The Buddha teaches on with rāhula, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.177 With Rāhula

Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

“Yā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu ca bāhirā pathavīdhātu, pathavīdhāturevesā. ‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā pathavīdhātuyā nibbindati, pathavīdhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu ca bāhirā āpodhātu, āpodhāturevesā. ‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā āpodhātuyā nibbindati, āpodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu ca bāhirā tejodhātu, tejodhāturevesā. ‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā tejodhātuyā nibbindati, tejodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu ca bāhirā vāyodhātu, vāyodhāturevesā. ‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā vāyodhātuyā nibbindati, vāyodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Yato kho, rāhula, bhikkhu imāsu catūsu dhātūsu nevattānaṁ na attaniyaṁ samanupassati, ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, bhikkhu acchecchi taṇhaṁ, vivattayi saṁyojanaṁ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassā”ti.

Sattamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then Venerable Rāhula went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

“Yā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu ca bāhirā pathavīdhātu, pathavīdhāturevesā.

“Rāhula, the interior earth element and the exterior earth element are just the earth element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā pathavīdhātuyā nibbindati, pathavīdhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the earth element, detaching the mind from the earth element.

ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu ca bāhirā āpodhātu, āpodhāturevesā.

The interior water element and the exterior water element are just the water element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā āpodhātuyā nibbindati, āpodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the water element, detaching the mind from the water element.

ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu ca bāhirā tejodhātu, tejodhāturevesā.

The interior fire element and the exterior fire element are just the fire element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā tejodhātuyā nibbindati, tejodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the fire element, detaching the mind from the fire element.

ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu ca bāhirā vāyodhātu, vāyodhāturevesā.

The interior air element and the exterior air element are just the air element.

‘Taṁ netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti, evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ.

This should be truly seen with right understanding like this: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’

Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā vāyodhātuyā nibbindati, vāyodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

When you truly see with right understanding, you grow disillusioned with the air element, detaching the mind from the air element.

Yato kho, rāhula, bhikkhu imāsu catūsu dhātūsu nevattānaṁ na attaniyaṁ samanupassati, ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, bhikkhu acchecchi taṇhaṁ, vivattayi saṁyojanaṁ, sammā mānābhisamayā antamakāsi dukkhassā”ti.

When a mendicant sees these four elements as neither self nor belonging to self, they’re called a mendicant who has cut off craving, cast off the fetters, and by rightly comprehending conceit has made an end of suffering.”

Sattamaṁ.

Qualities:

Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
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Craving

Craving

A driving ‘thirst’ that reaches out toward experiences, identities, or outcomes as the place to find satisfaction—“if only I had that.” It spins stories of lack, binds the mind to becoming, and invariably leads to suffering.

Also known as: wanting, yearning, longing, lit. thirst
Pāli: taṇha, abhijjhā
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Recollection of the Buddha

Recollection of the Buddha

A mental quality of reflecting on the qualities of the Buddha, which counters doubt and strengthens faith.

Also known as: recollection of Buddha, mindfulness of the Buddha, reflection on the qualities of the Buddha
Pāli: buddhānussati, buddhānusmṛti
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Right view

Right view

View that is in line with the Dhamma — teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth.

Also known as: right understanding, right belief, view that is inline with the Dhamma
Pāli: sammādiṭṭhi
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026