Saṃyuktāgama Sutta 292, Part 6

(VI) Original Text: Furthermore, when a bhikṣu contemplates and observes the complete cessation of suffering, aiming to reach the ultimate end of suffering, he contemplates name and form. He considers: What is the cause? What is the accumulation? What gives rise to it? What contact brings it forth? Upon contemplation, he knows that name and form arise due to consciousness as the cause, arise due to the accumulation of consciousness, are born because consciousness is born, and come into being through contact with consciousness. If that consciousness is extinguished without remainder, then name and form cease. The bhikṣu should truly know the path leading to the cessation of that consciousness and cultivate the preliminary and supporting practices directed toward that path. This is called the bhikṣu heading toward the complete cessation of suffering, reaching the ultimate end of suffering, namely, the cessation of consciousness.

Explanation: Furthermore, a bhikṣu contemplates and observes the complete cessation of suffering, desiring to reach the ultimate boundary of suffering. He must contemplate what causes and conditions give rise to name and form, what dharmas accumulate to produce them, what dharma gives birth to name and form, and what contact causes name and form to arise. Upon contemplation and examination, he knows that the arising of name and form is due to the causes and conditions of the six consciousnesses, arises because the six consciousnesses accumulate, is produced because the six consciousnesses are born, and occurs due to contact by the six consciousnesses leading to the birth of name and form in future existences. If the six consciousnesses are completely extinguished without remainder, name and form will consequently cease. Bhikṣus should truly understand the practice of the path leading to the extinction of the six consciousnesses, which means cultivating the preliminary practices directed toward the path and the secondary supporting practices. This is called the bhikṣu progressing toward the complete cessation of suffering, enabling him to reach the ultimate boundary of suffering, that is, the method of extinguishing the six consciousnesses.