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Iti 51

Elements

Dhātusutta

from: The Book of the Threes

Chapter One

Elements

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Mendicants, there are these three elements. What three? The elements of form, formlessness, and cessation. These are the three elements.”

The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Comprehending the element of form,
not stuck in the formless,
those who are released in cessation,
they are conquerors of death.

Having directly experienced <j>the element free of death,
free of attachments;
having realised relinquishment
of attachments, the undefiled
fully awakened Buddha teaches
the sorrowless, stainless state.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Translation: German (Ayyā Sabbamittā), English (Bhikkhu Sujato). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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