The Buddha teaches that the arising, continuation, and manifestation of the earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness elements is the arising of suffering, the continuation of disease, and the manifestation of old age and death—and that their cessation is the cessation of suffering.

SN 26.9 Elements

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Yo kho, bhikkhave, pathavīdhātuyā uppādo ṭhiti abhinibbatti pātubhāvo …pe… jarāmaraṇassa pātubhāvo; yo āpodhātuyāyo tejodhātuyāyo vāyodhātuyāyo ākāsadhātuyāyo viññāṇadhātuyā uppādo ṭhiti abhinibbatti pātubhāvo, dukkhasseso uppādo, rogānaṁ ṭhiti, jarāmaraṇassa pātubhāvo. Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, pathavīdhātuyā nirodho …pe… jarāmaraṇassa atthaṅgamo; yo āpodhātuyā nirodhoyo tejodhātuyā nirodhoyo vāyodhātuyā nirodhoyo ākāsadhātuyā nirodhoyo viññāṇadhātuyā nirodho vūpasamo atthaṅgamo, dukkhasseso nirodho, rogānaṁ vūpasamo, jarāmaraṇassa atthaṅgamo”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Yo kho, bhikkhave, pathavīdhātuyā uppādo ṭhiti abhinibbatti pātubhāvo …pe… jarāmaraṇassa pātubhāvo;

“Mendicants, the arising, continuation, and manifestation and regeneration of the earth element,

yo āpodhātuyā

the water element,

yo tejodhātuyā

the fire element,

yo vāyodhātuyā

the air element,

yo ākāsadhātuyā

the space element,

yo viññāṇadhātuyā uppādo ṭhiti abhinibbatti pātubhāvo, dukkhasseso uppādo, rogānaṁ ṭhiti, jarāmaraṇassa pātubhāvo.

and the consciousness element is the arising of suffering, the continuation of diseases, and the manifestation of old age and death.

Yo ca kho, bhikkhave, pathavīdhātuyā nirodho …pe… jarāmaraṇassa atthaṅgamo;

The cessation of the earth element,

yo āpodhātuyā nirodho

the water element,

yo tejodhātuyā nirodho

the fire element,

yo vāyodhātuyā nirodho

the air element,

yo ākāsadhātuyā nirodho

the space element,

yo viññāṇadhātuyā nirodho vūpasamo atthaṅgamo, dukkhasseso nirodho, rogānaṁ vūpasamo, jarāmaraṇassa atthaṅgamo”ti.

and the consciousness element is the cessation of suffering, the settling of diseases, and the disappearance of old age and death.”

Navamaṁ.

Qualities:

Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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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