2.
The Discourse on Before Enlightenment
115.
He was dwelling at Sāvatthī, etc.
"Before the enlightenment, monks, while still unenlightened, being just a Bodhisatta, this occurred to me -
'What indeed is the gratification in the solid element, what is the danger, what is the escape?
What is the gratification in the liquid element, what is the danger, what is the escape?
What is the gratification in the heat element, what is the danger, what is the escape?
What is the gratification in the air element, what is the danger, what is the escape?'
"This occurred to me, monks - 'Whatever happiness and pleasure arises dependent on the solid element, this is the gratification in the solid element. That the solid element is impermanent, suffering, subject to change, this is the danger in the solid element. Whatever is the removal of desire and lust, the abandoning of desire and lust regarding the solid element, this is the escape from the solid element. Whatever dependent on the liquid element... etc. Whatever dependent on the heat element... etc. Whatever happiness and pleasure arises dependent on the air element, this is the gratification in the air element. That the air element is impermanent, suffering, subject to change, this is the danger in the air element. Whatever is the removal of desire and lust, the abandoning of desire and lust regarding the air element, this is the escape from the air element.'
"As long as I, monks, did not directly know as it really is the gratification of these four elements as gratification, the danger as danger, and the escape as escape, I did not acknowledge, monks, in the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, among the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, that I had fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.
"But when I, monks, directly knew as it really is the gratification of these four elements as gratification, the danger as danger, and the escape as escape, then I acknowledged, monks, in the world with its gods, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, among the generation with its ascetics and brahmins, with its gods and humans, that I had fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment. And knowledge and vision arose in me - 'Unshakable is my liberation, this is the last birth, there is now no more rebirth.' The second.