Page 36 - 加拿大佛教会湛山精舍杂志季刊第75期

法脈摭實
D HARMA COLLECTION

because that same clinging leads one back into rebirth endure another rebirth due to deluded view and mis-
in a state determined by one’s karma. When the seeds guided thought: Following that, one will develop the
are sown, the paddy will grow. In the same way the six sense bases with their corresponding six-fold data,
karma generated in the present will produce an effect formulate more deluded views and develop attach-
in the future. The three links given above are present ments generated by greed in the present, followed by
causes, having suffering for effect in the future. retribution in the future. For most of the people, that
is what they perceive as reality from which they pro-
11) With existence coming into being as condition, ceed with the planting of further causes of suffering.
birth comes to be: Birth is understood as the arising Thus the cycle of rebirths is perpetuated. According
of mundane consciousness and karma-born matter to the formula of the Twelve Links in the Chain of
in a new life, new realm of existence. The essential Existence, this is the entrance into transmigration.
condition for future birth to occur lies in our present
existence. However, the supramundane Dharma provides a sec-
ond alternative: By means of understanding the Four
12) Dependent on birth arise decay and death: Once Noble Truths and by sustained practice, those on
birth has occurred, old age or decay and death must the path are empowered to eradicate ignorance and
inevitably follow, as well as all the suffering, sorrow, its concomitant defilements. The cessation of igno-
lamentation, pain, grief and despair in between. All of rance causes cessation of karma-generating actions,
these are rooted in birth, and therefore birth is singled cessation of karma generating action causes cessation
out as their principal condition. Birth and death are of relinking consciousness, that in turn causes cessa-
future effects of suffering. tion of name-and-form, cessation of name-and-form
causes cessation of six sense bases and in the absence
Upon examining the above twelve links we, realize of the six sense bases there is cessation of contact,
that ignorance, craving and clinging are rooted in de- cessation of feeling and cessation of grasping. Since
lusion. Ignorance or delusion is a past cause, crav- no karma is being generated in the present, there can
ing and clinging are two kinds of delusion operative be no rebirth and without rebirth no aging, no death
in the present. Consciousness, name-and-form, the is possible. Consequently there will be no suffering
six sense bases, contact, feeling, birth, old age and in the future. Without birth and death, the cause of
death all represent retribution through suffering. Ac- cessation has nirvana or final extinction for effect.
tion and existence are karma-generating agents. As This is the final extinction according to the formula
the above table illustrates, links number two through of Twelve Links in the Chain of Existence read an-
ten are completed in the present. Ignorance is the root ti-clockwise. The fruition thus attained is the most
of greed manifesting itself as craving and clinging; advanced stage of praty-eka-buddha. For a person of
existence manifests itself as action, thus generating such attainment there is no more rebirth.
future rebirths and bringing suffering as retribution in
its wake. This process is the same as when past expe- The formula demonstrates that the chain of existence
riences influence the present. Every future rebirth will consists of several layers of cause and effect. The
initiate exactly the same sequence as the present one, present is the result of past causes; it also generates
for as long as ignorance is the root base, the cycle causes the results of which will mature in the future.
will predictably and inevitably repeat itself. The exact Future first becomes present and then, the past. The
repetition of this pattern enables one to see one’s pre- effects turn in time into causes which, in turn, will
vious existence. One is able to appreciate the amount produce more effects. Normally the pattern repeats
of evil or unskillful karmas one has generated due itself without beginning and without end.
to ignorance, thereby planting causes for suffering
in the rounds of birth and death to come. One must The entire universe can thus be viewed as an intricate

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