Lecturer: Master Zheng-Yan
Subject: The Twelve Links of Cyclic Existence PART 1 (十二因緣一)
Truth does not change with time. The Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Links of Cyclic Existence as taught by the Buddha have been truths since the beginning of life. So we must not take them lightly.
If everyone heeds these truths and understands their underlying reasoning, then people would make less mistakes. So we should all be mindful of the lessons we have learned from these truths.
A passage in the Repentance Text says, “Distorting the Four Noble Truths, afflictions of confusion arise. Cycling through birth and death.” We have often talked about how we are born. Since we were born in this world, we must understand the Four Noble Truths. The Truth of Suffering. We should all know the truth about suffering. Why is the world full of suffering? It is the cumulative result of many causes. Different things add up to create suffering. When we suffer from an affliction there is always a cause. Different causes will come together to produce cumulative effects. We should know this, but we do not “understand suffering or eliminate causes.” We still do not truly understand that suffering comes from an accumulation of causes. Therefore, we must stop this accumulation.
We hear this often. Unfortunately, hearing it does not mean comprehending it. We may know about it, but we do not strive to understand it. Even if we understand, if we do not stop the accumulation, we cannot eliminate the suffering. When we learn the truth and understand the causes of suffering, but we still have no intention of eliminate them, then we are failing to practice the truth. Without practice, there will be no realizations. When we witness suffering, we should identify the accumulated reasons. Once we are able to determine the causes, we should work to eliminate them.
So if we have erred in the past, we must not repeat it a second time. We should recognize the effects that have accumulated from our past mistakes. This has resulted in our suffering today. So as soon as we become aware of it, we should promptly make changes.
Unfortunately, most people never change, even after they realize their mistakes. Thus, the suffering never gets eliminated. Furthermore, if we want to change, we must practice to develop our character. Only with spiritual practice can we eliminate the causes of suffering. When we realize our mistakes, we must practice according to the teachings, so that we can correct our past wrongs. If we do not abide by the teachings, we will never eradicate the causes of suffering. So, without spiritual practice, how can we eliminate suffering? If we cannot eliminate suffering, then we will never be able to realize the truth.
This is why ordinary people often do not “understand suffering or eliminate causes” and “do not practice the Way or realize cessation.” This is called the affliction of confusion. Because of these confused, inverted views, we are stuck, “cycling through birth and death.” We come and go through the Six Realms, with endless suffering. This is the affliction of sentient beings.
In our practice, the most important thing after understanding the Four Noble Truths, is to understand the Twelve Links. As spiritual practitioners, we must know both the Four Truths and the Twelve Links. If we do not understand the Twelve Links, afflictions of transmigration arise. We will be imprisoned in the Six Realms because of the Twelve Links. “Ignorant since Beginningless time, with afflictions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.” When one transmigrates in the Six Realms, one is continuously being influenced, constantly receiving retributions, and incessantly bringing about afflictions. Thus, one transmigrates with ignorance. Once this begins, it lasts for a long time. It is impossible to determine when it began, and its end is difficult to predict. This is because of our innumerable afflictions.
So if we can grasp the simple principles of the Four Noble Truths and understand the Twelve Links, then we will not forever remain in ignorance with afflictions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. That suffering is truly unspeakable. We are already clear about the Four Noble Truths. Now, let us look at the Twelve Links.
The Twelve Links of Cyclic Existence are:
ignorance, volitional formation, consciousness, name and form, six sense organs, contact, sensation, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, old age and death.
First of the Twelve s Links is “ignorance.” We should all understand ignorance by now. I talk about it every day, and constantly remind you about it. Even though everyone knows what it is, most people still easily allow it to run wild, all without realizing ignorance is caused by “the delusion of past afflictions obscuring our innate nature, so we are not able to understand anything. This is called ignorance.”
Ignorance came to exist a very long time ago. As we mentioned before, the beginning of ignorance is lost in time. It was cause by afflictions in the distant past. To be ignorant is to be deluded. Delusion means we are confused so that we cannot understand the truth. We are deluded by our ignorance because it obscures our intrinsic nature. I think you all understand this. Each one of us has a radiant intrinsic nature that is tranquil and pure. We have the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom. But when that wisdom is obscured by delusion, nothing is reflected clearly. We do not understand what we encounter in daily life or what is right or wrong. This is what it means to be ignorant. As soon as ignorance arises, delusions follow and obscure our true nature. So, ignorance is the source of our afflictions.
The second Link is “volitional formation.” One has made conscious decisions to act; “in past lives, with body, speech and mind, one has created all wholesome and unwholesome karma.”
I often say, “Only karma remains with us after we die.” There is positive and negative karma. What we did in our past lives has already been done. We must have made good connections in order to have this opportunity to be here today.
But perhaps, we also made bad karmic affinities with others. Even though we are all here together, some understand the truth quickly and their convictions never waver after taking their vows. Even when bad karmic conditions appear, our conviction must not waver. In order to practice spiritually, we must be determined to forge ahead in doing good. That is how we should walk the path.
There are also people who made vows and had the opportunity [to do good]. But when their conditions changed, they created many afflictions. Doubts of whether to continue practicing arise “Should I leave? Or should I continue to stay?” If we have created negative karma, there will be negative affinities that disturb us. Even when we are trying to uphold goodness, bad affinities will come along to disturb us. If our positive karma is stronger, then we will not waver. If our positive karma is weaker and our negative karma is strong, we will naturally be influenced. So this is all linked to our past, on top of what we know now. In this world, human beings continuously create positive and negative karma. Much of it is beyond their control. Unknowingly, we are influenced by evil. This is also beyond our control. Everyone has a pure intrinsic nature. Humans are naturally good. Why do we still make mistakes repeatedly? It is volitional formation that cause us to act subconsciously. All of our past actions led to the present consequences we experience. Volitional formations were carried into this life, and their effects continuously drive us to act. If we keep doing good among benevolent people and have the good affinity to work together, if we practice Buddhism and take part in doing kind deeds, these actions will also carry on as volitional formations.
Volitional formation is also known as “action”, subtle thoughts constantly arise. This is because of volitional formation, the Aggregate of Action. Whether in the past, present or future, it will always bind us in a subtle and unnoticeable manner. What comes after volitional formation? The third is the “consciousness.”
The third of the twelve Links of Cyclic Existence is “consciousness.” Being pulled by past delusive karma, the consciousness enters the womb. In a split second, it becomes the embryo due to desires.
This consciousness is the Eight Consciousness, Alaya-vijnana. It is the Storehouse Consciousness, storing the karmic seeds of past actions. Therefore, “Being pulled by past delusive karma,” ignorance, volitional formation and consciousness are interconnected. They are all similarly entangled and pulled by past delusive karma. This delusion is ignorance. The karma created from ignorance pulls us, and the consciousness is the storehouse of all karma. So nothing but karma remains with us after we die. It is carried on by the consciousness.
So, “the consciousness enters the womb. In a split second it becomes the embryo due to desires. This is the consciousness.” In truth, karma and delusion are intertwined, so when we leave our body, in a split second, we enter a mother’s womb to begin another life. In fact, the karma we created in the past has already determined what kinds of parents we will have during our parents’ intimate moment, in that split second, our consciousness also connects with them. Our affinity with them was pre-determined. When someone is about to die, I would sometimes say to them, “Don’t let you [future] mother labor too long.” Because in that moment when one’s future parents are being intimate one’s consciousness has already determined. Its affinity with them. So, consciousness enters the mother’s womb. It already had that affinity to be there. What happened in that split second is the workings of ignorance, which consists of defiled love and attachment. By the time one dies, these causes and conditions are all in place. After about ten months’ pregnancy life is created. When our life comes to an end, conditions of defiled love will appear before us.
Some people will see their dearest loved ones. They will be tempted to follow their loved ones. Some people will hear heavenly music. Hearing beautiful sound, they will feel happy, then they will follow it. The consciousness will be attracted, it enters a womb. By the time one’s eyes open, the causes and conditions have come together. And the consciousness is in its next life.
In summary, we have to understand the consciousness. At the crucial moment we need to know clearly about life and death. If we see pleasant conditions we might follow them. If we follow them, by the time our eyes open, we will be in a different world.
In conclusion, everything is bound by the Twelve Links. Please be aware that ignore. Please be aware that ignorance creates volitional formation, which is interconnected with consciousness. Remember this carefully. Please always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV 靜思晨語 法譬如水)
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