The Ninth Sūtra of the Dīrgha-āgama: The Great Discourse on Causes

Original text: 阿难。因著有嫉。此为何义。若使一切众生无有著者。宁有嫉不。答曰。无也。阿难。我以此缘。知嫉由着。因著有嫉。我所说者。义在于此。阿难。因欲有着。此为何义。若使一切众生无有欲者。宁有着不。答曰。无也。阿难。我以此缘。知着由欲。因欲有着。我所说者。义在于此。阿难。因用有欲。此为何义。若使一切众生无有用者。宁有欲不。答曰。无也。阿难。我以此义。知欲由用。因用有欲。我所说者。义在于此。 

Explanation: Ānanda, jealousy arises because of attachment. What does this mean? If all sentient beings were made to have no attachment, would there still be jealousy? Ānanda replied: No, there would not. The Buddha said: Ānanda, for this reason I know that jealousy arises from attachment; because of attachment there is jealousy. This is the meaning of what I have said. Ānanda, attachment arises because of craving/desire. What does this mean? If all sentient beings were made to have no craving, would there still be attachment? Ānanda replied: No, there would not. The Buddha said: Ānanda, for this reason I know that attachment exists because of craving; craving gives rise to attachment. This is the meaning of what I have said. Ānanda, craving arises because of usefulness/utility. What does this mean? If all sentient beings were made to have no sense of utility, would there still be craving? Ānanda replied: No, there would not. The Buddha said: Ānanda, for this reason I know that craving exists because of utility; because of utility there is craving. This is the meaning of what I have said. 

原文：阿难。因利有用。此为何义。若使一切众生无有利者。宁有用不。答曰。无也。阿难。我以此义。知用由利。因利有用。我所说者。义在于此。阿难。因求有利。此为何义。若使一切众生无有求者。宁有利不。 答曰。无也。阿难。我以此缘。知利由求。因求有利。我所说者。义在于此。 

Explanation: Ānanda, utility arises because of benefit/advantage. What does this mean? If all sentient beings were made to have no benefit, would there still be the mind that wants to use things? Ānanda replied: No, there would not. The Buddha said: Ānanda, by this principle I know that the desire to use things arises from benefit; because of benefit there is the desire to use. This is the meaning of what I have said. Ānanda, benefit arises because of seeking. What does this mean? If all sentient beings were made to have no seeking, would there still be benefit? Ānanda replied: No, there would not. The Buddha said: Ānanda, for this reason I know that benefit arises from seeking; because of seeking there is benefit. This is the meaning of what I have said.