SN14.31 — The Discourse on the Previous Enlightenment

In Sāvatthī, the Buddha was dwelling. He said, Disciples, in the past, when I was a Bodhisattva, not yet fully enlightened, I reflected on this: What is the pleasure of the earth element? What is its danger? What is its escape? What is the pleasure of the water element? What is its danger? What is its escape? What is the pleasure of the fire element? What is its danger? What is its escape? What is the pleasure of the air element? What is its danger? What is its escape?

Then it occurred to me: The pleasure of the earth element arises dependent on it, and this is the pleasure of the earth element. The earth element is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change; this is the danger of the earth element. The escape from the earth element is the abandoning of desire and lust for the earth element.

Similarly, for the water element, I discerned: The pleasure of the water element arises dependent on it, and this is the pleasure of the water element. The water element is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change; this is the danger of the water element. The escape from the water element is the abandoning of desire and lust for the water element.

For the fire element, I discerned: The pleasure of the fire element arises dependent on it, and this is the pleasure of the fire element. The fire element is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change; this is the danger of the fire element. The escape from the fire element is the abandoning of desire and lust for the fire element.

For the air element, I discerned: The pleasure of the air element arises dependent on it, and this is the pleasure of the air element. The air element is impermanent, suffering, and subject to change; this is the danger of the air element. The escape from the air element is the abandoning of desire and lust for the air element.

As long as I did not know the pleasure, danger, and escape of these four elements as they truly are, I did not realize the supreme enlightenment of perfect awakening in the world with its gods, humans, and Brahmas, nor did I understand the unexcelled, perfect enlightenment.

But when I came to know the pleasure, danger, and escape of these four elements as they truly are, then I realized the supreme enlightenment of perfect awakening in the world with its gods, humans, and Brahmas, and I understood the unexcelled, perfect enlightenment.

And then, knowing and vision arose in me: I am unshakably liberated; this is my last birth; there is no more rebirth for me.

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