Whatever, Rahula, is internal, pertaining to oneself, solid, clung to: such as hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, stomach, feces, or whatever else is internal, pertaining to oneself, solid, clung to: this is called, Rahula, the internal earth element.

Both the internal earth element and the external earth element are simply the earth element. And that should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom thus:

This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self. Seeing it thus as it really is with correct wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the earth element and makes the mind dispassionate towards the earth element.

What, Rahula, is the water element? The water element may be either internal or external. What, Rahula, is the internal water element? Whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is water, watery, and clung to: such as bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, spit, snot, oil of the joints, urine, or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is water, watery, and clung to: this is called, Rahula, the internal water element.

Both the internal water element and the external water element are simply the water element. And that should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom thus:

This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self. Seeing it thus as it really is with correct wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the water element and makes the mind dispassionate towards the water element.

What, Rahula, is the fire element? The fire element may be either internal or external. What, Rahula, is the internal fire element? Whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is fire, fiery, and clung to: such as that by which one is warmed, ages, and is consumed, and that by which what is eaten, drunk, chewed, and tasted gets fully digested, or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is fire, fiery, and clung to: this is called, Rahula, the internal fire element.

Both the internal fire element and the external fire element are simply the fire element. And that should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom thus:

This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self. Seeing it thus as it really is with correct wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the fire element and makes the mind dispassionate towards the fire element.

What, Rahula, is the air element? The air element may be either internal or external. What, Rahula, is the internal air element? Whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is air, airy, and clung to: such as up-going winds, down-going winds, winds in the belly, winds in the bowels, winds that course through the limbs, in-breathing and out-breathing, or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is air, airy, and clung to: this is called, Rahula, the internal air element.

Both the internal air element and the external air element are simply the air element. And that should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom thus:

This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self. Seeing it thus as it really is with correct wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the air element and makes the mind dispassionate towards the air element.

The external air element is just the air element. It should be seen as it truly is with proper wisdom thus:

This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self. Seeing it thus as it truly is with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the air element, and the mind becomes dispassionate towards the air element.

And what, Rahula, is the space element? The space element may be internal or external. And what, Rahula, is the internal space element? Whatever internal, belonging to oneself, space, spatial and included, that is, the cavity of the ear, the nostrils, the door of the mouth, and whereby one swallows what is eaten, drunk, consumed, and tasted, and where it stays, and whereby it is excreted from below, or whatever else internal, belonging to oneself, space, spatial and included, not contacted by flesh and blood: this is called the internal space element.

Both the internal space element and the external space element are simply the space element. It should be seen as it truly is with proper wisdom thus:

This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self. Seeing it thus as it truly is with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the space element, and the mind becomes dispassionate towards the space element.

Develop mindfulness that is like the earth, Rahula. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like the earth, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Just as, Rahula, the earth is not repelled, humiliated, or disgusted by anything clean or unclean placed on it; similarly, Rahula, develop mindfulness that is like the earth.

For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like the earth, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Develop mindfulness that is like water, Rahula. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like water, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Just as, Rahula, water washes clean and unclean things without being repelled, humiliated, or disgusted; similarly, Rahula, develop mindfulness that is like water. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like water, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Develop mindfulness that is like fire, Rahula. For, Rahula, for one who is developing the mindfulness that is like fire, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Just as, Rahula, fire burns clean and unclean things without being repelled, humiliated, or disgusted; similarly, Rahula, develop mindfulness that is like fire. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like fire, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Develop mindfulness that is like wind, Rahula. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like wind, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Just as, Rahula, the wind blows clean and unclean things without being repelled, humiliated, or disgusted; similarly, Rahula, develop mindfulness that is like wind. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like wind, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Develop mindfulness that is like space, Rahula. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like space, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.

Just as, Rahula, space is not established anywhere; similarly, Rahula, develop mindfulness that is like space. For, Rahula, for one who is developing mindfulness that is like space, agreeable and disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not overpower his mind.