俱舍論頌疏論本 9.41

9.41

"The middle eight are based on completeness": this explains that eight links are established in the middle period; excluding the prior and posterior periods, the remaining eight links are in the present existence. "Based on completeness" means that these eight links of the middle period are not fully possessed by all sentient beings; speaking now of eight is said based on completeness, where passing through the stages of eight links is called completeness. For those who die prematurely, they do not possess all eight links, some passing through only two links or the like, which refers to dying within the womb and so forth. Furthermore, these eight links are stated with respect to the desire realm, not the form or formless realms; that is, in the form realm there is no link of name-and-form, because beings there are apparitionally born and their faculties are complete all at once. In the formless realm, there are no links of name-and-form or the six sense spheres, because form is absent. Hence, the Mahānidānasūtra speaks of possessing them [only in the desire realm]. It says: "The Buddha told Ānanda: 'If consciousness did not enter the womb, would name-and-form grow and increase broadly?' 'No, World-Honoured One!' and so on at length." Explanation: Since this sūtra says that only upon entering the womb is there the increase of name-and-form and so forth, one clearly knows that the eight links are stated based on the desire realm, because there is no entering the womb in the form realm. Sometimes, dependent origination is spoken of in only two divisions: first, that subsumed under the prior period; second, that subsumed under the posterior period. That is, from ignorance up to the link of feeling, these seven links are subsumed under the prior period; from craving up to aging and death, these five links are subsumed under the posterior period, because they are subsumed under the two divisions of prior and posterior cause and effect. As for the prior cause and effect: ignorance and karmic formations are the cause, while the five starting with consciousness are the fruit. As for the posterior cause and effect: craving, grasping, and existence are the cause, while birth, and aging and death are the fruit. This divides them into two periods in terms of cause and effect.