PoṭṭhapādasuttaTiracchānakathā

Suttapiṭaka · Dīghanikāya · Sīlakkhandhavagga · Vol. 9 · Section 310

[310] "Citta, if they were to ask you thus: 'Did you exist in the past period — it is not that you did not exist? Will you exist in the future period — it is not that you will not exist? Do you exist now — it is not that you do not exist?' — being asked thus, Citta, how would you answer?" "Venerable sir, if they were to ask me thus: 'Did you exist in the past period — it is not that you did not exist? Will you exist in the future period — it is not that you will not exist? Do you exist now — it is not that you do not exist?' — being asked thus, venerable sir, I would answer thus: 'I did exist in the past period — it is not that I did not exist; I shall exist in the future period — it is not that I shall not exist; I do exist now — it is not that I do not exist.' Being asked thus, venerable sir, that is how I would answer."

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.