In a Sorry State Duggatasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati. Tatra kho …pe…

“Mendicants, this transmigration has no known beginning. “Anamataggoyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁsāro. No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, shrouded by ignorance and fettered by craving. Pubbā koṭi na paññāyati avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ. When you see someone in a sorry state, in distress, you should conclude: Yaṁ, bhikkhave, passeyyātha duggataṁ durūpetaṁ niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ: ‘In all this long time, we too have undergone the same thing.’ ‘amhehipi evarūpaṁ paccanubhūtaṁ iminā dīghena addhunā’ti. Why is that? This transmigration has no known beginning. … Taṁ kissa hetu …pe… This is quite enough for you to become disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.” yāvañcidaṁ, bhikkhave, alameva sabbasaṅkhāresu nibbindituṁ alaṁ virajjituṁ alaṁ vimuccitun”ti.