Yogācārabhūmi Śāstra, Volume 10: Explanation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (III)

Original text: 问。依何义故建立七有。所谓那落迦傍生。饿鬼人天有。业有中有。答。依三种所作故。一能引有谓一。二趣有有谓一。三受用果有谓五。生云何。谓于胎卵二生。初托生时。等生云何。谓即于彼身分圆满。仍未出时。趣云何。谓从彼出。起云何。谓出已增长。出现云何。谓于湿化二生。身分顿起。

Explanation: Question: Based on what principle are the seven kinds of existence (bhava) established: hell, animals, hungry ghosts, humans, heavenly beings, karmic existence, and the intermediate existence? Answer: Based on three kinds of activities, they are divided into the seven existences: the first is that which can draw forth existence in the three realms, which is karmic existence; the second is the intermediate existence that can proceed toward existence in the three realms; the third is the existence in the three realms that experiences the retribution, which is the existence of sentient beings of the five destinies.

What is birth (birth)? Birth is when sentient beings of the two kinds—womb-born and egg-born—first take rebirth. What is equal birth? Equal birth is when the bodily parts within the womb or egg have already matured and become complete, but the being has not yet emerged—in common parlance, waiting to be born. What is destiny (destiny)? Destiny is emerging from the womb or egg. What is arising? Arising is the stage of growth after sentient beings are born. What is manifestation? Manifestation is when sentient beings of the two kinds—moisture-born and transformation-born—their bodily parts appear all at once.

Original text: 蕴得云何。谓即于彼诸生位中。五取蕴转。界得云何。谓即彼诸蕴因缘所摄性。处得云何。谓即彼诸蕴。余缘所摄性。诸蕴生起云何。谓即彼诸蕴。日日饮食之所资长命根。出现云何。谓即彼诸蕴。余寿力故。得相续住。

Explanation: What does "attainment of the aggregates" mean? The attainment of the aggregates means that in all the stages of birth within existence, the five grasped aggregates of form, feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness operate and come forth—it means the five aggregates are born and manifest. What does "attainment of the elements" mean? The attainment of the elements is the attribute subsumed under the various causes and conditions of the five grasped aggregates. What does "attainment of the bases" mean? The attainment of the bases is the attribute subsumed under the remaining conditions of the five grasped aggregates, such as the inner six sense bases and the outer six sense bases, combined together as the base of contact between faculties and objects. What does the arising of the five grasped aggregates mean? It means the five grasped aggregates daily sustain life with food and drink, nourishing and sustaining the life faculty so it does not perish. What does manifestation mean? After the living being is born, the remaining force of the lifespan of the five grasped aggregates serves as the condition that allows the living being to continue abiding in the world.

The attainment of the elements can be spoken of as attaining the elements, having the dharma-elements, including the faculty-elements, the object-elements, and the consciousness-elements. For example, within the five aggregates, each faculty has its own attribute, each object has its own attribute, and each consciousness has its own attribute; because the attributes differ, there are boundaries between dharma and dharma. When a dharma is born, that is the attainment of the elements.