Saṃyukta Āgama (291), Part 2

(2) Original text: The Buddha told Ānanda: "Excellent. Listen attentively. I shall explain for you. When these bhikṣus grasp the internal contact dharmas, they should contemplate thus: 'When all the various sufferings of sentient beings arise, what is the cause of this suffering? From what is it accumulated? From what does it arise? From what does it contact?' When grasping thus, they should know that this suffering has upādāna as its cause, upādāna as its accumulation, upādāna as its arising, upādāna as its source."

Explanation: The Buddha told Ānanda, "Excellent, listen carefully, for I am about to explain to you. When you bhikṣus grasp the internal contact dharmas, you should contemplate thus: 'When all the various sufferings and afflictions of sentient beings arise, what is the cause of these afflictions? By what dharma are they accumulated? What dharma arises that causes these afflictions? What dharma accumulates that causes these afflictions?' When grasping the internal contact dharmas thus, you should know that these afflictions exist because of the cause of grasping; when grasping accumulates, afflictions accumulate; when grasping arises, afflictions arise; when grasping flows forth, afflictions flow forth."

Original text: "Furthermore, bhikṣus, regarding the internal contact dharmas, what is the cause of upādāna? What accumulates it? What makes it arise? What contacts it? When grasping thus, you should further know: upādāna has craving as its cause, craving as its accumulation, craving as its arising, craving as its contact. Furthermore, bhikṣus, when grasping the internal contact dharmas, you should further know: what is the cause of craving? What accumulates it? What makes it arise? What contacts it? When grasping thus, you should know that craving arises toward the true and pure form aggregate contemplated by worldly minds; when craving arises, grasping arises; when craving binds, grasping binds; when craving abides, grasping abides."

Explanation: Furthermore, bhikṣus, when you grasp the internal contact dharmas, you should know: what dharma is the cause of grasping? What dharma accumulates so that grasping accumulates? What dharma arises so that grasping arises? What dharma contacts so that grasping contacts? When grasping, you should know that grasping arises due to the cause of craving; because craving accumulates, grasping accumulates; because craving arises, grasping arises; when craving contacts, grasping contacts.

Furthermore, bhikṣus, when grasping the internal contact dharmas, you should also know: what is the cause of craving? What dharma accumulates so that craving accumulates? What dharma arises so that craving arises? What dharma contacts so that craving contacts? When grasping thus, you should know that craving arises toward the subtle and pure aggregate of form contemplated in the minds of worldly people; when craving arises, grasping arises; when the aggregate of form is bound by craving, it is bound by grasping; when craving abides in the aggregate of form, grasping abides in the aggregate of form.

This is part of the twelve links of dependent origination taught by the World-Honored One. Previously, it was explained that the accumulation of contact is the cause for the accumulation of feeling. Now it explains that the accumulation of craving is the cause for the accumulation of grasping. Where there is craving, there is grasping; where there is grasping, there is the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, and affliction. Due to craving, one grasps the six dusts (objects of the senses). After grasping, there is becoming; where there is becoming, there is birth; after birth, suffering arises.