Saṃyuktāgama (292), Part One

(1) Original text:尔时。世尊告诸比丘。云何思量观察正尽苦。究竟苦边。时思量众生所有众苦。种种差别。此诸苦何因何集。何生何触。思量取因取集。取生取触。若彼取灭无余。众苦则灭。彼所乘苦灭道迹。如实知。修行彼向次法。是名比丘向正尽苦。究竟苦边。所谓取灭。

Explanation: The World-Honored One told the bhikṣus how to deliberate and observe the complete and thorough cessation of suffering, so as to reach the ultimate far shore of suffering. At that time, one should deliberate on all the suffering of sentient beings, as well as the various differentiated marks of this suffering, deliberating on account of what causes and conditions this suffering arises, what dharma's arising has summoned it forth, from what cause it is born, and from what dharma's contact it is produced.

This requires deliberating that it is because of grasping (upādāna) that suffering appears, that it is the arising of grasping that leads to the appearance of suffering, that it is the birth of grasping that causes suffering to be born, and that it is the contact of grasping that produces suffering. If all that grasping ceases without remainder, then all suffering will cease. The bhikṣus should truly understand the path of practice for extinguishing suffering, and should cultivate the auxiliary dharmas and secondary dharmas that lead toward the complete cessation of suffering. In this way, the bhikṣus can advance toward the complete cessation of suffering and can ultimately reach the far shore of suffering. This is the method of extinguishing grasping.