VaggaRūpaṅhetūtikathā

Abhidhammapiṭaka · Kathāvatthu · Vol. 37 · Section 1659

[1659] Sakavādin: Is form (rūpa) a root-cause (hetu)? Paravādin: Yes. S: Is it the root-cause that is non-greed (alobha)? P: It should not be said so. … S: Is it the root-cause that is non-hatred (adosa)? … Is it the root-cause that is non-delusion (amoha), the root-cause that is greed (lobha), the root-cause that is hatred (dosa), the root-cause that is delusion (moha)? P: It should not be said so. … S: Is form a root-cause? P: Yes. S: Does it have an object (sārammaṇa)? Is there for it adverting (āvajjanā) … intention (paṇidhi)? P: It should not be said so. … S: Is it not without an object (anārammaṇa)? Is it not that there is for it no adverting … intention? P: Yes. S: If it is without an object, and there is for it no adverting … intention, then indeed, good sir, it should not be said that "form is a root-cause."

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.

This passage also appears in 2 other places