Dhātuvibhaṅgasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 140

The Analysis of the Elements · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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having four foundations‘Caturādhiṭṭhāno thisayaṁ, monkbhikkhu, person + quotation markerpuriso’ti—
thusiti indeedkho now + thispanetaṁ was saidvuttaṁ. why + thisKiñcetaṁ because ofpaṭicca was saidvuttaṁ?
foundation of wisdomPaññādhiṭṭhāno, foundation of truthsaccādhiṭṭhāno, foundation of generositycāgādhiṭṭhāno, foundation of peaceupasamādhiṭṭhāno.
four·foundation‘Caturādhiṭṭhāno thisayaṁ, monkbhikkhu, person + quotation markerpuriso’ti—
thusiti whichyaṁ thattaṁ was saidvuttaṁ this + thisidametaṁ because ofpaṭicca was saidvuttaṁ.

‘This person has four foundations.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it? The foundations of wisdom, truth, generosity, and peace. ‘This person has four foundations.’ That’s what I said, and this is why I said it.

wisdom‘Paññaṁ should not neglectnappamajjeyya, should preserve truthsaccamanurakkheyya, should foster generositycāgamanubrūheyya, peace·onlysantimeva heso should trainsikkheyyā’ti—
thusiti indeedkho thispanetaṁ was saidvuttaṁ. why·thisKiñcetaṁ with reference topaṭicca was saidvuttaṁ?

‘Do not neglect wisdom; preserve truth; foster generosity; and train only for peace.’ That’s what I said, but why did I say it?

how + andKathañca, monkbhikkhu, wisdompaññaṁ not + neglectnappamajjati?
six + these + theseChayimā, monkbhikkhu, elementsdhātuyo—
earth·elementpathavīdhātu, water·elementāpodhātu, fire·elementtejodhātu, air·elementvāyodhātu, space·elementākāsadhātu, consciousness·elementviññāṇadhātu.

And how does one not neglect wisdom? There are these six elements: the elements of earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness.

whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, earth·elementpathavīdhātu?
earth elementPathavīdhātu may besiyā interiorajjhattikā may besiyā exteriorbāhirā.
whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā earth·elementpathavīdhātu?
whateverYaṁ internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ hardkakkhaḷaṁ solid·becomekharigataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ, that isseyyathidaṁ—
head hairkesā body hairlomā nailsnakhā teethdantā skintaco fleshmaṁsaṁ sinewsnhāru bonesaṭṭhi bone·marrowaṭṭhimiñjaṁ kidneysvakkaṁ hearthadayaṁ liveryakanaṁ diaphragmkilomakaṁ spleenpihakaṁ lungspapphāsaṁ intestinesantaṁ intestine·cordantaguṇaṁ undigested foodudariyaṁ feceskarīsaṁ, whateveryaṁ orvā elsepanaññampi anykiñci internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ hardkakkhaḷaṁ solid·becomekharigataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ—
thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā earth·elementpathavīdhātu.
theYā butceva indeedkho nowpana interiorajjhattikā earth·elementpathavīdhātu theyā andca exteriorbāhirā earth·elementpathavīdhātu just the earth elementpathavīdhāturevesā.
this‘Taṁ not thisnetaṁ minemama this I am notnesohamasmi notna of mine·thismeso selfattā’ti—evametaṁ as·becomeyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya should be seendaṭṭhabbaṁ.
thus·thisEvametaṁ as·becomeyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya having seendisvā earth·elementpathavīdhātuyā grows disillusionednibbindati, earth·elementpathavīdhātuyā mindcittaṁ detachesvirājeti.

And what is the earth element? The earth element may be interior or exterior. And what is the interior earth element? Anything internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated. This includes: head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, feces, or anything else internal, personal, that’s hard, solid, and appropriated. This is called the interior earth element. The interior earth element and the exterior earth element are just the earth element. This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the earth element, detaching the mind from the earth element.

whichKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, water·elementāpodhātu?
water·elementĀpodhātu may besiyā interiorajjhattikā may besiyā exteriorbāhirā.
whichKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā water·elementāpodhātu?
whateverYaṁ internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ waterāpo water·goneāpogataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ as·thisseyyathidaṁ—
bilepittaṁ phlegmsemhaṁ puspubbo bloodlohitaṁ sweatsedo fatmedo tearsassu greasevasā salivakheḷo snotsiṅghāṇikā synovial fluidlasikā urinemuttaṁ, whateveryaṁ orvā and whatever elsepanaññampi anythingkiñci internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ waterāpo water·goneāpogataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ—
thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā water·elementāpodhātu.
whichYā andceva indeedkho andpana interiorajjhattikā water·elementāpodhātu whichyā andca exteriorbāhirā water·elementāpodhātu water·element·justāpodhāturevesā.
this‘Taṁ not·thisnetaṁ minemama, not·this·I·amnesohamasmi, notna my·thismeso self; thus thisattā’ti—evametaṁ as·becomeyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya should be seendaṭṭhabbaṁ.
thus thisEvametaṁ as·becomeyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya having seendisvā water·elementāpodhātuyā grows disillusionednibbindati, water·elementāpodhātuyā mindcittaṁ detachesvirājeti.

And what is the water element? The water element may be interior or exterior. And what is the interior water element? Anything internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated. This includes: bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine, or anything else internal, personal, that’s water, watery, and appropriated. This is called the interior water element. The interior water element and the exterior water element are just the water element. This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the water element, detaching the mind from the water element.

whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, fire·elementtejodhātu?
fire·elementTejodhātu may besiyā interiorajjhattikā may besiyā exteriorbāhirā.
whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā fire·elementtejodhātu?
whichYaṁ internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ firetejo fire·gonetejogataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ, that is to sayseyyathidaṁ—
by whichyena andca warmssantappati, by whichyena andca agesjīrīyati, by whichyena andca around·burnpariḍayhati, by whichyena andca eaten·drunk·chewed·tastedasitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ properlysammā digestionpariṇāmaṁ goesgacchati, whichyaṁ orvā and whatever elsepanaññampi anythingkiñci internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ firetejo fire·gonetejogataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ—
thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā fire·elementtejodhātu.
whichYā andceva indeedkho andpana interiorajjhattikā fire·elementtejodhātu whichyā andca exteriorbāhirā fire·elementtejodhātu are just the fire elementtejodhāturevesā.
This‘Taṁ this is notnetaṁ minemama, I am not thisnesohamasmi, notna this is mymeso self·quotation marker·thus·thisattā’ti—evametaṁ according·trueyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya should be seendaṭṭhabbaṁ.
thus·thisEvametaṁ according·trueyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya having seendisvā fire·elementtejodhātuyā grows disillusionednibbindati, fire·elementtejodhātuyā mindcittaṁ detachesvirājeti.

And what is the fire element? The fire element may be interior or exterior. And what is the interior fire element? Anything internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated. This includes: that which warms, that which ages, that which heats you up when feverish, that which properly digests food and drink; or anything else internal, personal, that’s fire, fiery, and appropriated. This is called the interior fire element. The interior fire element and the exterior fire element are just the fire element. This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the fire element, detaching the mind from the fire element.

whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, air·elementvāyodhātu?
air·elementVāyodhātu may besiyā interiorajjhattikā may besiyā exteriorbāhirā.
whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā air elementvāyodhātu?
whichYaṁ internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ airvāyo airyvāyogataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ, that isseyyathidaṁ—
up·goinguddhaṅgamā windsvātā down·goingadhogamā windsvātā belly·dwellingkucchisayā windsvātā bowels·dwellingkoṭṭhāsayā windsvātā limb·limb·flowing-throughaṅgamaṅgānusārino windsvātā in-breathassāso out-breathpassāso thusiti, whichyaṁ orvā or anything elsepanaññampi anythingkiñci internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ airvāyo airyvāyogataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ—
thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā air elementvāyodhātu.
whicheverYā andceva indeedkho andpana interiorajjhattikā air elementvāyodhātu whicheveryā andca exteriorbāhirā air elementvāyodhātu are just the air elementvāyodhāturevesā.
this‘Taṁ this is notnetaṁ minemama, I am not thisnesohamasmi, notna this ismeso self'—thus thisattā’ti—evametaṁ as it truly isyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya should be seendaṭṭhabbaṁ.
thus thisEvametaṁ as it truly isyathābhūtaṁ with right understandingsammappaññāya having seendisvā with the air elementvāyodhātuyā grow disillusionednibbindati, with the air elementvāyodhātuyā mindcittaṁ detachesvirājeti.

And what is the air element? The air element may be interior or exterior. And what is the interior air element? Anything internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated. This includes: winds that go up or down, winds in the belly or the bowels, winds that flow through the limbs, in-breaths and out-breaths; or anything else internal, personal, that’s air, airy, and appropriated. This is called the interior air element. The interior air element and the exterior air element are just the air element. This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the air element, detaching the mind from the air element.

whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, space·elementākāsadhātu?
space·elementĀkāsadhātu may besiyā interiorajjhattikā may besiyā exteriorbāhirā.
whatKatamā andca, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā space·elementākāsadhātu?
whichYaṁ internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ spaceākāsaṁ space·becomeākāsagataṁ appropriatedupādinnaṁ, that isseyyathidaṁ—
ear·openingkaṇṇacchiddaṁ nose·openingnāsacchiddaṁ mouth·doormukhadvāraṁ through whichyena andca eaten·drunk·chewed·tastedasitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ down·carryajjhoharati, whereyattha andca eaten·drunk·chewed·tastedasitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ together·standsantiṭṭhati, through whichyena andca eaten·drunk·chewed·tastedasitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ down·partadhobhāgaṁ out·gonikkhamati, whichyaṁ orvā and then furtherpanaññampi anykiñci internalajjhattaṁ personalpaccattaṁ spaceākāsaṁ space·becomeākāsagataṁ hollowaghaṁ hollow·becomeaghagataṁ openingvivaraṁ opening·becomevivaragataṁ not·touchedasamphuṭṭhaṁ flesh·bloodmaṁsalohitehi appropriatedupādinnaṁ—
thisayaṁ is calledvuccati, monkbhikkhu, interiorajjhattikā space·elementākāsadhātu.
whichYā andceva indeedkho and thenpana interiorajjhattikā space·elementākāsadhātu whichyā andca exteriorbāhirā space·elementākāsadhātu space·element·just thisākāsadhāturevesā.
quotation marker·this‘Taṁ not·thisnetaṁ minemama, not·this·I·benesohamasmi, notna my·thismeso self·quotation marker·thus·just·this + thisattā’ti—evametaṁ as·becomeyathābhūtaṁ right·understandingsammappaññāya should be seendaṭṭhabbaṁ.
thus·this·thisEvametaṁ as·becomeyathābhūtaṁ right·understandingsammappaññāya having seendisvā space·elementākāsadhātuyā grow disillusionednibbindati, space·elementākāsadhātuyā mindcittaṁ detachesvirājeti.

And what is the space element? The space element may be interior or exterior. And what is the interior space element? Anything internal, personal, that’s space, spacious, and appropriated. This includes: the ear canals, nostrils, and mouth; and the space for swallowing what is eaten and drunk, the space where it stays, and the space for excreting it from the nether regions; or anything else internal, personal, that’s space, spacious, and appropriated. This is called the interior space element. The interior space element and the exterior space element are just the space element. This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the space element, detaching the mind from the space element.

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