Thus have I heard - At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus."

"Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:

"Bhikkhus, this cyclic existence is without a discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned for beings who, obstructed by ignorance and fettered by craving, run on and wander in this cycle of existence.

Suppose, bhikkhus, a man were to cut up all the grass, sticks, branches, and foliage in this Jambudīpa, gather them into one heap, and make them into little pieces, each four finger-breadths in size. He then marks each piece, saying: 'This one is my mother; this one is my mother's mother,' and so on. Even so, bhikkhus, the sequence of that man's mothers would not come to an end before the grass, sticks, branches, and foliage in this Jambudīpa are exhausted.

For what reason? Bhikkhus, this cyclic existence is without a discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned for beings who, obstructed by ignorance and fettered by craving, run on and wander in this cycle of existence. For such a long time, bhikkhus, you have experienced suffering, agony, and calamity, the cemetery has been filled up with your bones. Therefore, bhikkhus, it is enough to become disenchanted, to become detached and to become free from all conditions."