The Four Great Elements quite literally translate to Earth, Wind (Air), Fire, Water. It is often taught that these are really descriptions of first person experience, and the monikers are just analogies. These first person experiences are something like: 1. Earth - the felt sense of solidity 2. Water - the felt sense of "squishiness" or liquidity 3. Air - the felt sense of light motion in the body, and also wind on the skin, and sensations from breathing 4. Fire - the felt sense of temperature Is there any evidence in the Sutta Pitaka that this teaching is accurate? In other words, what Suttas seem to imply that when these terms were used, the above interpretation is what was had in mind. In contrast to the "first person experience" interpretation, one might just understand the appearance of these terms in the Sutta Pitaka as referring to material objects and reflecting the understanding of chemistry at the time.

How did Buddha fully understood the world and proclaimed it without the knowledge of all experiments of science? Was his knowledge about the properties and the behavior of matter limited? Thanks.

Recently there was fire in Australia and before that there was fire in USA. In India fire incidents keep happening. My question is given the fact fire is a natural element, what causes such fire disasters?

In the Maha-satipatthana Sutta (DN22), the mindfulness about the elements is taught: > “There are in this body, the earth element, the water element, the > fire element, the wind element.” > > Just as though, monks, a clever butcher, or a butcher’s apprentice, > after slaughtering a cow, were sitting down at a crossroads after > dividing it into portions; even so, monks, a monk in regard to this > very body, however placed, however disposed, reflects by way of the > elements: > “There are in this body, the earth element, the water element, the > fire element, the wind element.” However I am unable to understand why we have to look at the elements from the clever butcher's point of view. What kind of mental state does the meditation on elements generate? Please explain the analogy in detail.

In Maha-Rahulovada Sutta monk Rahula asks the Buddha for instructions on developing Anapanasati. The Buddha didn't directly give instructions to him of Anapanasaati but instead, gives instructions on developing Anatta on the earth property, the water property, the fire property, the wind property, & the space property. > "Rahula, {any form whatsoever that is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: every form is to be seen as it actually is with right discernment as: 'This is not mine. This is not my self. This is not what I am.' There are these five properties, Rahula. Which five? The earth property, the water property, the fire property, the wind property, & the space property." It also states developing the **four Brahma Viharas, the perception of Unattractiveness and Impermanence.** After that only the Buddha gives instructions on **Anapanasati**. I also have heard that for the people who are untrained in Anapanasati, they may meditate on the elements and then go to Anapanasati. (Some say it is better to do this way since not doing Anapanasati properly can lead to difficulties in the mind) PS - I tried the above approach and it was somewhat smoother than directly going into Anapanasati. **Q1.** Is doing Dhatu manasikara first and doing Anapanasati afterward a smoother and an effective way of doing Anapanasati? **Q2.** Also, can I know the simple explanation of what these actually mean > I will breathe in calming bodily fabrication. > > I will breathe in sensitive to rapture. > > I will breathe in sensitive to pleasure. > > I will breathe in sensitive to mental fabrication > > I will breathe in calming mental fabrication. > > I will breathe in sensitive to the mind. > > I will breathe in satisfying the mind > > I will breathe in steadying the mind > > I will breathe in releasing the mind > > I will breathe in focusing on inconstancy. > > I will breathe in focusing on dispassion. > > I will breathe in focusing on cessation. > > I will breathe in focusing on relinquishment. What do these mean and how to achieve this is Anapanasati?

In English translation, the four elements are translated as 1. Earth 2. Fire 3. Air 4. Water Instead, if they are translated as below 1. solidity - the state of being solid with hardness and softness. 2. Heat - the state of getting heat with hot and cold both identified as heat. 3. Force - the state of pushing and pulling, or state of supporting and pushing 4. Liquidity - the state of coagulating and flow or dripping I am not a language expert but after studying four elements in Buddha's teachings and tipitaka the latter definitions seems more appropriate than Earth, Fire, Air and Water which have ambiguous meanings or are of less comprehensible. Is it possible that we can have better English translation for Four elements since Earth, Fire, Air and Water seems limited in sense? What could be the better translation to understand the nature, characteristics and two opposite edges of four elements?

I have heard about "Mahabhutha" as 4 elements but in few occasions as 6 elements with the addition of "Akasha" & "Vijñāna". Can someone explain why there is a difference and how they connect with the other 4 elements?