The Sutra of the Oral Explanation on the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination from the Agamas

(IV) Original Text: The cessation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination also severs the ten activities pertaining to the body. Externally, it stems from the body; internally, it stems from the mind. Hence it is said the body is upheld by the mind. This refers to abstaining from killing. It is also said that externally it manifests through the mouth, while internally it stems from the cessation of jealousy. This means that when no thought arises regarding all things, hatred ceases. When hatred ceases, killing ceases. When killing ceases, greed ceases. When greed ceases, weeping ceases. The external aspect pertaining to the mouth refers to sound. Cessation of sound means that divisive speech, harsh speech, false speech, and frivolous speech also cease. Without doubt, one then enters the Path. This is the return of the five aggregates and the severance of the root of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.

Explanation: Cultivating the Dharma of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination through ten kinds of activities can also exhaust and sever the body of the five aggregates. This is because external dharmas—form, sound, smell, taste, and touch—manifest dependent on the physical body, while internal dharmas arise following the mind. Therefore, it is said the physical body is upheld and sustained by the mind. For example, abstaining from killing can be said to manifest externally through the mouth and internally through the cessation of jealousy arising from mental severance. Regarding all things, as long as thoughts do not arise, hatred ceases. When hatred ceases, the karma of killing ceases and does not arise. When the karma of killing ceases, greed ceases. When greed ceases, weeping stops. The external aspect produced through the mouth is sound. When sound is ceased, divisive speech, harsh speech, false speech, and frivolous speech also cease. When the mind is free from doubt, one enters the Path. This is the return of the ten activities to the five aggregates and the severance of the root of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.

Original Text: The reception of a body by humans has three distinctions. First, the thriving aggregates of the five aggregates. Second, the eighteen kinds. Third, the activity of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. These three things result in three distinctions of the body. The first, the thriving aggregates of the five aggregates: the five aggregates arise from the ten activities of the body. From the eye arises the aggregate of form. From the ear arises the aggregate of sensation. From the nose arises the aggregate of perception. From the mouth arises the aggregate of formations (life and death). From the mind arises the aggregate of consciousness. The mind, as the master, and thought correspond to these six activities as the fundamental basis. This is the realm of the five aggregates.

Explanation: The reception of a human body has three distinctions. The first distinction is the thriving aggregates of the five aggregates. The second distinction is the eighteen kinds. The third distinction is the activity of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. These three distinctions result in three types of physical bodies. The first, the thriving aggregates of the five aggregates: the body of the five aggregates arises from the ten activities performed by the physical body. The activity performed at the eye faculty is the aggregate of form. At the ear faculty, it is the aggregate of sensation. At the nose faculty, it is the aggregate of perception. At the mouth, it is the aggregate of formations (life and death). At the mind faculty, it is the aggregate of consciousness. The conscious mind, as the master, governs thought and corresponds to the six activities of form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and mental objects, which are the fundamental basis of all dharmas. The above constitutes the realm of the five aggregates.

Original Text: Second, the eighteen entrances and nineteen faculties. The eighteen kinds: the activity of the five aggregates is the thriving aggregates. Having contact and entrances constitutes the basis of the twelve entrances. The six senses are the eighteen elements. Because there is consciousness, it is called the nineteen faculties. The term eighteen kinds refers to the absence of arising consciousness, hence eighteen kinds. This describes the activity of the thriving aggregates, which produces the eighteen kinds and the nineteen faculties. Third, the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination: this refers to the five aggregates and the thriving five aggregates. The activity seeking the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination results in the body. This is the same body with ten activities, merely distinguished differently. From form, the body is obtained. From the four aggregates (excluding form), the name is obtained. From name-and-form, craving and sensation are obtained. From sensation arises volitional formations and ignorance. With volitional formations and ignorance, the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination are formed. The Path should be cultivated to sever them.

Explanation: The second type, the eighteen kinds of dharmas, are included within the nineteen faculties. The eighteen kinds are the functioning of the five-aggregate body, also called the thriving aggregates. The six faculties contacting the six objects constitute the basis of the twelve entrances. Adding the six consciousnesses makes the eighteen elements (dhatus). Including the mind faculty, it is thus called the nineteen faculties. The term eighteen kinds excludes the seventh consciousness, hence eighteen kinds. The functioning of the thriving five aggregates produces the eighteen kinds and the nineteenth faculty (mind) working together.

The third type, the Dharma of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, is the functioning of the thriving five aggregates. Seeking the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination results in the five-aggregate body. This five-aggregate body possesses ten kinds of activities. Specifically categorized: from the aggregate of form, the physical body is obtained. From the four aggregates of sensation, perception, formations, and consciousness, the name "five aggregates" is obtained. From name-and-form, affection and sensation manifest. From sensation, volitional formations and ignorance manifest. With volitional formations and ignorance, the Dharma of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination is accomplished. Only through cultivating the Path can the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination be severed.