To end suffering here and now (Ajahn Chah)

Ajahn Chah (ajahnchah.org) via Ven. Sujato, Ellie Askew, Dhr. Seven (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

In Buddhism, the primary reason we study the Dhamma [the Buddha's Teachings on how to make an end of all suffering here and now] is to find the way to transcend suffering and attain peace.

Whether we study physical [dhatus or elements and kalapas or particles] or mental phenomena, the citta [mind-moments or the stream of consciousness] or cetasika [concomitant mental factors], it is only when we make liberation from suffering our ultimate goal, rather than anything else, that we will be practicing in the correct way.

This is because suffering and its causes already exist right here and now.