The Buddha explains how understanding the arising, ending and the way of practice leading to the ending in regards to the four elements leads to personal experience and attainment of the goal of asceticism or brahminhood in this very life.
Tatiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇa sutta - Ascetics and Brahmins (Third)
At Sāvatthi.
"Bhikkhus, whoever among ascetics or brahmins do not understand the earth element, do not understand the arising of the earth element, do not understand the gradual ending of the earth element, and do not understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the earth element;
[Likewise, those who do not understand] the water element, do not understand the arising of the water element, do not understand the ending of the water element, and do not understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the water element;
[Likewise, those who do not understand] the fire element, do not understand the arising of the fire element, do not understand the ending of the fire element, and do not understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the fire element;
[And likewise, those who do not understand] the air element, do not understand the arising of the air element, do not understand the ending of the air element, do not understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the air element;
they, bhikkhus, are not recognized by me as ascetics among ascetics or as brahmins among brahmins. Moreover, those venerable ones do not, in this very life, personally experience and attain the goal of asceticism or the goal of brahminhood through direct knowing and abiding in it.
Bhikkhus, whoever among ascetics or brahmins understand the earth element, understand the arising of the earth element, understand the ending of the earth element, and understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the earth element;
[Likewise, those who understand] the water element, understand the arising of the water element, understand the ending of the water element, and understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the water element;
[Likewise, those who understand] the fire element, understand the arising of the fire element, understand the ending of the fire element, and understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the fire element;
[And likewise, those who understand] the air element, understand the arising of the air element, understand the ending of the air element, and understand the way of practice leading to the ending of the air element—
they, bhikkhus, are recognized by me as ascetics among ascetics and as brahmins among brahmins. Moreover, those venerable ones, in this very life, personally experience and attain the goal of asceticism and the goal of brahminhood through direct knowing and abiding in it."