The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

296 - Noble Truths and the Twelve Conditions
death, and in consequence, no anxiety and no helplessness. Thus this
never-ending series of suffering will be destroyed.
Of these twelve nidānas, the first two ignorance and action are
regarded as belonging to the first section. All those that follow spring
from these two. The following five, namely, name and form, organs
of sense, contact and experience, these five, as springing from the
former two, are regarded as constituting the second division. Thirst,
attachment, and the collection of deeds constitute the third division as
they result as evil in the enjoyment of the previous five, and, in
consequence, as action resulting therefrom. It is from the folly of
desire and consequent attachment that becoming arises. The fourth
division includes birth, disease, age and death, since these four are
experienced as a result of birth.
Action is the cause of birth and consciousness springs out of it. Where
these two meet they mark the first conjunction. Where sensation and
craving meet, it marks the second conjunction. The third junction
comes in where the accumulation of deeds results in birth. Thus are
marked the three points of junction in this chain of twelve causes and
conditions.
The three forms of birth are those of men, gods and animals. These
result from the consciousness in previous birth as a result of the
conformations springing out of ignorance. This happens either from
the delusion that this kind of birth is actually cessation of birth, or the
taking of birth in a new form without the consciousness, [228] the new
birth coming with consciousness and the new form existing together.
The three times are the past, present and future. Of these the past
includes ignorance and action. To the present refer consciousness,
name and form, the organs of sense, contact, sensation, thirst or
craving, the becoming and birth. To the future belong birth, disease,