AN10.58 — 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? 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.
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. All things arise from attention. All things originate from contact. All things converge in feeling. Concentration is the foremost of all things. Mindfulness is the ruler of all things. Wisdom is the highest of all things. Liberation is the essence of all things. The deathless is the immersion of all things. Nibbāna is the culmination of all things.
Being asked thus you should answer those wanderers of other sects in this way.