The Practice Which leads to Nibbana - A Buddhist Library

w 162to the Teaching of the Buddha then it will produce the most beneficialresult.The Visuddhimagga clearly states that four elements meditation,which is one of the 40 subjects of meditation, is included in the groupof meditations which can reach upacŒra (access) concentration. Thismeans that it is a meditation subject which must be developed up toupacŒra concentration.The method for the development of four elements meditation hasbeen described in detail in Part 2. The Buddha taught this briefmethod in mahŒsatipaÊÊhŒna sutta saying:Puna capara× bhikkhave bhikkhu imameva kŒya× yathŒthita× yathŒ paöihita× dhŒtuso paccavekkhati, 'atthi imasmi× kŒyepathav´ dhŒtu apo dhŒtu tejo dhŒtu vŒyo dhŒtu' ti. (m.1.p.73)Which means:Bhikkhus, or again in another way a bhikkhu reflects aboutthis very body however it be positioned or placed as consisting ofjust elements thus, ÒThere exists in this body just the earth element,the water element, the fire element, and the air elementÓ.The Visuddhimagga further instructs a meditator to discern thefour elements, in the bones, sinews, flesh, and skin, separating eachout with the hand of wisdom, and to do this again and again onehundred, one thousand, or even one hundred thousand times.The Visuddhimagga further states:Tasseva× vŒyamamŒnassa na cireneva dhŒtuppabhedŒvabhŒsanapa––Œpariggahito sabhŒvadhammŒrammaöattŒ appana×appatto upacŒramatto samŒdhi uppajjati.