nye bar len pa

Grasping DKC

take up, conflicting emotions, having to put up with what you have, grasping, seize eagerly, strive for earnestly, aspire to, SA nyer len [JV]

dad pas nye bar len pas yon tan myang through such devotion you will experience all his qualities [RY]

proximate/ material cause; perpetuation; to perpetuate/ be in intimate rapport with; perpetuation (of conditioned existence) (one of twelve links of interdependent connection) [RB]

1) to cause, bring about, perpetuate. 2) grasp, grasping, perpetuating 3) to seize eagerly, to strive for, 4) close relationship [between mother and son]. to cling to; proximate/ material cause; perpetuation; to perpetuate/ be in intimate rapport with; the (5) skandhas [RY]

1) [substantial] cause [alt] [closely] acquiring; 2) perpetuating, continually/ repeatedly producing in 1's being and gasping as supreme; 3) D seize eagerly, grasping, strive for [repeatedly], aspire to [IW]

take up, conflicting emotions, having to put up with what you have, grasping, seize eagerly, strive for earnestly, aspire to, SA nyer len, to grasp at, continually experiencing [JV]

Discussion

Grasping is clinging. A sutra says, "What is grasping, you ask. That which is desirous intention for something." Prince Yasomitra explains this to mean that grasping is what makes one's consciousness hold and cling to rebirth, greed etc. The Eighth Lord Mikyo Dorje explains that the afflictions are "grasping which grasps at rebirth."

In the context of causes, "nyer len" is sometimes translated substantial or primary or perpetuating. While these translations are accurate in terms of the relationship of the nyer len gyi rgyu to the result, they miss the important point that this happens because of grasping. Hence it seems better to use the more literal translation. DKC