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

(Thirty-two) Original Text: Question: As the World-Honored One has said, dependent arising is profoundly deep. How should this profound meaning be known? Answer: The profound meaning of dependent arising should be known through ten aspects, namely, as explained according to the meanings of impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and no-self.

According to the meaning of impermanence: It means [a phenomenon] arises from its own seed, yet also depends on other conditions. Furthermore, arising from other conditions, it also depends on its own seed. Moreover, arising from its own seed and from other conditions, yet the seed and conditions neither create nor function in this arising event, nor do they operate or move. Nevertheless, the causal functions of these two are not nonexistent.

Explanation: Question: As you, World-Honored One, have said, the Dharma of dependent arising is profoundly deep. How can this profound meaning be known? Answer: The profound meaning of the Dharma of dependent arising can be known from ten aspects, which are presented according to the meanings of impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and no-self inherent in dependent arising, thereby revealing its profound significance.

The meaning "according to impermanence" refers to the fact that dependent arising arises from its own inherent seed while simultaneously relying on the maturation of other conditions to collectively serve as causes for its arising. Furthermore, when dependent arising depends on other conditions to arise, it must also have the condition of its own seed. Neither can be lacking; both must appear together for dependent arising to occur. Additionally, dependent arising arises not only from its own seed but also from other conditions. However, the seed itself and other conditions have no substantive role in the arising of dependent arising; they neither operate nor move along with it. Yet the functional capacities of these two types of causes are not absent—they do have functional efficacy—it is just that they do not directly give rise to dependent arising.

For example, visual consciousness is a dependent arising. Its own inherent seed is the seed consciousness of visual consciousness. The other conditions for the arising of visual consciousness, besides the seed consciousness, include eight types of conditions, one of which is form-dust. Only when these conditions gather can visual consciousness arise; if any one condition is missing, visual consciousness cannot arise. However, visual consciousness is not produced by these conditions themselves; rather, it is the eighth consciousness that, by relying on these conditions, gives rise to visual consciousness. This means the function of producing visual consciousness belongs to the eighth consciousness, not to the seed condition of visual consciousness or the other eight conditions. These nine conditions have no substantive role in producing visual consciousness; they are merely supporting or contributory conditions.

Original Text: Furthermore, although the links of existence have been established since beginningless time, they undergo renewal moment by moment. Although the links of dependent arising perish instantaneously, they appear to remain stationary and in motion.

According to the meaning of suffering: The links of dependent arising have the single flavor of suffering, yet appear to manifest three characteristics.

Explanation: Furthermore, the twelve links of existence, although established since beginningless time, undergo moment-by-moment birth and cessation. As new [links] arise and perish, the next new [links] appear, continuously functioning to sustain the birth, abiding, change, and cessation of the twelve links. Additionally, although these dependent links perish instantaneously, they appear to manifest phases of seeming stagnation and motion.

According to the meaning of suffering in dependent arising, dependent arising is purely of the nature of suffering, with no other characteristic. Yet it appears to manifest three characteristics: suffering, happiness, and neither-suffering-nor-happiness.

Original Text: According to the meaning of emptiness: Although the links of dependent arising are devoid of an agent or experiencer among sentient beings, they appear as if not devoid of them, and are thus explained as manifesting.

According to the meaning of no-self: Although the links of dependent arising lack autonomy and truly have no characteristic of self, they appear to manifest a characteristic of self.

According to the ultimate truth, although the intrinsic nature of all dharmas is inexpressible, it is said that the intrinsic nature of all dharmas can be spoken of.

Explanation: According to the meaning of emptiness in dependent arising, although the links of dependent arising are devoid of an agent or experiencer among sentient beings, they appear as if not devoid of them, manifesting the existence of an agent and experiencer within the links of dependent arising, and are therefore explained as empty.

According to the meaning of no-self, although the links of dependent arising lack autonomy and truly have no characteristic of self, they appear to manifest a characteristic of self.

According to the ultimate truth, although the intrinsic nature of these dependent dharmas is inexpressible, it is still necessary to speak of dharmas as having an intrinsic nature.