{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn14.31/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn14.31","id":"suttacentral_sn14.31","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn14.31/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At S\u0101vatth\u012b. \u201cMendicants, before my awakening\u2014when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening\u2014I thought: \u2018What\u2019s the gratification, the drawback, and the escape when it comes to the earth element \u2026 the water element \u2026 the fire element \u2026 and the air element?\u2019 Then it occurred to me: \u2018The pleasure and happiness that arise from the earth element: this is its gratification. That the earth element is impermanent, suffering, and perishable: this is its drawback. Removing and giving up desire and greed for the earth element: this is its escape. The pleasure and happiness that arise from the water element \u2026 The pleasure and happiness that arise from the fire element \u2026 The pleasure and happiness that arise from the air element: this is its gratification. That the air element is impermanent, suffering, and perishable: this is its drawback. Removing and giving up desire and greed for the air element: this is its escape.\u2019 As long as I didn\u2019t truly understand these four elements\u2019 gratification, drawback, and escape in this way for what they are, I didn\u2019t announce my supreme perfect awakening in this world with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans. But when I did truly understand these four elements\u2019 gratification, drawback, and escape in this way for what they are, I announced my supreme perfect awakening in this world with its gods, M\u0101ras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans. Knowledge and vision arose in me: \u2018My freedom is unshakable; this is my last rebirth; now there\u2019ll be no more future lives.\u2019\u201d","title":"Before Awakening","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":270}