Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume 10: Explanation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination (Part 7)

Original: Furthermore, in the present existence, dependent on feeling arising from contact as condition, craving is aroused. Due to the condition of experiencing objects, extensive seeking arises. Whether through the gate of livelihood, the gate of material gain, the gate of ascetic practices, or the gate of liberation, it gives rise to desire-seeking, seeking the inner body, and seeking non-genuine liberation. When seeking thus, it causes the previously arisen defilements and the karmically induced fruition of birth and death in the five destinies to arise. Once birth is attained, aging and death follow closely.

Explanation: Moreover, in the present phenomena, relying on feeling produced by the condition of contact, craving arises. Due to the condition of experiencing objects, extensive seeking and grasping arise—whether in the sphere of livelihood, the sphere of fame and material gain, the sphere of ascetic practices, or the sphere of liberation from birth and death. This gives rise to greedy seeking, seeking the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness), and seeking non-genuine liberation rather than true liberation. When craving thus, it causes the previously arisen defilements and the karmic actions induced by them to bring forth the fruition of birth and death in the five destinies. Once birth manifests, aging and death follow relentlessly.

Original: There is also a sequential distinction. It is said there are three categories of sentient beings: first, those who delight in the purity of transcending the world; second, those who delight in the purity of the mundane world; and third, those who cling to sensory objects. Due to the first category, all dependent arising ceases, and pure qualities increase. Due to the second category of sentient beings, failing to truly understand the principles of the truths, if they abide in right mindfulness, they may create meritorious karma or engage in tainted cultivation, giving rise to immovable karma (e.g., pure meditative concentration, attaining the four dhyānas where body and mind become still). If they do not abide in right mindfulness, they create non-meritorious karma. Some may feel remorse afterward, while others feel no remorse but instead delight, thus causing the mind to continuously dwell in attachment, unable to cease.

Explanation: Additionally, there is a sequential distinction: there are three categories of sentient beings. The first delights in the pure Dharma transcending the world; the second delights in the pure Dharma of the mundane world; and the third delights in clinging to sensory objects. Due to the first category, all dependent arising ceases, and pure, undefiled karmic seeds increase. Due to the second category, sentient beings fail to truly understand the principles of the Four Noble Truths. If they abide in pure right mindfulness, they create meritorious karma or engage in tainted cultivation, giving rise to immovable karmic actions—such as pure meditative concentration, attaining the four dhyānas where body and mind become utterly still. If sentient beings do not abide in right mindfulness, they create non-meritorious karma. Some feel remorse after creating such karma, while others feel no remorse but instead delight, thus causing the mind to continuously dwell in attachment, unable to cease.

Original: They, as before, sequentially bring about the three kinds of suffering in future births—inferior, middling, and superior. This means name-and-form first, contact last. Due to the third category of sentient beings, relying on feelings born from presently experienced objects, in the present existence, as in the previous sequence, the latter six limbs arise: feeling first, aging-and-death last.

Explanation: These beings, as before, through such non-meritorious karma, can bring about three sequential types of birthplaces—inferior, middling, and superior. From these three birthplaces, three corresponding kinds of suffering follow. Within the first six limbs of dependent arising, name-and-form comes first, and contact comes last, whereupon suffering manifests. Due to the third category of sentient beings, relying on feelings born from presently experienced objects, in the present existence, as in the previous sequence, the latter six limbs arise—feeling, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, aging-and-death—with feeling first and aging-and-death last. (The above explains the forward sequence of the Twelve Links of Dependent Arising.)

Dedication Verse:

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