[A] re “twelve-fold conditioned arising” and “twelvefold conditioned birth” the same or different?³⁸⁶

[Answer] They are the same. They are not different in the sense that they refer to all conditioned things [saṃskṛta-dharma]. However, there are distinctions [which can be made].

“Conditioned arising” refers to causes [hetu] and “conditioned birth” refers to results [phala]. The first two [links of ignorance and activity] are “conditioned arising.”³⁸⁷ The next five [links of consciousness, name-and form, the six senses, contact, and sensation] are “conditioned birth.”³⁸⁸ The next three [links of passion, attachment, and existence] are “conditioned arising.”³⁸⁹ The last two [links of rebirth and decay-and-death] are “conditioned birth.”³⁹⁰

Also, [another distinction between conditioned arising and conditioned birth is that] ignorance corresponds to “conditioned arising,” volitional activity corresponds to “conditioned birth,” and so forth to rebirth corresponding to “conditioned arising” and decay-and-death corresponding to “conditioned birth.”

386

These phrases are two different Chinese translations for the same Sanskrit term, Pratītyasamutpāda. One can imagine that various ingenious scholastic interpretations were constructed in China to explain the supposed subtle difference between these two terms, as Chih-i proceeds to do. Chan-jan and the other commentators trace this issue back to the Abhidharma-mahāvibhāṣā Śāstra. return

387

The causes of one’s present life. return

388

The results of past lives, which is this present life. return

389

The causes for future lives. return

390

The results which will be the content of future lives. return