SN12.38 — The Discourse on Intention

He was dwelling at Sāvatthī.

Disciples, whatever one intends, whatever one plans, whatever lies latent within, becomes an object for the continuation of consciousness. When there is an object, there is an establishment of consciousness. When consciousness is established and has come to growth, there is the production of renewed existence in the future. When there is the production of renewed existence in the future, future birth, aging, and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair come to be. Thus is the arising of this whole mass of suffering.

But if one does not intend, if one does not plan, but still has latent tendencies, this becomes an object for the continuation of consciousness. When there is an object, there is an establishment of consciousness. When consciousness is established and has come to growth, there is the production of renewed existence in the future. When there is the production of renewed existence in the future, future birth, aging, and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair come to be. Thus is the arising of this whole mass of suffering.

But when one neither intends nor plans nor has latent tendencies, this does not become an object for the continuation of consciousness. When there is no object, there is no establishment of consciousness. When consciousness is not established and does not come to growth, there is no production of renewed existence in the future. When there is no production of renewed existence in the future, future birth, aging, and death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair cease. Thus is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.

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