Elements

Iti 51 · Dhātusutta

Fresh saplings growing beneath the spreading canopy of an old fig tree.

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

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

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

“Comprehending the realm of luminous form, not stuck in the formless, those who are released in cessation, they are conquerors of death.
Having directly experienced the element free of death, free of attachments; having realized 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.

Connections

Collection & context

ItivuttakaThe collection containing this text
The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting

Books

Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology

About this edition

Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.