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

What is ignorance regarding karma? It is the irrational discrimination toward all karmic actions, positing the existence of an agent (doer) of karma. All such ignorance constitutes ignorance regarding karma. What is ignorance regarding maturation (vipāka)? It is the irrational discrimination toward the formations (saṃskāras) encompassed by the maturated results (vipāka-phala), positing the existence of an experiencer (receiver) of the results. All such ignorance constitutes ignorance regarding maturation. What is ignorance regarding karma and its maturation? It is the irrational discrimination toward both karma and its results. All such ignorance constitutes ignorance regarding karma and its maturation.

Why is positing an agent for all karmic actions considered ignorance? Because karmic actions are phenomena of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda); they are conditioned phenomena arising from the aggregation of causes and conditions, illusory and devoid of inherent reality. What is the maturated result (vipāka-phala)? It is the karmic result experienced in a future life due to actions performed in a previous life. Although there is a result, the sentient being experiencing it is itself a dependently originated entity, a conditioned phenomenon arising from the aggregation of causes and conditions, not an inherently real entity. Therefore, positing an experiencer of the maturated result is ignorance. Similarly, positing an agent for karmic actions and positing an experiencer for the maturated results both constitute ignorance.

What is ignorance regarding the Buddha? It is the ignorance arising from either not contemplating, or contemplating incorrectly, or through heedlessness, or through doubt, or through slander, concerning the Buddha's enlightenment (Bodhi). What is ignorance regarding the Dharma? It is the ignorance arising from either not contemplating, or contemplating incorrectly, or through heedlessness, or through doubt, or through slander, concerning the well-spoken nature of the true Dharma. What is ignorance regarding the Saṅgha? It is the ignorance arising from either not contemplating, or contemplating incorrectly, or through heedlessness, or through doubt, or through slander, concerning the Saṅgha's right conduct.

This is ignorance regarding the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Saṅgha). Not applying the mind to contemplate, contemplating incorrectly, harboring doubts, or generating slanderous thoughts toward the virtues of the Three Jewels – all such mental, verbal, and bodily actions constitute ignorance. The consequence of ignorance regarding the Three Jewels is sinking into the sea of suffering of birth and death, unable to attain liberation.

What is ignorance regarding suffering? It is the ignorance arising from either not contemplating, or contemplating incorrectly, or through heedlessness, or through doubt, or through slander, concerning the nature of suffering as suffering. As with ignorance regarding suffering, it should be understood that ignorance regarding the origin (of suffering), cessation (of suffering), and the path (to the cessation of suffering) is likewise.

Dedication Verse: We dedicate all the merit from Dharma propagation and group practice on our online platform to all beings throughout the Dharma realm and to the people of the world. We pray for world peace, the cessation of wars; may conflicts cease and weapons be forever laid down; may all calamities completely subside! We pray for unity, mutual aid, and kindness among the peoples of all nations; may the weather be favorable and the harvests abundant, and may countries be prosperous and people at peace! May all beings deeply believe in cause and effect, be kind and refrain from killing; may they widely cultivate good affinities and virtuous deeds; may they have faith in the Buddha, learn the Dharma, and increase their roots of goodness; may they understand suffering, abandon its origin, aspire to its cessation, and cultivate the path; may the door to the evil destinies be closed, and the path to Nirvāṇa be opened! We pray that the Buddhadharma may flourish forever and the true Dharma abide eternally; may the burning house of the triple realm be transformed into the lotus land of ultimate bliss!