operating with neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling, and one part of the branches not operating with feeling.

Explanation: How many branches are included in the suffering of conditioned existence? All branches of the suffering of change and the suffering of suffering are also branches of the suffering of conditioned existence. Additionally, some branches are included in the suffering of conditioned existence but not in the other two sufferings. These are the branches operating accompanied by neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling, and one part of the branches not operating with feeling.

The scope of the suffering of conditioned existence is extremely broad. All dharmas that flow and change moment by moment without abiding are suffering and are included in the suffering of conditioned existence. Because they flow without ceasing, cannot be grasped, cannot be maintained, and are impermanent—arising, ceasing, and changing—they are suffering.