“Inconceivable, bhikkhus, is the beginning of this samsara. A first point is not known of beings roaming and wandering the round of rebirth, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving." "Which do you think, bhikkhus, is more: the stream of tears that you have shed as you roamed and wandered on through this long course, weeping and wailing because of being united with the disagreeable and separated from the agreeable – this or the water in the four great oceans? The stream of tears that you have shed as you roamed and wandered on through this long course…this alone is greater than the water in the four great oceans…For such a long time, bhikkhus, you have experienced suffering, anguish, and disaster, and swelled the cemeteries.” (S.15.3 “Assu Sutta”)