SN14.31 — The Discourse on the Previous Enlightenment
In Sāvatthī, the Tathāgata 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? 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 know 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.