Samyuktagama Sutra (292), Part Two

（二）Original text: 复次。比丘思量观察正尽苦。究竟苦边。时思量彼取何因何集。何生何触。思量彼取爱因爱集。爱生爱触。彼爱永灭无余。取亦随灭。彼所乘取灭道迹。如实知。修习彼向次法。是名比丘向正尽苦。究竟苦边。所谓爱灭。

Explanation: Furthermore, when a bhikṣu wishes to deliberate and contemplate the complete cessation of suffering and to reach the ultimate end of suffering, if he wishes to deliberate on what causes and conditions the arising of grasping, by the gathering of what dharma it arises, by the production of what dharma grasping is produced, and by the contact of what dharma grasping arises, he should deliberate that the arising of grasping is due to craving; it is produced by the causes and conditions of the gathering of craving; when craving is born, grasping is born; when craving contacts, grasping is born; and when craving is extinguished, grasping is extinguished accordingly. The bhikṣus should truly understand the path and route of extinguishing grasping that they practice, and they should cultivate the dharmas that lead toward the cessation of suffering as well as the secondary dharmas that assist in the cessation of suffering. This is the method by which a bhikṣu gradually advances toward the complete cessation of suffering and can ultimately reach the end of suffering—namely, the complete extinction of craving.

If sentient beings extinguish grasping and no longer grasp at the various dharmas, all suffering will cease. As for how suffering is ultimately extinguished and what path should be cultivated in the meantime, we must truly understand it. Truly understanding the method of practice for extinguishing suffering means cultivating the dharmas that lead toward and the secondary dharmas that assist the complete cessation of suffering—that is, the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment, including the four right efforts, the four bases of supernormal power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of enlightenment, and the eightfold noble path. "Toward" means heading in the direction of the cessation of suffering; "secondary" refers to the supplementary and helpful dharmas. The main dharma is contemplating the five aggregates to eliminate the view of self. The purpose of cultivating the toward-dharmas and secondary dharmas is to prepare for the elimination of the view of self and to fulfill the prerequisites for realizing the path of seeing, so that one can then contemplate and practice vipaśyanā in accordance with the Dharma, and finally attain realization and eliminate the view of self.