Buddhist writing, interpreted from the Maha Vagga

Chain of Dependent Origination

On ignorance depends karma;
On karma depends consciousness;
On consciousness depend name and form;
On name and form depend the six organs of sense;
On the six organs of sense depends contact;
On contact depends sensation;
On sensation depends desire;
On desire depends attachment;
On attachment depends existence;
On existence depends birth;
On birth depend old age and death, sorrow, lamentation, misery, grief, and despair.

Thus does this entire aggregation of misery arise. 

The process/contemplation can be reversed, as well, to the same effect.

from http://www.as.miami.edu/phi/bio/Buddha/chain.htm