Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.58 6.

Mūlakasutta

If wanderers of other sects were to ask you, On what are all things rooted, friends?

From what do all things arise?

Where do all things originate?

Where do all things converge?

What is the foremost of all things?

What is the ruler of all things?

What is the highest of all things?

What is the essence of all things?

What is the immersion of all things?

What is the culmination of all things?

Sacittavagga Mūlakasutta “Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘kiṁmūlakā, āvuso, sabbe dhammā, kiṁsambhavā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamudayā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamosaraṇā sabbe dhammā, kiṁpamukhā sabbe dhammā, kiṁadhipateyyā sabbe dhammā, kiṁuttarā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsārā sabbe dhammā, kiṁogadhā sabbe dhammā, kiṁpariyosānā sabbe dhammā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ kinti byākareyyāthā”ti?

How would you answer them, disciples?

Our teachings, venerable sir, are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, and have the Blessed One as their refuge. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One himself would explain the meaning of this statement. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the disciples will remember it.

Therefore listen, pay close attention, I will speak.

“Bhagavaṁmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṁnettikā bhagavaṁpaṭisaraṇā.

Yes, venerable sir, the disciples replied to the Blessed One.

The Blessed One said this:

If wanderers of other sects were to ask you, On what are all things rooted, friends?

From what do all things arise?

Where do all things originate?

Where do all things converge?

What is the foremost of all things?

What is the ruler of all things?

What is the highest of all things?

What is the essence of all things?

What is the immersion of all things?

What is the culmination of all things?

Being asked thus you should answer those wanderers of other sects in this way: All things are rooted in desire, friends.

Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṁyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho.

All things arise from attention. All things originate from contact. All things converge in feeling.

Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.

Concentration is the foremost of all things.

“Tena hi, bhikkhave, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

Mindfulness is the ruler of all things. Wisdom is the highest of all things.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

Liberation is the essence of all things. The deathless is the immersion of all things.

Bhagavā etadavoca: “Sace, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā evaṁ puccheyyuṁ: ‘kiṁmūlakā, āvuso, sabbe dhammā, kiṁsambhavā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamudayā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsamosaraṇā sabbe dhammā, kiṁpamukhā sabbe dhammā, kiṁ adhipateyyā sabbe dhammā, kiṁuttarā sabbe dhammā, kiṁsārā sabbe dhammā, kiṁogadhā sabbe dhammā, kiṁpariyosānā sabbe dhammā’ti, evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyātha: ‘chandamūlakā, āvuso, sabbe dhammā, manasikārasambhavā sabbe dhammā, phassasamudayā sabbe dhammā, vedanāsamosaraṇā sabbe dhammā, samādhippamukhā sabbe dhammā, satādhipateyyā sabbe dhammā, paññuttarā sabbe dhammā, vimuttisārā sabbe dhammā, amatogadhā sabbe dhammā, nibbānapariyosānā sabbe dhammā’ti. Evaṁ puṭṭhā tumhe, bhikkhave, tesaṁ aññatitthiyānaṁ paribbājakānaṁ evaṁ byākareyyāthā”ti. Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Nibbāna is the culmination of all things.

Being asked thus you should answer those wanderers of other sects in this way.