Elements

Pathavīdhātusutta

One with faith in the teachings on the four physical elements is called a “follower by faith”, while someone with conceptual understanding is called a “follower of the teachings”. But someone who sees them directly is called a stream-enterer.

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

0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 25.9Linked Discourses 25.9
0.21. Cakkhuvagga1. The Eye

0.3PathavīdhātusuttaElements

1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Pathavīdhātu, bhikkhave, aniccā vipariṇāmī aññathābhāvī;“Mendicants, the earth element is impermanent, decaying, and perishing.1.3āpodhātu …The water element,1.4tejodhātu …the fire element,1.5vāyodhātu …the air element,1.6ākāsadhātu …the space element,1.7viññāṇadhātu aniccā vipariṇāmī aññathābhāvī.and the consciousness element are impermanent, decaying, and perishing.

1.8Yo, bhikkhave, ime dhamme evaṁ saddahati adhimuccati, ayaṁ vuccati ‘saddhānusārī …pe…Someone who has faith and confidence in these teachings is called a follower by faith. …”1.9sambodhiparāyano’”ti.

1.10Navamaṁ.