Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 197attached to any object. Why? Because in the sphere of nothingness hecannot be attached either to consciousness or to infinity. Therefore, in thesphere of nothingness, equanimity is first. 1Miscellaneous teachings have ended ATHE DETERMINING OF THE FOUR ELEMENTSQ. What is the determining of the four elements ? What is the practisingof it ? What are its salient characteristic, function and manifestation ? Whatare its benefits? What is the procedure?A. To discern the four elements within one's form — this is called distinguishingthe four elements. The undisturbed dwelling of the mind (indetermining) — this is called the practising of it. Close investigation of thefour elements is its salient characteristic. The understanding of emptiness isits function. The removing of the thought of being 2 is its manifestation.What are its benefits? There are eight benefits: One who practises thedetermining of the four elements overcomes fear, worldly pleasure and discontent,is even-minded towards desirable and undesirable (objects), destroysthe idea of male and female, is endowed with great wisdom, fares well andapproaches the ambrosial. His states of mind are clear. He is able to perfectall his actions.What is the procedure? The new yogin grasps the elements in two ways:briefly and in detail. Q. What is the grasping of the elements briefly? A.That yogin enters a place of solitude, and with mind collected considers thus:"This body should be known by the four elements. There is in this body thenature of solidity — that is the earthy element ; 3 (there is) the nature of humidity —that is the watery element; 4 (there is) the nature of heat — that is the fiery element;5 (there is) the nature of motion—that is the element of air. 6 Thus inthis body there are only elements. There is no being. 7 There is no soul". 8In this way one grasps the elements briefly. Again it is said that the yogingrasps the elements briefly. He understands the body through understandingthe midriff, its colour, its form, its place. Thus that yogin grasps the elementsbriefly. He understands the nature of the whole body through understandingthe midriff, its colour, its form, its place. He understands this body throughunderstanding flesh, its colour, its form, its place. That yogin, having under-1. Upekkhd-vihdrissa pana 'satta sukhitd vd hontu, dukkhato vd vimuccantu, sampattasukhatovd md vigacchantff ti abhogdbhavato sukha-dukkhddihi paramattha-ggdha-vimukhasambhavatoavijjamdna-ggahana-dukkham cittarh hoti. AtK assa paramattha-ggdhatovimukha-bhava-paricita-cittassa par amat that o avijjamdna-ggahana-dukkha-cittassa caanukkamddhigatam vihhdndnancdyatanam samatikkama-sabhavato avijjamdne paramatthabhutassavinhdnassa abhave cittarh upasamharato appakasirerC eva tattha cittarii pakkhandati.Iti upekkhd dkincanndyatanassa upanissayo hoti, na tato pararh. Tasmd 'dkificanndyatanaparamd"ti vutta ti.— Spk. Ill, 173-4—comment on sutta passage marked % in note 1,page 195).2. Satta. 3. Pathavi-dhatu. 4. Apo-dhatu. 5. Tejo-dhatu. 6. Vdyo-dhatu.7 and 8. Nissatta nijjiva. See note 2, p. 229.