Explanation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination in the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra (Part 16)

Question: As stated in the sutra, entry into the mother's womb occurs dependent on the six elements. Why is only the consciousness element mentioned here? Answer: If the consciousness element exists, the essential substances (semen and blood) composed of the great elements within the mother's womb, along with the abdominal cavity and orifices, will assuredly be present without deficiency. Furthermore, the consciousness element is supreme. Also, it is stated based on the arising of all phenomena and the arising of all existents.

Explanation: Question: As stated in the sutra, entry into the mother's womb occurs dependent on the six elements of earth, water, fire, wind, space, and consciousness. Why does this passage state only the consciousness element as the condition for entering the womb? Answer: If the ālaya-vijñāna (storehouse consciousness) element exists within the mother's womb, there will assuredly be the essential substances (semen and blood) composed of the five great elements required by the fetus, pervading the body faculty, internal organs, and seven orifices without deficiency. Therefore, name-and-form (nāmarūpa) is said to arise dependent on the ālaya-vijñāna element. Moreover, because the ālaya-vijñāna element is a mental dharmā, supreme among all dharmās, it is stated that entry into the womb occurs dependent on the ālaya-vijñāna. Furthermore, based on the arising of all dharmās and the arising of all existents, the ālaya-vijñāna is said to be supreme, being the direct condition for entering the womb and the arising of name-and-form.

The consciousness element capable of entering the womb is necessarily the ālaya-vijñāna, not the six consciousnesses. This is because the six consciousnesses cease upon entry into the womb; the six consciousnesses are absent at the initial stage within the womb, whereas the ālaya-vijñāna is present. Moreover, the material form of the fertilized ovum within the womb arises, transforms, and is sustained by the ālaya-vijñāna producing the great elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and space. The seventh consciousness within the womb requires the ālaya-vijñāna to provide consciousness seeds for its maintenance. Therefore, the consciousness element that enters the womb is the ālaya-vijñāna. The earth, water, fire, wind, and space elements are not mentioned separately because where the ālaya-vijñāna exists, the great elements of earth, water, fire, wind, and space will be present.

Question: The six sense-bases also depend on food for their condition. Why is only name-and-form stated here as the condition? Answer: Here, name-and-form is stated as their cause of arising. Once they have arisen, food also serves as the sustaining cause.

Explanation: Question: The eye-base, ear-base, nose-base, tongue-base, body-base, and mind-base also arise dependent on food as a condition. With food, name-and-form grows, and the five sense-bases within the six sense-bases also grow accordingly. Why does this passage state only that the six sense-bases arise dependent on name-and-form? Answer: Here, name-and-form is stated as the condition for the arising of the six sense-bases. The six sense-bases arise directly upon name-and-form; without name-and-form, the six sense-bases cannot exist. Within the womb, the initial "name" is the mind-base. Upon the material form of the fertilized ovum, the five sense-bases gradually arise. Therefore, name-and-form is the condition for the arising of the six sense-bases. After the six sense-bases have arisen, food is also required as the condition for their spontaneous sustenance. Hence, food is not stated as the condition for the arising of the six sense-bases.

Question: Contact arises dependent on the triad (coming together) as its condition. Why is only the six sense-bases stated here as the condition? Answer: If the six sense-bases exist, the other two are assuredly present without deficiency. Furthermore, the six sense-bases are supreme. Because the six sense-bases encompass the two kinds.

Explanation: Question: Contact arises dependent on the condition of the triad—the coming together of faculty, object, and consciousness. Why does this passage state that contact arises dependent only on the six sense-bases? Answer: If the six sense-bases exist, the other two—the six sense-objects and the six consciousnesses—will assuredly appear; they will not be lacking. Therefore, the six sense-bases are used representatively. Moreover, among the three, the six sense-bases are supreme over the six sense-objects and the six consciousnesses, playing the decisive role in the triad's coming together. As the six sense-bases encompass (or receive) the six sense-objects and the six consciousnesses, it is stated that contact arises dependent on the six sense-bases.

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