Explanation of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination in the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra (17)

Original text:问。若自所逼迫。若他所逼迫。若时候变异。若先业所引。皆得生受。何故此中。但显触为彼缘。答。触是彼近因故。由触所引故。余缘所生受。亦从触生故。必不离触。是故偏说。

Explanation: Question: If it is due to oppression by one's own conditions, or oppression by other external forces, or due to changes in temporal conditions, or due to being drawn by karmic actions created in past lives—all these conditions can give rise to feeling. Why does this passage only show contact as the condition for them? Answer: Because contact is the proximate cause of feeling (the others are all distant causes), for feeling is brought forth by contact. Moreover, the feelings produced by other conditions also arise from the condition of contact; without contact, even if other conditions exist, feeling would not arise. The arising of feeling can never be separated from contact; therefore it is specifically stated that contact is the condition for feeling.

Original text:问。经中亦说。无明为缘生爱。顺爱境界。亦得为缘。何故此中。但说受为缘耶。答。以受力故。于相似境。或求和合。或求乖离。由愚痴力。但于诸受。起尽等相。不如实知。由此不能。制御其心。

Explanation: Question: The sūtras also say that craving arises with ignorance as its condition; ignorance is the cause and condition of craving. The sense-object realms that accord with craving are also a condition of craving and can also give rise to craving. Why does this passage only say that feeling is the cause and condition for the arising of craving? Answer: Because of the force of feeling as a condition, when facing realms that resemble what is truly desired, one either seeks union with the realm (because of pleasant feeling) or seeks separation from and escape from the realm (because of painful feeling). Due to the force of ignorance as a condition, one does not truly understand the marks of the arising and ceasing of the various feelings, and therefore cannot subdue one's mind; consequently craving arises. That is why feeling is said to be the cause and condition of craving.