Recluses and Brahmins (3)

THUS have I heard.
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta Grove, the Anāthapiṇḍika Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren."
"Yes, lord," replied those brethren to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"There are these four elements, brethren.
Which are the four?
Earth-element,
water-element,
heat-element,
air-element.
Yea, any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do not understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the earth-element,
the coming to pass of the earth-element,
the ceasing of the earth-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the earth-element,
they for me
are not approved of among recluses as recluses
nor among brahmins as brahmins,
nor have those venerable ones
come even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.
Yea, any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do not understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the water-element,
the coming to pass of the water-element,
the ceasing of the water-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the water-element,
they for me
are not approved of among recluses as recluses
nor among brahmins as brahmins,
nor have those venerable ones
come even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.
Yea, any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do not understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the fire-element,
the coming to pass of the fire-element,
the ceasing of the fire-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the fire-element,
they for me
are not approved of among recluses as recluses
nor among brahmins as brahmins,
nor have those venerable ones
come even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.
Yea, any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do not understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the air-element,
the coming to pass of the air-element,
the ceasing of the air-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the air-element,
they for me
are not approved of among recluses as recluses
nor among brahmins as brahmins,
nor have those venerable ones
come even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.


But any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the earth-element,
the coming to pass of the earth-element,
the ceasing of the earth-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the earth-element,
they for me
are approved of among recluses as recluses
or among brahmins as brahmins,
and those venerable ones have come
even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.
But any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the water-element,
the coming to pass of the water-element,
the ceasing of the water-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the water-element,
they for me
are approved of among recluses as recluses
or among brahmins as brahmins,
and those venerable ones have come
even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.
But any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the fire-element,
the coming to pass of the fire-element,
the ceasing of the fire-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the fire-element,
they for me
are approved of among recluses as recluses
or among brahmins as brahmins,
and those venerable ones have come
even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.
But any recluses or brahmins whatever
who do understand,
even as it really is,
the nature of the air-element,
the coming to pass of the air-element,
the ceasing of the air-element,
the way going to the ceasing of the air-element,
they for me
are approved of among recluses as recluses
or among brahmins as brahmins,
and those venerable ones have come
even in this life
fully to know of themselves,
to realize,
to live
in the attainment of,
the good of
being recluse or brahmin.