Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume Ten (The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination)

(Thirty) Original text: 问。于一切生处。及三摩钵底中。皆有一切支。现行可得耶。答。不可得。谓无想天中。及灭尽定。无想定中。有色支可得。非无色支。若生无色界。无色支可得。非有色支。

 Explanation: Question: In all places of birth throughout the three realms, and within the meditative absorptions (samāpatti), can all twelve links manifest and be presently obtainable? Answer: Not all of them can. For instance, in the heaven of non-perception (asaṃjñika), and within the cessation of perception and feeling (nirodha-samāpatti) and the concentration of non-perception, there is no link of consciousness obtainable; there is no contact, feeling, perception, craving, or grasping obtainable. In the concentration of non-perception, the form-related links are obtainable—it is not that there is no link of form. If one is born into the formless realm, then the formless links are obtainable, but not the form-related links; it is not that the form links still exist—there is only the contact of the manas with mental objects, and no contact of the physical sense faculties.  

Original text: 问。颇有依支。得离支耶。答。有。谓依上地支。离下地支。此但一分非全。唯暂时非究竟。 

Explanation: Question: Is it truly possible that by relying on one link, one can depart from another link? Answer: Yes. It means relying on the links of a higher realm to depart from the links of a lower realm—for example, relying on the links of the formless realm to depart from the links of the form realm, or relying on the links of the form realm to depart from the links of the desire realm; or relying on the higher links within the form realm to depart from the lower links of the form realm, and relying on the higher links within the desire realm (heavens) to depart from the lower links of the desire realm. This refers only to one aspect; it is not the case that all links are departed from in this manner.  

Original text: 问。几支染污。几支不染污。答。三染。余通二种。若不染污。善及无覆无记别故。分为二种应知。问。几支欲界系。答。一切支。和合等起故。问。几支色界系。答。一切一分。 

Explanation: Question: Among the twelve links, how many links are defiled, and how many are undefiled? Answer: Three links are defiled; the rest are links that pertain to both defiled and undefiled. As for the links that pertain to the undefiled, they should be known as divided into two kinds, distinguished as wholesome and as neutral (indeterminate, avyākṛta) without obscuration. Question: How many links are bound to the desire realm? Answer: All twelve links are bound to the desire realm, arising in combination within it. Question: How many links are bound to the form realm? Answer: One portion of each of the twelve links.  

Original text: 问。云何应知。彼有老耶。答。彼诸行有朽坏腐败性故。如色界系。当知无色界系亦尔。问。几支是学。答。无。问。几支是无学。答。亦无。问。几支是非学非无学。答。一切。 

Explanation: How can one know that there is the link of aging? Answer: Because all these conditioned formations have the nature of decay, deterioration, and ruin, it is said that the link of aging exists. Just as it is with the dharmas bound to the form realm, so it is with the dharmas bound to the formless realm—they decay, deteriorate, and break down. Question: How many links belong to the stage of training (śaikṣa)? Answer: None of the links belong to the stage of training. Question: How many links belong to the stage beyond training (aśaikṣa)? Answer: None belong to the stage beyond training. Question: How many links belong to neither the stage of training nor the stage beyond training? Answer: All twelve links belong to neither the stage of training nor the stage beyond training.