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SN 18.9PTS SN 2.2481 min read

Elements

Dhātusutta

The Buddha answers Rāhula’s request by teaching on the elements in light of the three characteristics.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 18.9Linked Discourses 18.9
  • 0.21. PaṭhamavaggaChapter One

0.3DhātusuttaElements

1.1PTS 2.249Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rāhula,“What do you think, Rāhula?1.3pathavīdhātu niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?Is the earth element permanent or impermanent?”

1.4“Aniccā, bhante” …“Impermanent, sir.” …

1.5“āpodhātu …pe…“… the water element …1.6tejodhātu …the fire element …1.7vāyodhātu …the air element …1.8ākāsadhātu …the space element …1.9viññāṇadhātu niccā vā aniccā vā”ti?Is the consciousness element permanent or impermanent?”

1.10“Aniccā, bhante” …“Impermanent, sir.” …

1.11“evaṁ passaṁ, rāhula, sutavā ariyasāvako pathavīdhātuyāpi nibbindati …pe… āpodhātuyāpi nibbindati … tejodhātuyāpi nibbindati … vāyodhātuyāpi nibbindati … ākāsadhātuyāpi nibbindati … viññāṇadhātuyāpi nibbindati …pe…“Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the earth element, water element, fire element, air element, space element, and consciousness element …”1.12pajānātī”ti.

1.13Navamaṁ.