Abhidharma Kośa, Volume IX

Original text: It is stated in the treatise: The positions of all defilements in past lives, ripening into their fruits up to the present, are collectively termed ignorance. This is because those [defilements and their fruits] operate simultaneously with ignorance, and it is due to the power of ignorance that they manifest. It is like saying, "The king travels." It is not that there are no attendants; because the king is supreme in all respects, the movement of both the king and [his attendants] is collectively termed the king's travel. The positions of meritorious and other karmas in past lives, ripening into their fruits up to the present, are collectively given the name formations.

Explanation: The treatise states that all the positions of defilements in past lives, ripening into their karmic fruits up to the present time, are all called ignorance. This is because both the defilements and their karmic fruits operate simultaneously with ignorance, and it is due to the power of ignorance that the defilements manifest. For example, when a king travels, it is not without attendants; because the king is supreme in all aspects, the movement of both the king and the attendants is collectively called the king's travel. The meritorious karmas created in past lives, now ripening into wholesome fruits, are all called formations.

Original text: The initial term "position" flows until old age and death. At the time of proper linking of rebirth in the mother's womb, etc., the five aggregates at the single moment of consciousness are called consciousness. After the linking consciousness of rebirth and before the arising of the six sense bases, the intermediate positions are collectively termed name-and-form. Here, it should be said [that the sense bases are] four before their arising, yet it speaks of six; this is based on the standpoint of full establishment, as the eye, etc., have already arisen. Up to the stage where the faculties, objects, and consciousness have not yet harmonized, the name "six sense bases" is applied. Having reached the harmony of the three [faculty, object, consciousness], but not yet discerning the causes for the differentiation of the three feelings, this intermediate position of differentiated causes is collectively termed contact. Having discerned the causes for the differentiation of the three feelings, the differentiated characteristics [are present] but lustful craving has not yet arisen; this position is called feeling.

Explanation: Life is calculated starting from the initial position, flowing continuously until the position of old age and death. Within the positions like the mother's womb, the five aggregates formally link for rebirth; at the position of a single moment, the five aggregates give rise to the six consciousnesses. The linking consciousness of rebirth occurs later; the six sense bases arise first. All positions in between the arising of the six sense objects and the six consciousnesses are called name-and-form. Here, it should be said that there are four sense bases [ear, nose, body, mind], not six, as the eye and tongue bases are not yet present at this stage. Speaking of six sense bases is based on the standpoint of the full establishment of name-and-form. When name-and-form has not yet reached its full position, although the eye and tongue faculties are complete, the eye and tongue consciousnesses cannot yet arise. The three – faculty, object, and consciousness – cannot harmonize; there is only the name "six sense bases," not yet their function. When the faculty, object, and consciousness can harmonize, but before the three feelings arise, the various intermediate positions of differentiation are all called contact. After the three feelings have appeared, with various differentiated characteristics present, but before craving arises, it is called feeling.

Original text: Craving for excellent requisites, lustful love manifests; before extensively seeking, this position is called craving. For the sake of obtaining various superior and wonderful states, one seeks everywhere extensively; this position is called grasping. Due to this extensive seeking, the karmas capable of drawing forth the future resultant existence are accumulated; this position is called existence. Due to the power of this karma, upon abandoning this life, the future existence is formally linked; this position is called birth. The birth link of the future existence is like the present consciousness arising. After the moment [of birth], it gradually increases, up to the future; the position of feeling is collectively termed old age and death. Such old age and death are like the present name-and-form, six sense bases, contact, and feeling – these four links. The differentiation of the twelve links' entities is thus.

Explanation: Due to craving for excellent material requisites, lustful craving manifests. Before extensively seeking, this position is called craving. For the sake of obtaining various superior and wonderful states, one seeks everywhere extensively; this position is called grasping. Because of this extensive seeking everywhere, karmic actions accumulate which are capable of drawing forth the karmic fruit of future existence; this position is called existence. Due to the power of this karma of extensive seeking, after death, the future existence is formally linked; this position is called birth. The birth link of the future existence is that which is produced by the actions created by the present six consciousnesses. After birth arises, the five aggregates of name-and-form gradually increase moment by moment, continuing until the future life. The position of feeling after birth is collectively called the position of old age and death. Thus, old age and death correspond to the present name-and-form, six sense bases, contact, and feeling – these four links. The above is the differentiation of the entities of the twelve links.

Question: What phenomena in our daily life belong to extensive seeking everywhere? What phenomena belong to craving?