Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 199Thus when one sees this body in forty-two ways, only the elements manifestthemselves. There is no being. There is no soul. Thus the elements aregrasped in detail.And again, predecessor-teachers 1 have said that one should determinethe four elements through ten ways, namely, through the meaning of terms, 2through object, aggregation, powder, 3 non-separation, condition, 4 characteristic,5 similarity and dissimilarity, 6 sameness and difference, 7 puppet.First, the chapter which refers to the meaning of terms is as follows:—Q. How should one determine the elements through terms?A. Two terms, viz., the common and the special terms. Here the fourprimaries are common (terms). Earth-element, water-element, fire-element,air-element are special terms.Q. What is the meaning of "four primaries"?A. Great manifestation is called primary. They are great; they areillusory; but they appear real. Therefore they are called "primaries" "Great":By way of yakkha and others" the term great is applied.Q. Why is the "great manifestation" called great?The elements are "great manifestation" as the Blessed One has declaredin the following stanza:"/ declare the size of earth to betwo hundred thousand nahutas and four.Four hundred thousand nahutas and eightis of water the bulk; air's in spacewhich reckoned is at nahutas sixand nine times a hundred thousand; in thatthis world of ours lies. There is in the worldconsuming fire that will in mighty flamesrise up to Brahma's world for seven days". 8"Great manifestation" is thus. Therefore they are called the primaries.Q. How do the primaries that are unreal appear as real?A. What are called primaries are neither male nor female. They areseen through the form of a man or a woman. And element is neither longnor short: It is seen through the form of the long and the short. An elementis neither a tree nor a mountain, but it is seen through the form of a tree ora mountain. Thus the primaries are not real, but appear real and are calledprimaries.What is the meaning of "by way of yakkha and others"? It is as if ayakkha were to enter into a man and take possession of him. Through thepossession of the yakkha that man's body would manifest four qualities:1. Pordnd. 2. Vacanatthato. 3. Cunnato. 4. Paccayato. 5. Lakkhanddito.6. Sabhagavisahhdgato. 7. Ndnattekattato. 8. Not traced.