Saṃyukta Āgama 292 (Part 1)

(1) Original Text: At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the monks: "How does one contemplate and investigate the complete cessation of suffering, to reach the ultimate end of suffering? At that time, contemplate all the various sufferings of sentient beings in their manifold distinctions. What is the cause, what is the origin, what is the arising, what is the condition of these sufferings? Contemplate that clinging is the cause, clinging is the origin, clinging is the arising, clinging is the condition [of suffering]. If that clinging ceases without remainder, then all suffering ceases. One should truly know the path leading to the cessation of suffering, cultivate and practice those supporting and supplementary methods directed toward it. This is called the monk's path toward the complete cessation of suffering, reaching the ultimate end of suffering—namely, the cessation of clinging."

Explanation: The World-Honored One told the monks how to contemplate and investigate the complete and thorough cessation of suffering, to reach the very edge of suffering's ultimate end. At that time, one should contemplate all sufferings of sentient beings and the various differentiated aspects of these sufferings. Contemplate due to what causes and conditions these sufferings appear, what aggregation of phenomena summons them forth, what reason gives rise to them, and what contact of phenomena produces them.

This requires contemplating that clinging is the cause that makes suffering appear, that the aggregation of clinging leads to the appearance of suffering, that the arising of clinging causes suffering to arise, and that the contact of clinging produces suffering. If all that clinging ceases without remainder, then all suffering will cease. Monks should have true knowledge of the practice leading to the cessation of suffering, and must cultivate and practice the supporting and supplementary methods directed toward the complete cessation of suffering. In this way, monks can progress toward the complete cessation of suffering and ultimately reach the edge of suffering. This is the method of eliminating clinging.