The second part of the method for developing the mind intent on liberation is to reflect on the twelve aspects of dependent-arising. This topic has four parts:
The image representing the twelve aspects of dependent-arising (十二缘起) is important for our understanding of the topic. It can also be called the wheel of life. Note that there are many versions of the image but generally the main points are represented.
Master Sheng Yen makes a connection between the Heart Sutra and the 12 links of dependent arising. He also explains in brief how we transition through a cycle of life.
This line from the Scripture helped me in better understanding the twelve aspects of dependent-arising by categorising each aspect into 3 types: Afflictions, Karma and Suffering.
And the translation, also taken from the Commentary:
As the wise Nagarjuna said:
The first (无明, Ignorance), the eighth (爱, Craving), and the ninth (取, Grasping) are afflictions.
The second (行 , Compositional action) and the tenth (有, Existence) are karma.
The remaining seven are sufferings.
Why did the great spiritual friend Pu-chung-wa focus on the aspect of Existence (有支) for his mental training rather than starting with the eighth (爱, Craving), and the ninth (取, Grasping) aspects?
Our 班长 didn’t provide her answer and asked us to think about it.
【智然,后有人问汝弟子众,以何为教授中心,则定答为已发神通或见本尊,然实应说于业因果渐渐决定,于所受戒清净护持。】
Ye-shay-bar, if, tomorrow or the next day, someone were to ask all your disciples, “What are you practicing as the core of your personal instructions?” They would answer that it was to attain super knowledges or a vision of their chosen deity. However, they should answer, " It is becoming more and more definite about the causes and effects of karma and, consequently, keeping purely whatever vows I have assumed."
I think this ties in quite nicely with how we must contemplate on the aspects of dependent-arising , whether just on the aspect of Existence (有支) or the entire cycle of 十二缘起, to fortify our understanding of Karma or 如是因感如是果 - you reap what you sow.
Thus will push us towards taking on the precepts and holding steadfast to them, knowing that our hardship in keeping to these precepts now will yield immeasurable results for us in the future - following the examples of the past sages!
【此中朴穷瓦大善知识,专于十二缘起有支,净修其心,】
这位大善知识专门在这“有支”上面修。 【思惟缘起流转还灭,着道次第。】
因为用了这个功,所以了解了,然后着那个道的次第。关于这几句话,那么文字很容 (p12) 易,你们如果懂得了这个有支,你们去用功的话,立刻相应。否则的话,这两句话也没多大意思。
Why did the great spiritual friend Pu-chung-wa focus on the aspect of Existence (有支) for his mental training rather than starting with the eighth (爱, Craving), and the ninth (取, Grasping) aspects?
For follow Lamrim students, I hope you find this portion of the discourse as useful and helpful as I did!
Much gratitude to Master for helping with my understanding.
Venerable Ru Jun talks about twelve aspects of dependent-arising (十二缘起). I understand it as how contemplating this learning can help us break out of doing bad Karma and also help us sustain doing good Karma.
Master Sheng Yen gives another perspective of the twelve aspects of dependent-arising (十二缘起) - it can be categorised as the cycle of delusion, creating Karma, and suffering.
Venerable Ru Jun has a snippet in his recent discourse on the twelve aspects of dependent-arising (十二缘起). From it, I learnt how we can observe our feeling (受) and then inspect how it came about. If this feeling is not based on an understanding of Karma, we will know that we have to work on our practice to correct these negative feelings.
Have a listen to it and let me know if you agree.
The portion is from the 9 min mark to around the 11:30 min mark.