Refining our knowledge of the four elements, Joseph Goldstein explains how our bodily dispositions relate to earth, water, fire, and air.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the tenth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta.

In this episode, Joseph Goldstein examines:

The four basic qualities of matter
Solidity and the earth element
Fluidity, cohesion, and the water element
Heat and light as the function of the fire element
Air and the experience of expanding and extending
Bringing the elements into our practice
Contemplating our bodily disposition in terms of the four elements
Noticing all sensations as the play of a given element
Moving away from the conceptual and into direct experiences
Psychic abilities and transforming an element into another one
How labeling and objectifying can lead to desire and aversion
Not grieving for what is non-existent
The unification of relative and ultimate reality

Don’t forget to grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization.

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“On the experimental level, we can see that the various sensations that we feel, however the body is disposed, is really just the play of the elements.” – Joseph Goldstein

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