Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume 9: Commentary on the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (Nine)

Original text: 于业无知云何。谓于诸业。起不如理分别。谓有作者。所有无知。于异熟无知云何。谓于异熟果所摄诸行。起不如理分别。谓有受者。所有无知。于业异熟无知云何。谓于业及果。起不如理分别。所有无知。

Explanation: What is ignorance regarding karmic formations? When one generates unwholesome discrimination regarding all karmic formations, holding that there is a maker/agent of karmic formations—all such ignorance is ignorance regarding karmic formations. What is ignorance regarding vipāka (retributive results)? When one generates unwholesome discrimination regarding the formations subsumed under the retributive result, holding that there is an experiencer of the retributive result—all such ignorance is ignorance regarding the retributive result. What is ignorance regarding karma and its retributive result? When one generates unwholesome discrimination regarding karmic formations and their fruits—all such ignorance is ignorance regarding karmic formations and their retributive results.

Why is holding that all karmic formations have a maker/agent ignorance? Because karmic formations are dharmas of dependent arising, dharmas arising from the aggregation of causes and conditions, illusory provisional dharmas without real substance. What is a retributive result (vipāka)? The karmic retribution of later lives brought about by actions performed in past lives—that is the retributive result. Since there is karmic retribution, there are sentient beings who experience that retribution; but sentient beings are products of dependent arising, dharmas arising from the aggregation of causes and conditions, not real dharmas. Therefore, holding that the retributive result has an experiencer is ignorance. Likewise, holding that karmic formations have a maker/agent, and holding that the retributive result has an experiencer, both constitute ignorance.

Original text: 于佛无知云何。谓于佛菩提。或不思惟。或邪思惟。或由放逸。或由疑惑。或由毁谤。所有无知。于法无知云何。谓于正法善说性。或不思惟。或邪思惟。或由放逸。或由疑惑。或由毁谤。所有无知。于僧无知云何。谓于僧正行。或不思惟。或邪思惟。或由放逸。或由疑惑。或由毁谤。所有无知。

Explanation: What is ignorance regarding the Buddha? Regarding the path of bodhi to buddhahood—either failing to contemplate it, or contemplating it wrongly, or being lax and not diligently cultivating it, or harboring doubt, or slandering it—all such ignorance is ignorance regarding the Buddha. What is ignorance regarding the Dharma? Regarding the skillful exposition of the true and correct Dharma—either failing to contemplate it, or contemplating it wrongly, or being lax and not diligently cultivating it, or harboring doubt, or slandering it without cause—all such ignorance is ignorance regarding the Dharma. What is ignorance regarding the Saṅgha? Regarding the correct conduct of the monastic Saṅgha—either failing to contemplate it, or contemplating it wrongly, or being lax in mind, or harboring doubt, or slandering it without cause—all such ignorance is ignorance regarding the Saṅgha.

This is ignorance regarding the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha: not contemplating the virtues of the Three Jewels, not contemplating them correctly, harboring doubt about them, or slandering them with the mind—various bodily, verbal, and mental actions such as these are all ignorance. The consequence of ignorance regarding the Three Jewels is sinking and drifting in the bitter ocean of saṃsāra, unable to attain liberation.

Original text: 于苦无知云何。谓于苦是苦性。或不思惟。或邪思惟。或由放逸。或由疑惑。或由毁谤。所有无知。如于苦。当知于集灭道无知亦尔。

Explanation: What is ignorance regarding suffering? Regarding the principle that suffering has the nature of suffering—either failing to contemplate it, or contemplating it wrongly, or being lax and not contemplating diligently, or harboring doubt, or slandering it—all such ignorance is ignorance regarding suffering. As it is with ignorance regarding suffering, so it is with ignorance regarding the arising of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering: these are called ignorance regarding the arising of suffering, ignorance regarding the cessation of suffering, and ignorance regarding the path to the cessation of suffering.