Yogācārabhūmi Volume 34 (49)

By cultivating the sixteen aspects of the Four Noble Truths, one can comprehend the aspects of the Four Noble Truths. Through the four aspects of impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and non-self, the aspect of the Truth of Suffering is comprehended; through the four aspects of cause, origin, arising, and condition, the aspect of the Truth of the Origin [of Suffering] is comprehended; through the four aspects of cessation, peace, excellence, and release, the aspect of the Truth of Cessation is comprehended; through the four aspects of path, suitability, practice, and deliverance, the aspect of the Truth of the Path is comprehended. Among these, the ten aspects for contemplating the Truth of Suffering and realizing its four aspects have already been explained. Below, it will be explained how to cultivate the four aspects of the Truth of the Origin to comprehend the aspect of the Truth of the Origin.

Original Text: Furthermore, having correctly and unmistakably realized the aspect of the Truth of Suffering through the four aspects [of suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self], one then contemplates further: What is the cause, what is the origin, what is the arising, what is the condition of this Truth of Suffering? By severing those [cause, origin, arising, condition], suffering is also severed accordingly. Thus, by means of the four aspects of the Truth of the Origin, one comprehends the aspect of the Truth of the Origin. That is to say, one understands that because craving is able to induce suffering, it is called the cause. Having induced suffering, it further causes it to be produced, therefore it is called the origin. Having produced suffering, it causes it to manifest, therefore it is called the arising. Furthermore, because it is able to grasp and sustain the seeds of future suffering, and successively induce the accumulation of suffering, it is called the condition.

Explanation: Having realized the aspect of the Truth of Suffering correctly and unmistakably through the four aspects of suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and non-self, one again contemplates: What is the cause for the arising of these sufferings? How is suffering accumulated? How does suffering arise? Upon what condition does suffering appear? Only by severing these four aspects—cause, origin, arising, and condition—will suffering be severed accordingly. Therefore, one must contemplate the four aspects of the Truth of the Origin to sever the aspect of the Truth of the Origin. One understands that because craving is able to induce suffering, it is said to be the cause of suffering. After inducing suffering, it further causes it to be accumulated and produced, therefore it is said to be the origin of suffering. After suffering is produced, it causes the experience of suffering to manifest, therefore it is called the arising. Furthermore, because it is able to grasp and sustain the seeds of future suffering, successively inducing the accumulation of suffering, it is called the condition.