The Twelve Nidanas Expounded by Bhagavan in the Lankavatara Sutra (Part One)

Original Text: At that time, the great bodhisattva Mahāmati once more questioned the Bhagavān, saying: "Bhagavān, the non-Buddhists also speak of causality, asserting that [all things] are produced by a supreme lord, by time, or by atoms. Thus, they explain the arising of all dharmas. However, Bhagavān, when you speak of the arising of all dharmas from causes and conditions, it pertains to the thesis of existence and the thesis of non-existence. Bhagavān, the non-Buddhists also speak of existence and non-existence arising. Bhagavān, you also say there is no arising, and what has arisen ceases."

Explanation: The bodhisattva Mahāmati questioned the Bhagavān, saying: "Bhagavān, non-Buddhists also say that all dharmas arise from causes and conditions. But what do they claim as the producer? They assert it is produced by a supreme lord, such as Mahābrahmā, God, or some deity, or by atoms in space, some kind of energy, or later some spoke of an 'old mother' giving birth, with various inconsistent theories. However, the Bhagavān's discourse on the arising of all dharmas from causes and conditions falls within the scope of worldly existence and worldly non-existence. Bhagavān, the non-Buddhists also speak of worldly existence and non-existence. Bhagavān, you also say that all dharmas are unarisen, and what has arisen will cease."

Here, 'arising from causes and conditions' primarily refers to the sentient being's five aggregates (skandhas) being born due to causes and conditions. With the arising of the five aggregates, all dharmas of the world come into being, including external worldly dharmas and internal worldly dharmas. The theories of the non-Buddhists either fall into the extreme of eternalism or the extreme of nihilism; they belong to the views of eternalism and annihilationism, none of which are correct. When the Bhagavān speaks of 'non-arising' (anupāda), it signifies emptiness and lack of intrinsic nature (svabhāva). What has arisen then ceases; it is not real, like an illusion.

Original Text: As the Bhagavān has said: 'With ignorance as condition, formations [arise]... up to aging-and-death.' This, Bhagavān, is your teaching of causelessness, not a teaching with a cause. Bhagavān, you establish and speak thus: 'When this exists, that exists.' You do not establish gradual arising. Observing the non-Buddhist doctrines seems superior; [this is] not the Tathāgata's [teaching].'

Explanation: The bodhisattva Mahāmati further said: "Just as you, Bhagavān, have taught—'With ignorance as condition, formations [arise],' up to 'aging-and-death'—this teaching of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. When you, Bhagavān, speak thus, you have not yet revealed the root cause of aging-and-death, you have not stated the root cause of the Twelve Links. That cause you have not mentioned here; you only discuss these conventional appearances of the world, not yet touching upon the ultimate truth, not involving the root cause from which these dharmas arise. Therefore, the Bhagavān establishes this saying: 'When this exists, that exists,' without pointing out that these dharmas are gradually produced by the mind itself. Observing the non-Buddhists who claim the cause of arising is some kind of deity—such theories are not what you, Bhagavān, teach, nor do they accord with your teaching."