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 fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

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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, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

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“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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