6.
The First Discourse on Existence
77.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One -
"'Existence, existence', venerable sir, is said.
In what way, venerable sir, is there existence?"
"If, Ānanda, there were no action ripening in the sensual element, would sensual existence be discerned?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Thus indeed, Ānanda, action is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the moisture. For beings hindered by ignorance, fettered by craving, consciousness is established in the inferior element; thus the production of rebirth occurs in the future.
"If, Ānanda, there were no action ripening in the fine-material element, would fine-material existence be discerned?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Thus indeed, Ānanda, action is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the moisture. For beings hindered by ignorance, fettered by craving, consciousness is established in the middle element; thus the production of rebirth occurs in the future.
"If, Ānanda, there were no action ripening in the immaterial element, would immaterial existence be discerned?" "No, Venerable Sir." "Thus indeed, Ānanda, action is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving is the moisture. For beings hindered by ignorance, fettered by craving, consciousness is established in the superior element; thus the production of rebirth occurs in the future. Thus indeed, Ānanda, there is existence." The sixth.