8.
The Discourse on the Root
58.
"If, monks, heterodox wandering ascetics were to ask thus -
'What is the root of all phenomena, friend? What is the origin of all phenomena? What is the arising of all phenomena? What is the meeting point of all phenomena? What is the chief of all phenomena? What is the authority of all phenomena? What is higher than all phenomena? What is the core of all phenomena? What are all phenomena grounded upon? What is the final goal of all phenomena?' - thus asked, you, monks, how would you answer those heterodox wandering ascetics?"
"The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, have the Blessed One as their guide, have the Blessed One as their refuge.
It would be good indeed, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement would occur to the Blessed One himself.
Having heard from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it."
"Well then, monks, listen, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"If, monks, heterodox wandering ascetics were to ask thus - 'What is the root of all phenomena, friend? What is the origin of all phenomena? What is the arising of all phenomena? What is the meeting point of all phenomena? What is the chief of all phenomena? What is the authority of all phenomena? What is higher than all phenomena? What is the core of all phenomena? What are all phenomena grounded upon? What is the final goal of all phenomena?' - thus asked, you, monks, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus - 'Desire is the root of all phenomena, friend; attention is the origin of all phenomena; contact is the arising of all phenomena; feeling is the meeting point of all phenomena; concentration is the chief of all phenomena; mindfulness is the authority of all phenomena; wisdom is higher than all phenomena; liberation is the core of all phenomena; all phenomena are grounded upon the Deathless; Nibbāna is the final goal of all phenomena.' Thus asked, you, monks, should answer those heterodox wandering ascetics thus." The eighth.