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07 Mar 2022    Monday     1st Teach Total 3581

Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume IX: Explanation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (Part VIII)

Question: To reveal what meaning is dependent origination established?

Answer: To reveal the meaning of defilement and purity encompassed by causes and conditions. What are the distinctions of dependent origination? They refer to ignorance regarding the past, etc., as extensively explained in the sūtras.

What is ignorance regarding the past? It is to give rise to irrational discrimination toward past formations, such as: "Did I exist in the past? Did I not exist? What was my nature? What was my kind?" — all such ignorance.

What is ignorance regarding the future? It is to give rise to irrational discrimination toward future formations, such as: "Shall I exist in the future? Shall I not exist? What will my nature be? What will my kind be?" — all such ignorance.

Explanation:

Question: For what doctrinal meaning is dependent origination established?

Answer: To reveal the meaning of sentient beings’ defilement and purity as encompassed by distinctions of causes and conditions. What are the distinctions of dependent origination? Ignorance regarding the past, present, and future constitutes these distinctions, as extensively elucidated in the sūtras.

What is ignorance regarding the past? It is to give rise to irrational discrimination toward formations of past lives, such as: "Did I truly have past lives? Did I truly not? What was my form? What kind of being was I?" All such ignorance constitutes ignorance regarding the past.

What is ignorance regarding the future? It is to give rise to irrational discrimination toward formations of future lives, such as: "Shall I have future lives? Shall I not? What form shall I take? What kind of being shall I be?" All such ignorance constitutes ignorance regarding the future.

Original Text:

What is ignorance regarding the past and future? It is to give rise internally to irrational doubt, such as: "What is this ‘I’? What am I? From where did this sentient being come? After perishing here, where shall it go?" — all such ignorance.

Explanation:

What is ignorance regarding the past and future? It is to give rise internally to irrational hesitation, such as: "What dharmas constitute ‘I’? What dharmas am I? From where did present sentient beings come? After perishing in this world, where should they go?" All such ignorance constitutes ignorance regarding the past and future.

Ignorance regarding the three times (past, present, future) is ignorance of cause and effect, ignorance of saṃsāra, ignorance of birth and death. This is the greatest ignorance of sentient beings, also called fundamental ignorance or beginningless ignorance.

Original Text:

What is internal ignorance? It is to give rise to irrational attention toward individual formations internally, perceiving them as "I" — all such ignorance.

What is external ignorance? It is to give rise to irrational attention toward external formations not pertaining to sentient beings, perceiving them as "mine" — all such ignorance.

What is internal-external ignorance? It is to give rise to irrational discrimination toward formations in others’ continua, perceiving them as enemies, friends, or neutrals — all such ignorance.

Explanation:

What is internal ignorance? It is to give rise to irrational attention toward all or individual formations within oneself, perceiving these formations as "I." All ignorance akin to clinging to the five aggregates as "I" constitutes internal ignorance.

What is external ignorance? It is to give rise to irrational attention toward non-sentient objects — the six dust realms of form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and dharmas — perceiving them as "belonging to me." All such attention constitutes external ignorance.

What is internal-external ignorance? It is to give rise to irrational discrimination toward the continuous formations of other sentient beings, perceiving them as enemies, friends, etc. All such ignorance constitutes internal-external ignorance.

Internal ignorance refers to one’s own five-aggregate body. External ignorance refers to the six dust realms. Internal-external ignorance refers to other beings’ five-aggregate bodies and six dust realms. Clinging to internal and external dharmas as "I" and "mine," apprehending them as real entities — this is ignorance.

Dedication Verse:

By the merit of all Dharma propagation and group practice on our online platform, we dedicate this to all beings in the Dharma realm and to the people of the world. We pray for world peace, an end to war; may conflict cease and weapons forever rest; may all disasters vanish!

We pray that all nations unite in mutual aid, with hearts of compassion toward one another; may winds and rains be seasonable, nations prosperous and people at peace!

May all beings deeply believe in cause and effect, cherish compassion and refrain from killing; widely cultivate wholesome connections and wholesome deeds; take faith in the Buddha and learn the Dharma, increasing their roots of goodness; understand suffering, abandon its origin, aspire to cessation, and cultivate the path; close the door to evil destinies and open the road to Nirvāṇa!

May the Buddha’s teachings flourish eternally, the true Dharma abide forever; may the burning house of the triple realm be transformed into the lotus land of ultimate bliss!

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume IX: Explanation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (IX)

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