Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.177 18.

The Rahula Sutta

Sañcetaniyavagga Rāhulasutta Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

At one time, the venerable Rahula approached the Blessed One. After approaching, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “Yā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu yā ca bāhirā pathavīdhātu, pathavīdhāturevesā.

While sitting there, the Blessed One spoke to the venerable Rahula: Rahula, there are two types of earth element: the internal earth element and the external earth element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This earth element is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self. This should be seen as it truly is with right knowing.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā pathavīdhātuyā nibbindati, pathavīdhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Seeing this as it truly is with right knowing, one becomes disenchanted with the earth element and the mind is liberated from it.

Yā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu yā ca bāhirā āpodhātu, āpodhāturevesā.

Rahula, there are two types of water element: the internal water element and the external water element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This water element is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self. This should be seen as it truly is with right knowing.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā āpodhātuyā nibbindati, āpodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Seeing this as it truly is with right knowing, one becomes disenchanted with the water element and the mind is liberated from it.

Yā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu yā ca bāhirā tejodhātu, tejodhāturevesā.

Rahula, there are two types of fire element: the internal fire element and the external fire element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This fire element is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self. This should be seen as it truly is with right knowing.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā tejodhātuyā nibbindati, tejodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Seeing this as it truly is with right knowing, one becomes disenchanted with the fire element and the mind is liberated from it.

Yā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu yā ca bāhirā vāyodhātu, vāyodhāturevesā.

Rahula, there are two types of air element: the internal air element and the external air element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This air element is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self. This should be seen as it truly is with right knowing.

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā vāyodhātuyā nibbindati, vāyodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Seeing this as it truly is with right knowing, one becomes disenchanted with the air element and the mind is liberated from it.

Yato kho, rāhula, bhikkhu imāsu catūsu dhātūsu nevattānaṁ na attaniyaṁ samanupassati, ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, bhikkhu acchecchi taṇhaṁ, vivattayi saṁyojanaṁ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassā”ti. Sattamaṁ.

When, Rahula, a disciple does not regard these four elements as self or belonging to self, it is said that the disciple has cut off craving, has dispelled the fetters, and has made an end of suffering through right knowing.