The Sūtra on the Aggregates, Elements, and Sense Bases, Upper Fascicle

(3) Original text: 痴相为何等。为冥中见冥。如有不解。令从是致堕行相处。行相为何等。为令后复有是为行相。上从是发起。令从是致堕识处。识相为何等。为识物识事是为识相。令从是致堕名字处。名字相为何等。为俱猗。是为名字相。令从是致堕六入处。 

Explanation: What is the mark of ignorance (avidyā)? It is seeing darkness within darkness — the mind is dull and benighted, so everything perceived is dark and unclear. If one does not understand the Dharma as it truly is, one will fall into the link of volitional formations. What is the mark of volitional formations? It is that which causes subsequent existence to arise again — that is the mark of volitional formations. From volitional formations, consciousness is initiated. What is the mark of consciousness? It is discerning objects and discerning matters — that is the mark of consciousness, which causes one to fall into the link of name-and-form. What is the mark of name-and-form? It is mutual dependence — that is the mark of name-and-form, which causes one to fall into the six sense bases (ṣaḍāyatana). 

Original text: 六入相为何等。为分别根是为六入相。令从是致堕思望处。思望相为何等。为相会更生。是为思望相。令从是致堕痛处。痛相为何等。为更觉是为痛相。令从是致堕爱处。爱相为何等。为发生是为爱相。令从是致堕受处。受相为何等。为受持是为受相。令从是致堕有处。有相为何等。令堕若干处。是为有相。令从是致堕生处。生相为何等。为已有五阴是为生相。令从是致堕老处。 

Explanation: What is the mark of the six sense bases? The faculties that exist in order to discriminate the six sense objects — that is the mark of the six sense bases, from which one falls into contact. What is the mark of contact? The dharma that arises in order to make contact with sense objects is contact, and from contact one falls into feeling. What is the mark of feeling? Feeling is marked by giving rise to sensation; from feeling one falls into craving. What is the mark of craving? Craving is marked by giving rise to the pursuit of offerings and support; from craving one falls into grasping. What is the mark of grasping? Grasping is marked by the desire to possess, hold, and retain; from grasping one falls into existence within the three realms. What is the mark of existence? Existence is marked by causing the five aggregates to fall into any one of the various realms within the three realms; from existence one falls into birth. What is the mark of birth? Already having a body of the five aggregates is the mark of birth; from birth one falls into old age. 

Original text: 老相为何等。为转熟是为老相。令从是致堕死处。死相为何等。为命根尽。是为死相。令从是致堕苦处。苦相为何等。为身急是为苦相。令从是致堕不可处。不可相为何等。为心意急。是为不可相。令干从是致堕悒悒忧。悒悒相为何等。为忧五阴。令从是致堕愁恼处。悲愁相为何等。口出声言。令致悲恼懑。懑为恼恼亦为懑。 

Explanation: What is the mark of old age? The ripening and maturing of the physical body is the mark of old age; from old age one falls into death. What is the mark of death? The end of the life faculty and the cessation of function of all the faculties is the mark of death; from death one falls into suffering and affliction. What is the mark of suffering? The urgency and duress of the body is the mark of suffering, which causes the five aggregates to fall into states of the undesirable. What is the mark of the undesirable? The urgency and agitation of mind is the mark of the undesirable, which causes the five aggregates to fall into states of sorrow and melancholy. What is the mark of sorrow and melancholy? Grieving over the five aggregates is the mark of sorrow and melancholy, which causes the five aggregates to fall into states of grief and distress. What is the mark of grief and distress? The mouth utters sounds of complaint, sighing, and indignation, which lead one to fall into grief, anger, and indignation. Indignation is anger, and anger is also indignation. The series of marks of suffering and decline induced by death — the mind and mood sinking low, the emotions oppressed, grieving, and bitter — deteriorate ever further and more degraded.