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Samyutta Nikaya

# SN 14.32 Acariṁ Sutta (Quest for Gratification) SN 14.32

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- Saṁyutta Nikāya - The Connected Discourses (SN 14.30-14.39) Nidānavagga /Dhātu /Catuttha Vagga (Duration: 1:05:40)

## Text

    [page 1]
    SN 14.32
    Saṁyutta Nikāya
    The Connected Discourses

    Nidānavagga Saṁyutta
    The Groups on Causation

    Dhātu Saṁyutta
    Connected Discourses on The Elements

    Catuttha Vagga
    The Fourth Section

    Acariṁ Sutta
    “Quest for Gratification”

    Translated by Bhikkhu Candana

    Copyright © Bhikkhu Candana 2025

    Once, while The Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, He addressed the Bhikkhus and
    said:

    “Bhikkhus!”

    “Yes, Bhante!” replied the Bhikkhus.

    The Blessed One then continued by saying:

    1. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the earth element. And whatever
    gratification there is to be found within the earth element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever
    happens to be the spectrum of gratification of the earth element, that I have fully understood and
    wisely discerned.

    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the earth element. And whatever
    perilous danger there is to be encountered within the earth element, that I have found out, as
    well. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the earth element, that I have fully
    understood and wisely discerned.

    [page 2]
    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the earth element.
    And whatever way of escape by stepping out that there is from the earth element, that I have
    found out. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from the
    earth element, that I have fully understood and wisely discerned.

    2. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the water element. And whatever
    gratification there is to be found within the water element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever
    happens to be the spectrum of gratification of the water element, that I have fully understood and
    wisely discerned.

    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the water element. And whatever
    perilous danger there is to be encountered within the water element, that I have found out, as
    well. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the water element, that I have fully
    understood and wisely discerned.

    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the water
    element. And whatever way of escape there is by stepping out from the water element, that I
    have found out. Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from
    the water element, that I have fully understood and wisely discerned.

    3. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the fire element. And whatever gratification
    there is to be found within the fire element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever happens to be
    the spectrum of gratification of the fire element, that I have fully understood and wisely
    discerned.

    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the fire element. And whatever
    perilous danger there is to be encountered within the fire element, that I have found out, as well.
    Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the fire element, that I have fully
    understood and wisely discerned.

    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the fire element.
    And whatever way of escape there is by stepping out of the fire element, that I have found out.
    Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from the fire element,
    that I have fully understood and wisely discerned.

    4. “Bhikkhus, I went in search of gratification within the air element. And whatever gratification
    there is to be found within the air element, that I have found out. Thus, whatever happens to be
    the spectrum of gratification of the air element, that I have fully understood and wisely
    discerned.

    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the perilous danger within the air element. And whatever perilous
    danger there is to be encountered within the air element, that I have found out, as well. Thus,
    whatever happens to be the spectrum of danger of the air element, that I have fully understood
    and wisely discerned.

    [page 3]
    “Bhikkhus, I went in search of the way to entirely escape by stepping out from the air element.
    And whatever way of escape there is by stepping out from the air element, that I have found out.
    Thus, whatever happens to be the spectrum of the stepping out and escape from the air element,
    that I have fully understood and wisely discerned.

    “Now, Bhikkhus, so long as I had not yet fully understood, nor wisely discerned, the full range
    and spectrum of seeking that gratification, the perilous dangers, and the escape to be experienced
    by stepping out from these four elements, I did not declare My Perfect and Full Awakening in
    existence, this world with all its Gods, Māras, and Brahma Gods, along with its populations of
    recluses, religious practitioners, and brahmins, as well as the human and non-human beings
    found within it.

    “Therefore, Bhikkhus, it was only after I fully understood and wisely discerned the full range
    and spectrum of seeking that gratification, the perilous dangers, and the escape to be experienced
    by stepping out from these four elements, that I did declare My Perfect and Full Awakening in
    existence, this world with all its Gods, Māras, and Brahma Gods, along with its populations of
    recluses, religious practitioners, and brahmins, as well as the human and non-human beings
    found within it.

    “And it was right then, that the direct understanding and unmistakable knowledge arose within
    me, and I saw that –

    ‘Unshakable is my Liberation!
    This is indeed my very last birth,
    For, truly there is no more rebirths left for me now,
    Nor is even possible, into any future life, at all!’

    Sādhu
    Sādhu
    Sādhu

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