四教義 6.18

6.18

Fourth, explaining the method of contemplation. There are two kinds of methods for contemplating the twelve links of dependent origination: first, contemplating the twelve links belonging to craving; second, contemplating the twelve links belonging to views. Contemplating the twelve links belonging to craving has two aspects: first, deducing and inquiring; second, contemplating and demolishing. First, deducing and inquiring: this person hears the teaching of the arising and ceasing of correct causes and conditions, understands it with distinct faith, and realizes that all afflictions belonging to craving are the twelve links of dependent origination. Entering absorption, desiring to still [the mind], reaching the fundamental source in his mind, seeking spontaneous wisdom, taking pleasure in solitude and wholesome tranquility, cultivating the stilling of the mind, he attains various meditative absorptions. Abiding in this absorption, he knows that afflictions belonging to craving are none other than ignorance. Deducing and inquiring in reverse and forward sequence, he directly sees the twelve links of dependent origination. How does he deduce it in reverse? Due to what does this craving arise? He immediately knows it is due to sensation. Due to what does sensation arise? He immediately knows it is due to contact. Thus, due to what does contact arise? It is due to the six sense fields. The six sense fields are due to name-and-form; name-and-form is due to consciousness; consciousness is due to karmic formations; karmic formations are due to ignorance—the all-inclusive afflictions of the past. Again, tracing this craving forward: craving can produce grasping; due to grasping, the karma of existence is accomplished; due to this karma of existence, there is the birth of the twenty-five states of existence in the future; due to birth, there are aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, and the mass of suffering, transmigrating without limit. If, through the contemplation that stills the mind, he enters deep meditative absorption and deduces and inquires in reverse like this, he may at times see his first conception as a kalala, and even see his past body creating karma and afflictions, extending to two lives, or hundreds and thousands of lives. Inquiring forward into grasping and existence, if through the power of meditative absorption, he may see one future life, or even ten, a hundred, or a thousand lives. Seeing past and future events, his mind is moved with sorrow, his mind [resolved on] the path becomes diligent, and it increases even further. Second, explaining the contemplation that demolishes the twelve links belonging to craving: this is mindfulness of dharmic nature, contemplating the twelve links of dependent origination serially and distinctively. The contemplation of mindfulness of dharmic nature is briefly as explained before. Why is this? If one contemplates craving, it is the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature regarding the defiled five aggregates; if one contemplates sensation, contact, the six sense fields, name-and-form, and consciousness, they are the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature regarding the indeterminate five aggregates of present retributive fruition; if one contemplates karmic formations, they are the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature regarding the wholesome and unwholesome five aggregates; if one contemplates ignorance, it is the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature regarding the past defiled five aggregates of affliction; if one contemplates grasping, it is the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature regarding the present defiled five aggregates; if one contemplates existence, it is the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature regarding the present wholesome and unwholesome five aggregates; if one contemplates future birth, aging, and death, they are the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature regarding indeterminate retributive birth. Thus, using the four applications of mindfulness to observe the twelve links of dependent origination in reverse and forward sequence, one demolishes the four inversions. If inversions are extinguished, this is the extinction of ignorance and all afflictions; because ignorance is extinguished, karmic formations are extinguished, up to the extinction of aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, and affliction. This is called the contemplative wisdom of using the four applications of mindfulness of dharmic nature to contemplate serially and distinctively the twelve links of dependent origination of afflictions belonging to craving.