Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.76 8.

First Discourse on Existence

Ānandavagga Paṭhamabhavasutta Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “bhavo, bhavoti, bhante, vuccati.

Sitting to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: Existence, existence, venerable sir, it is said.

Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhavo hotī”ti?

To what extent, venerable sir, is there existence?

“Kāmadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho kāmabhavo paññāyethā”ti?

If, Ānanda, there were no karma ripening in the sensual realm, would sensual existence be discerned?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

No, venerable sir.

“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho.

Thus, Ānanda, karma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture.

Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ hīnāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. (…)

For beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving, consciousness is established in a lower realm. Thus, there is the arising of renewed existence in the future.

Rūpadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho rūpabhavo paññāyethā”ti?

If, Ānanda, there were no karma ripening in the form realm, would form existence be discerned?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

No, venerable sir.

“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho.

Thus, Ānanda, karma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture.

Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ majjhimāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. (…)

For beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving, consciousness is established in an intermediate realm. Thus, there is the arising of renewed existence in the future.

Arūpadhātuvepakkañca, ānanda, kammaṁ nābhavissa, api nu kho arūpabhavo paññāyethā”ti?

If, Ānanda, there were no karma ripening in the formless realm, would formless existence be discerned?

“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

No, venerable sir.

“Iti kho, ānanda, kammaṁ khettaṁ, viññāṇaṁ bījaṁ, taṇhā sneho.

Thus, Ānanda, karma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture.

Avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ paṇītāya dhātuyā viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitaṁ evaṁ āyatiṁ punabbhavābhinibbatti hoti. Evaṁ kho, ānanda, bhavo hotī”ti. Chaṭṭhaṁ.

For beings hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving, consciousness is established in a superior realm. Thus, there is the arising of renewed existence in the future.

Thus, Ānanda, there is existence.