Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume 34 (40)

Original Text: Through the force of such inferential intensified mental power, regarding the arising of all conditioned phenomena in past and future existences, decisive certainty is attained. Thus, briefly, through the force of three kinds of intensified mental power, one contemplates and observes that all internal and external conditioned phenomena are of an impermanent nature. These three are: the intensified mental power based on faith, the intensified mental power based on direct experience, and the intensified mental power based on inference. After being able to cultivate the five aspects of impermanence in accordance with the previously enumerated [phenomena], one discerns the two aspects of alteration and destruction.

Explanation: Due to the force of such inferential intensified mental power, regarding the arising of all conditioned phenomena in past and future existences, the mind gives rise to decisiveness and certainty. Roughly speaking, through the force of three kinds of intensified mental power, one is able to contemplate and observe that all internal and external conditioned phenomena are impermanent. The three kinds of intensified mental power are: faith-based intensified mental power, direct experiential intensified mental power, and inferential intensified mental power. Regarding the internal and external conditioned phenomena previously listed, one is able to cultivate the five aspects of impermanence in accordance with them, discerning the two aspects of alteration and destruction.

When it is necessary to contemplate the impermanence of the Five Aggregates in past and future existences, one must base it on the direct experiential observation of the Five Aggregates in the present existence as they truly are. Then, one correctly infers and contemplates the Five Aggregates of past and future existences in order to attain realization. The two dharmas being inferred must be homologous; non-homologous dharmas cannot be inferred. Based on the direct experiential observation of the present Five Aggregates as they truly are, one can correctly infer and contemplate the Five Aggregates that have already passed and those that will arise in the future. In this way, realization is attained, decisive certainty regarding the impermanence of all conditioned phenomena is achieved in the mind, and confirmation is obtained.