Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume X: Explanation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (Part 5)

Original Text: What is meant by the decay of form? It means that the lifespan is nearing its end, the physical form is on the verge of destruction, and it no longer possesses the capacity for any activities. The essential meaning of aging is: the deterioration of the basis (of life), the graying and deterioration of hair, the decline of vitality, the weakening of bodily heat, the impairment of health, the degeneration of physical appearance, the decline in dignified bearing, the impairment of the formless faculties (mind), the impairment of the form faculties (the five senses), the passing of time, and the nearing end of lifespan. This is the essential meaning to be understood. What are "sentient beings of that sort"? It refers to beings such as those in the hell realms. What are the "kinds of sentient beings"? It refers to all those beings.

Explanation: What does "decay of form" mean? It means the lifespan is about to end, the body's form faces destruction, and it no longer has the capacity to perform intended activities. The essential meaning of aging is: the deterioration of the supporting body, the graying and deterioration of hair and beard, the decline in mental state, the weakening of the body's vital heat, the deterioration of physical health, the degeneration of the body's appearance, the decline in the dignified bearing of walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, the impairment of the formless mental faculty, the impairment of the five form faculties, the near exhaustion of living time, and the approaching end of lifespan. How is the mental faculty impaired? For example, by the emergence of various delusional disorders, mental illnesses, psychological barriers, etc. What are "sentient beings of that sort"? This refers to beings in the six realms such as hell. What does "kinds of sentient beings" mean? It means all sentient beings.

Original Text: What is 'end' (zhong)? It means sentient beings die through the separation (disintegration) of their limbs and joints. What is 'exhaustion' (jin)? It means sentient beings die by the dissolution of their limbs and joints. What is 'destruction' (huai)? It means consciousness leaves the body. What is 'demise' (mo)? It means the extinction of the material sense faculties. What is 'abandoning lifespan' (she shou)? It means the stage where the breath is about to cease. What is 'abandoning warmth' (she nuan)? It means the stage of immobility, the abandonment of the aggregates. What is 'the perishing of the life faculty' (ming gen xie mie)? It means death at the appointed time.

Explanation: What is 'end' (zhong)? 'End' means the life of all sentient beings has reached its limit; the four great elements disintegrate, and the disintegration of the physical body and limbs signifies death is near. What does 'exhaustion' (jin) mean? It means all sentient beings experience the dissolution of their body and limbs; the four great elements separate, leading to death. What does 'destruction' (huai) mean? It means the eight consciousnesses leave the body. What does 'demise' (mo) mean? It means all five material sense faculties cease. What does 'abandoning lifespan' (she shou) mean? It means the breath is about to expire. What does 'abandoning warmth' (she nuan) mean? It means the five aggregates enter a state of immobility and are abandoned. What does 'the perishing of the life faculty' (ming gen xie mie) mean? It means death has occurred.

Original Text: What is 'death' (si)? It means encountering a violent or untimely cause and dying before one's time. What is 'the exhaustion of allotted time' (shi yun jin)? It means the stage immediately after death. Also, the karma of the death demon is called 'the exhaustion of allotted time'. The essential meaning of this death includes: death itself, the manner of death, the distinctions of death, and the state after death. This is the essential meaning. Thus is known the differentiation of dependent arising.

Explanation: What is 'death' (si)? It means encountering an extremely adverse condition and dying before reaching one's natural lifespan, meaning an untimely or violent death. What does 'the exhaustion of allotted time' (shi yun jin) mean? It means having just died not long ago; the karma of the death demon is also called 'the exhaustion of allotted time'. The essential meaning of this death encompasses death itself, how death occurs, the various distinctions of death, and the destination after death. This is the essential meaning of death, also known as the differentiation of the dependent arising of death.

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