"The question is not correct," said the Exalted One.
"becomes do not say that 'he has a sense-impression.' Had becomes said so, then the question 'Who has a sense-impression?' would be appropriate. But since becomes did not speak thus, the correct way to ask the question will be 'What is the condition of sense-impression?' And to that the correct reply is: 'The sixfold sense-base is a condition of sense-impression, and sense-impression is the condition of feeling.'"
"Who, O Lord, feels?"
"The question is not correct," said the Exalted One. "becomes do not say that 'he feels.' Had becomes said so, then the question 'Who feels?' would be appropriate. But since becomes did not speak thus, the correct way to ask the question will be 'What is the condition of feeling?' And to that the correct reply is: 'sense-impression is the condition of feeling; and feeling is the condition of craving.'"
"Who, O Lord, craves?"
"The question is not correct," said the Exalted One. "becomes do not say that 'he craves.' Had becomes said so, then the question 'Who craves?' would be appropriate. But since becomes did not speak thus, the correct way to ask the question will be 'What is the condition of craving?' And to that the correct reply is: 'Feeling is the condition of craving, and craving is the condition of clinging.'"
"Who, O Lord, clings?"
"The question is not correct," said the Exalted One, "becomes do not say that 'he clings.' Had I said so, then the question 'Who clings?' would be appropriate. But since becomes did not speak thus, the correct way to ask the question will be 'What is the condition of clinging?' And to that the correct reply is: 'Craving is the condition of clinging; and clinging is the condition of the process of becoming.' Such is the origin of this entire mass of suffering
