ADB---Four Elements

Analytical dhamma for beginners

Four Elements

There are these four elements in any form, including our body.
These elements or ‘dhātu’. are physical properties of the matter. There are four great elements of matter:
1. Earth-element or Pali ‘pathavi dhātu’, they represent the solidity property of forms.
2. Water-element or Pali ‘āpo dhātu’, they represent the fluidity or cohesiveness property of forms.
3. Fire-element or Pali ‘tejo dhātu’, they represent the heat or cold temperature property of forms.
4. Air-element or Pali vāyo dhātu, they represent the distended-ness property of forms.
In each and every organ of our body, these four elements are represented in various percentages.

In Girimananda Sutta (AN 10.60) The Buddha tells Ananda:
“Herein, Ananda, a monk contemplates this body upward from the soles of the feet, downward from the top of the hair, enclosed in skin, as being full of many impurities. In this body there are hairs on the head, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, intestines, intestinal tract, stomach, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, nasal mucous, synovium (oil lubricating the joints), and urine. Thus he dwells contemplating foulness in this body. This, Ananda, is called contemplation of foulness.”