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

(30) Original text: Question: In all realms of rebirth and in all states of samapatti, are all the links currently active and obtainable? Answer: They are not all obtainable. For example, in the asaṃjñika heaven (Realm of No-Thought), in the nirodha-samāpatti (Cessation Attainment), and in the asaṃjñi-samāpatti (No-Thought Attainment), the material links are obtainable, but not the immaterial links. If born in the formless realm, the immaterial links are obtainable, but not the material links.

Explanation: Question: In all places of rebirth within the three realms and in the meditative states of samapatti, can all twelve links become currently active and be directly obtained? Answer: They cannot all become active or be obtained. For instance, in the asaṃjñika heaven, and in the nirodha-samāpatti, the link of consciousness (vijñāna) is not obtainable, nor are the links of contact (sparśa), feeling (vedanā), perception (saṃjñā), craving (tṛṣṇā), and grasping (upādāna). In the asaṃjñi-samāpatti, the material bodily links are obtainable; it is not that there are no material links. If born in the formless realm, there are no material links obtainable; it is not that material links still exist. There is contact between the mental faculty (manas) and mental objects (dharmas), but no contact involving the sense faculties associated with form.

Original text: Question: Is it possible to abandon one link by relying on another? Answer: Yes. This means relying on a higher link to abandon a lower link. However, this applies only partially, not entirely, and is only temporary, not ultimate.

Explanation: Question: Is it really possible to abandon one link by relying on another link? Answer: Yes, it is possible. This means relying on a link belonging to a higher realm to abandon a link belonging to a lower realm. For example, relying on a link of the formless realm to abandon a link of the form realm, or relying on a link of the form realm to abandon a link of the desire realm. Alternatively, it could mean relying on a higher link within the form realm to abandon a lower link within the form realm, or relying on a higher link within the desire realm (like the heavens) to abandon a lower link within the desire realm. This, however, refers only to one aspect; it is not the case that all links are abandoned in this manner.

Original text: Question: How many links are defiled? How many are undefiled? Answer: Three are defiled. The rest partake of both kinds. If undefiled, they are either wholesome or non-defined (unobscured and neutral), and thus should be understood as divided into these two kinds. Question: How many links are bound to the desire realm? Answer: All links, because they arise together in combination. Question: How many links are bound to the form realm? Answer: A portion of all links.

Explanation: Question: Among the twelve links, how many are defiled, and how many are undefiled? Answer: Three links are defiled. The rest are links that partake of both defiled and undefiled states. If they partake of the undefiled state, they belong to the wholesome or the non-defined (avyākṛta, unobscured and neutral) category, meaning they possess these two natures. Question: How many links are bound to the desire realm? Answer: All twelve links are bound to the desire realm, as they arise combined within it. Question: How many links are bound to the form realm? Answer: A portion of each of the twelve links is bound to the form realm.

Original text: Question: How should it be understood that there is aging (jarā) among them? Answer: Because those conditioned formations (saṃskāras) possess the nature of decay and deterioration. As with those bound to the form realm, so too should it be understood for those bound to the formless realm. Question: How many links pertain to the learner (śaikṣa)? Answer: None. Question: How many links pertain to the non-learner (aśaikṣa)? Answer: Also none. Question: How many links pertain to neither learner nor non-learner? Answer: All.

Explanation: How can it be known that there is the link of aging (jarā)? Answer: Because all conditioned formations (saṃskāras) possess the nature of decay, deterioration, and destruction; hence, the existence of the aging link is stated. As is the case for phenomena bound to the form realm, so too should it be understood for phenomena bound to the formless realm—they decay, deteriorate, and are subject to destruction. Question: How many links belong to the stage of the learner (śaikṣa)? Answer: None belong to the stage of the learner. Question: How many links belong to the stage of the non-learner (aśaikṣa)? Answer: None belong to the stage of the non-learner. Question: How many links belong to the stage that is neither learner nor non-learner? Answer: All twelve links belong to the stage that is neither learner nor non-learner.