Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume 34 (55)

Original text:当知此中。若于现见诸蕴谛智。若于所余不同分界不现见境。比度谛智。即是能生法智类智种子依处。

Explanation: In the contemplation of these dharmas, if one can contemplate the five aggregates present before one as they truly are, directly witnessing the true principle of the Four Noble Truths through valid direct cognition, dharma-knowledge (dharma-jñāna) will arise; this is the basis upon which the seeds of dharma-knowledge depend. As for the remaining five aggregates that are not presently existing—dharmas other than those currently present—if one contemplates them by inference and thereby gives rise to witnessing wisdom, this is analogical knowledge (anvaya-jñāna), the basis upon which the seeds of analogical knowledge depend.

This passage describes two ways of realizing the dharmas: one is the contemplation of the five aggregates that currently exist as they truly are, and the other is the inferential contemplation of the five aggregates that are not currently present. Both kinds of contemplation can yield knowledge of the truths. What do the five aggregates that are not currently present refer to? They refer to the five aggregates before and after this present moment. If today's five aggregates are present, then the five aggregates of yesterday and before, and of tomorrow and after, are the five aggregates that are not present in the moment; they have a boundary dividing them from the present five aggregates, differing in point of time, yet the nature and characteristics of the five aggregates are the same—they are of the same kind, sharing commonality, and thus comparable.

If this year's five aggregates are the present five aggregates, then the five aggregates of last year and before, and of next year and after, are the five aggregates not present in the moment; if the five aggregates of this life are the presently manifest five aggregates, then the five aggregates of past lives and future lives are the five aggregates not presently visible. By extension, the five aggregates throughout the three great asaṃkhyeya kalpas all share the same attributes as the present five aggregates; or one may say that the five aggregates from before beginningless kalpas until after beginningless kalpas all share common attributes, nature, and characteristics—they are all of the same kind and all comparable.

Correct inferential contemplation can give rise to dharma-knowledge and analogical knowledge. On the basis of correctly and truthfully contemplating the presently existing five aggregates, one then contemplates by inference the remaining five aggregates that are not presently existing, and thereby dharma-knowledge and analogical knowledge can arise, attaining the wisdom of non-arising that comes with seeing the path. "Boundary" refers to the demarcation and division between the dharmas of different periods in the past and future and the dharmas of the present moment. When dharmas have boundaries between them, the ways of contemplating dharmas differ, and the kinds of wisdom attained also differ. Dharmas that can be directly seen are contemplated through valid direct cognition; dharmas that cannot be directly seen are contemplated through inference. When the contemplation is correct and truthful, one will attain knowledge of the truths and the acceptance of non-arising.