[554] At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then the wanderer Vacchagotta approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and when the courteous and amiable talk was concluded, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, the wanderer Vacchagotta said this to the Blessed One: "What now, Master Gotama, is the cause, what is the condition, whereby these many and various speculative views (diṭṭhigata) arise in the world: 'The world is eternal,' or 'the world is not eternal'; 'the world is finite,' or 'the world is infinite'; 'the soul (jīva) is the same as the body,' or 'the soul is one thing, the body another'; 'the Tathāgata exists after death,' or 'the Tathāgata does not exist after death,' or 'the Tathāgata both exists and does not exist after death,' or 'the Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death'?"
"It is, Vaccha, from not knowing (aññāṇa) form (rūpa), from not knowing the origin of form, from not knowing the cessation of form, from not knowing the way of practice leading to the cessation of form, that these many and various speculative views arise in the world: 'The world is eternal,' or … or 'the Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.' This, Vaccha, is the cause, this is the condition, whereby these many and various speculative views arise in the world: 'The world is eternal,' or … or 'the Tathāgata neither exists nor does not exist after death.'"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.