Abstract
Vasubandhu shows his understanding of Pratityasamutpada-theory in his Abhidharmakosabhasya (Pradhan, 137, 7-12). According to it, the meaning of Pratitya-samutpada-theory is explained in the formula “if that exists, then this exists (asmin satidam bhavati) etc.” which is usually called “idampratyayata”. What he wants to insist is that the aim of Pratityasamutpada-theory is to teach that every thing has its own decisive cause, but not only a casuse when it arises, and the formula called idampratyayata shows the decisiveness (niyama).
