[189] "Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects should ask thus: 'Friends, in what are all things (sabbe dhammā) rooted? From what do all things come into being? From what do all things originate? In what do all things converge? What is the forefront of all things? What has dominant influence over all things? What is supreme among all things? What is the essence of all things?' — being asked thus, bhikkhus, how would you answer those wanderers of other sects?"
"Venerable sir, for us the teachings are rooted in the Blessed One, guided by the Blessed One, have the Blessed One as their resort. It would be good, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement would become clear to the Blessed One himself. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will bear it in mind."
"Then, bhikkhus, listen and attend carefully; I will speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "Bhikkhus, if wanderers of other sects should ask thus: 'Friends, in what are all things rooted? From what do all things come into being? From what do all things originate? In what do all things converge? What is the forefront of all things? What has dominant influence over all things? What is supreme among all things? What is the essence of all things?' — being asked thus, bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus: 'Friends, all things are rooted in desire (chanda); all things come into being through attention (manasikāra); all things originate from contact (phassa); all things converge upon feeling (vedanā); all things have concentration (samādhi) as their forefront; all things have mindfulness as their dominant influence; all things have wisdom (paññā) as supreme; all things have liberation (vimutti) as their essence.' Being asked thus, bhikkhus, you should answer those wanderers of other sects thus."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.