Mahānidāna Sutta (Dīgha Nikāya No. 9)

(3) Original Text: Ananda, due to attachment there is jealousy. What is the meaning of this? If all sentient beings were without attachment, would there be jealousy? He replied: No. Ananda, by this reasoning I know that jealousy arises from attachment; due to attachment there is jealousy. The meaning of what I have said lies herein. Ananda, due to desire there is attachment. What is the meaning of this? If all sentient beings were without desire, would there be attachment? He replied: No. Ananda, by this reasoning I know that attachment arises from desire; due to desire there is attachment. The meaning of what I have said lies herein. Ananda, due to utilization there is desire. What is the meaning of this? If all sentient beings were without utilization, would there be desire? He replied: No. Ananda, by this reasoning I know that desire arises from utilization; due to utilization there is desire. The meaning of what I have said lies herein.

Explanation: Ananda, because of attachment there is jealousy. What does this mean? If one were to cause all sentient beings to be without attachment, could there still be jealousy? Ananda replied: No. The Buddha said: Ananda, for this reason I know that jealousy is conditioned by attachment; due to attachment there arises jealousy. The meaning of what I said is this. Ananda, conditioned by craving there is attachment. What does this mean? If one were to cause all sentient beings to be without craving, could there still be attachment? Ananda replied: No. The Buddha said: Ananda, for this reason I know that attachment exists due to craving; conditioned by craving there is attachment. The meaning of what I said is this. Ananda, because there is utilization there is craving. What does this mean? If one were to cause all sentient beings to be without utilization, could there still be craving? Ananda replied: No. The Buddha said: For this reason I know that craving exists due to the condition of utilization; because there is utilization there is craving. The meaning of what I have said is this.

Original Text: Ananda, due to benefit there is utilization. What is the meaning of this? If all sentient beings were without benefit, would there be utilization? He replied: No. Ananda, by this reasoning I know that utilization arises from benefit; due to benefit there is utilization. The meaning of what I have said lies herein. Ananda, due to seeking there is benefit. What is the meaning of this? If all sentient beings were without seeking, would there be benefit? He replied: No. Ananda, by this reasoning I know that benefit arises from seeking; due to seeking there is benefit. The meaning of what I have said lies herein.

Explanation: Ananda, because there is benefit there is utilization. What does this mean? If one were to cause all sentient beings to be without benefit, could there still be the mind that wishes to utilize? Ananda replied: No. The Buddha said: Ananda, by this principle I know that the wish to utilize arises from benefit; due to benefit there is the wish to utilize. The meaning of what I said is this. Ananda, conditioned by grasping there is benefit. What does this mean? If one were to cause all sentient beings to be without craving and grasping, could there still be benefit? Ananda replied: No. The Buddha said: Ananda, for this reason I know that benefit exists conditioned by grasping; due to grasping there arises benefit. The meaning of what I said is this.