The Vision of the 12 Links of Interdependence

"Oh, good man! All beings are unable to see the 12 links of interdependence. So, they ride on the wheel of transmigration. Oh, good man! Just as the silkworm makes a silk cocoon, is born and dies by itself, so do things proceed with all beings. Since they do not see the Buddha Nature, they generate karma of defilement, and repeat births and deaths, just as a person bounces a ball (with feet). Oh, good man! This is why I say in the sutra: ‘Someone who sees the 12 links of interdependence, sees the Dharma; someone who sees the Dharma, sees the Buddha'. 'The Buddha is none other than the Buddha Nature'. Why so? Because all Buddhas make this their own nature.

Oh, good man! There are four kinds of knowledge, that see the 12 links of interdependence. These are: 1) low, 2) medium, 3) top, and 4) topmost. A person of low position, does not see the Buddha Nature. Not reaching it, he gets the way of a Sravaka. Those of the middle position, also do not see the Buddha Nature. Realizing the Buddha Nature, they gain the way of the Pratyekabuddha. Those of the top position see, but not clearly. Not being clear, they live in the soil of the ten abodes, (are Bodhisattvas). The topmost persons see clearly. Thus, they attain unsurpassed Enlightenment. Because of this, we call the 12 links of interdependence of Buddha Nature. The Buddha Nature is the All-Void of 'Paramartha-satya’. The All-Void of 'Paramartha-satya' is the Middle Path. The Middle Path is the Buddha. The Buddha is Nirvana."

Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 33, on the Bodhisattva Lion's Roar 1.

vision of the 12 links of interdependence.mp3