Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

200 Vimuttimaggahardness, (excess of) water, heat and lightness of movement. In the same waythe four elements in union with the body fulfil four qualities. Through theunion of the earthy element hardness is fulfilled. Through the union of thewatery element fluidity is fulfilled. Through the union of the fiery elementheat is fulfilled. And through the union of the airy element lightness ofmovement is fulfilled. Therefore the primaries are to be known "by way ofyakkha and others". Primary is the meaning of the word.THE FOUR ELEMENTSQ. What is the meaning of earth-element, water-element, fire-elementand air-element?A. Extensiveness and immensity are called the meaning of earth.Drinkability and preservation—these constitute the meaning of water. Lightingup is the meaning of fire. Movement back and forth is the meaning of air.What is the meaning of element? It means the retention of own form,and next the essence of earth is the earthy element. The essence of wateris the watery element. The essence of fire is the fiery element. The essenceof air is the airy element.What is the essence of earth? The nature of hardness; the nature ofstrength; the nature of thickness; the nature of immobility; the natureof security; and the nature of supporting. These are called the essence of earth.What is the essence of water? The nature of oozing; the nature ofhumidity; the nature of fluidity; the nature of trickling; the nature ofpermeation; the nature of increasing; the nature of leaping; and the natureof cohesion. These are called the essence of water.What is called the essence of fire? The nature of heating; the natureof warmth; the nature of evaporation; the nature of maturing; the nature ofconsuming; and the nature of grasping. These are called the essence of fire.What is the essence of air? The nature of supporting; the nature ofcoldness; the nature of ingress and egress; the nature of easy movement;the nature of reaching low; and the nature of grasping. These are called theessence of air.These are the meanings of the elements. Thus one should determinethe elements through the meaning of words.Q. How should one determine the elements through "objects"?A. In the element of earth, stability is the object. In the element ofwater, cohesion is the object. In the element of fire, maturing is the object.In the element of air interception is the object.And again, in the element of earth, upstanding is the object; in the elementof water, flowing down is the object; in the element of fire, causing to goupwards is the object; in the element of air, rolling on is the object. And