[iDzcs7TU]

This definition refers to the three planes of existence in the Buddhist cosmos, and the term 'bhava' thus would signify concrete individual existence in one or another of these three planes. For illumination as to how bhava functions in the PS series, our most helpful resource is the Bhava Sutta, a short exchange between the Buddha and the Venerable Aananda (AN 3:76/i, 223-24):

"It is said, lord, 'becoming, becoming.' In what way, lord, is there becoming?"

"if, Aananda, there were no kamma ripening in the sense realm, would sense-sphere becoming be discerned?"

"No, lord."

"Thus, Aananda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving the moisture; for beings obstructed by ignorance and fettered to craving, consciousness becomes grounded in a low realm. Thus, Aananda, there is the production of re-becoming in the future. It is thus, Aananda, that there is becoming.

"If, Aananda, there were no kamma ripening in the fine-material realm, would fine-material becoming be discerned?"

"No, lord."

"Thus, Aananda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving the moisture; for beings obstructed by ignorance and fettered to craving, consciousness becomes grounded in a middling realm. Thus, Aananda, there is the production of re-becoming in the future. It is thus, Aananda, that there is becoming.

"If, Aananda, there were no kamma ripening in the immaterial realm, would immaterial becoming be discerned?"

"No, lord."

"Thus, Aananda, kamma is the field, consciousness is the seed, craving the moisture; for beings obstructed by ignorance and fettered to craving, consciousness becomes grounded in a superior realm. Thus, Aananda, there is the production of re-becoming in the future. It is thus, Aananda, that there is becoming."

There is nothing in this sutta that signifies concrete individual existence.

The Pali is 'punabhava'. Puna = again. Bhava = becoming. Due to ignorance & craving, there will be becoming again in the future or for a length of time. Pali is 'āyatiṃ', which according to the dictionary is "future" or simply "length of time".

SN 23.3 is called the Bhavanettisuttaṃ. 'Netti' means 'guide, conductor, support, forerunner', translated by Bodhi as 'conduit'. It states:

"Radha, the desire, lust, delight, craving, engagement and clinging; mental standpoints, adherences and underlying tendencies regarding....this is called the conduit to bhava. Their cessation is the cessation of bhava". So how can bhava be something concrete?