瑜伽師地論略纂 4.98

4.98

The link of aging-and-death has two parts: first it explains aging, and later it explains death. The link of aging has two parts: first it explains the seventeen phrases separately, and later summarizes the meanings in conclusion. The conclusion has ten phrases: the first six phrases each subsume one phrase; the seventh, "deterioration of deportment," subsumes five phrases, namely from the seventh to the eleventh phrase; the eighth phrase, "deterioration of the formless faculties," subsumes the two phrases twelve and thirteen; the ninth, "deterioration of the material faculties," subsumes the two phrases fourteen and fifteen; the tenth, "the passage of time and the impending exhaustion of lifespan," subsumes the two phrases sixteen and seventeen. Death has two parts: first it explains the eleven phrases separately, and later summarizes the meanings in conclusion. There are four phrases. "Dying" subsumes the first two phrases, because they are the actual essence of dying. "The manner of dying" subsumes the third and fourth phrases, because they are the rules and norms at the time of dying in the five destinies, whether dismembering or not dismembering. "Distinctions of dying" subsumes the six phrases below the fifth phrase. "The state subsequent to dying" subsumes the eleventh phrase. "The activity of the Māra of death" is just the actual essence of dying, the operation of the Māra of death; this is also subsumed under the distinctions of dying. Alternatively, taking consciousness having departed from the body after death as the Māra of death, it is therefore also said to be subsumed under the state subsequent to dying. These two links of birth and death, according to their application, have the five aggregates as their nature. Because they are suffering in an actual state, they take solely the actual state; or, when spoken of in combination with existence, they also apply to seeds. The Cheng weishi lun states: "From intermediate existence up to the basic existence, before decline and alteration occur, all are subsumed under the link of birth. Even if a thought of craving arises in the final stage of intermediate existence directed toward the future fruit, it is still the link of birth, because prior to dying, craving and grasping moistened existence, enabling it to possess intermediate existence and future birth. All stages of decline and alteration are collectively named aging; the disintegration of the body and the termination of life is then named death."