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

(37) Original Text: Question: For what reason are seventy-seven types of knowledge established based on the dependent origination links? Answer: In order to reveal the knowledge that existence is due to defilements; also to reveal the knowledge of defilements arising from one's own actions within the continuity of one's own Five Aggregates; further to reveal that the preceding links have no beginning in time; also to reveal that the subsequent links contain defilements and possess the meaning of cessation; and further to reveal that all contaminated wisdom not encompassed by the links has the meaning of thorough understanding. By applying seven types of knowledge to each individual link, it should be understood that there are seventy-seven types of knowledge in total.

Explanation: Question: For what cause and condition is the seventy-sevenfold knowledge established based on the links of dependent origination? Answer: It is to reveal that the existence in the three realms is due to the knowledge of defilements; also to reveal the knowledge of defilements produced by oneself during the continuous functioning of one's own body of Five Aggregates; further to reveal that the preceding links (like ignorance) have no point of origin, as the ignorance link has existed since beginningless time, not arising later, thus having no beginning, called beginningless ignorance; also to reveal that the subsequent links contain defilements and possess the meaning of reverting to cessation; further to reveal that all contaminated wisdom not encompassed by the links has the meaning of thoroughly knowing all dharmas. Excluding the ignorance link, each of the remaining eleven links corresponds to the seven types of knowledge, making seventy-seven types of knowledge in total.

Original Text: Question: For what reason are forty-four types of knowledge established within dependent origination? Answer: In order to reveal the principle of contemplating the Four Noble Truths regarding each individual link. Therefore, there are forty-four types of knowledge in total.

Explanation: Question: For what cause and condition are forty-four types of knowledge established within the doctrine of dependent origination? Answer: It is to reveal the contemplation of the path through the Four Noble Truths regarding each of the eleven links, thus establishing forty-four types of contemplative knowledge in total. Each link is contemplated with wisdom regarding the Four Noble Truths. For example, using true and real wisdom to contemplate the suffering, origin, cessation, and path regarding volitional formations; to contemplate the suffering, origin, cessation, and path regarding consciousness; to contemplate the suffering, origin, cessation, and path regarding name-and-form; to contemplate the suffering, origin, cessation, and path regarding the six sense bases; and to contemplate the suffering, origin, cessation, and path regarding contact, feeling, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, and aging-and-death. Combined, this constitutes the forty-four types of contemplative knowledge.