AN3.76 — First Discourse on Existence
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One:
Existence, existence, venerable sir, it is said. To what extent, venerable sir, is there existence?
If, Ānanda, there were no karma ripening in the sensual realm, would sensual existence be discerned?
No, venerable sir.
Thus, Ānanda, karma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture. 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. (...)
If, Ānanda, there were no karma ripening in the form realm, would form existence be discerned?
No, venerable sir.
Thus, Ānanda, karma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture. 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. (...)
If, Ānanda, there were no karma ripening in the formless realm, would formless existence be discerned?
No, venerable sir.
Thus, Ānanda, karma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the moisture. 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.