The Discourse on THE ROOT OF EXISTENCE  

Since ancient times the Mulapariyaya Sutta, the Discourse on the Root of Existence, has been considered one of the most important texts in the Pali Canon, distinguished by its concision and its penetrating depth. The Buddha's purpose in expounding this sutta, the first in the Majjhima Nikaya or Collection of Middle Length Discourses, is to clear away the mental obstructions preventing a correct grasp of his teaching and to establish the perspective necessary for true understanding to arise.  

The present work, a sequel to the translator's treatment of the Brahmajala Sutta, offers an English translation of the Discourse on the Root together with its commentaries, essential for understanding  the many difficult passages occurring in the primary text. A lengthy introduction provides a detailed guide to the meaning of the sutta and explores its implications for philosophy and psychology.  It discusses such  topics dealt with in the discourse as the problem of perceptual distortion,  the structure of the ego-consciousness, and the work of inner re-orientation that must be done if we are to free ourselves from our egoistic bonds.