The Four Elements – Earth – Water – Air – Fire are classical concepts that represent the substance of our world and explain the nature and complexity of all matter. Existence of the Four Elements is evident in many ancient cultures such as Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Tibetan, Persian and Indian to name just a few.
Whilst modern culture does not subscribe to the concept of the Four Elements it does describe four states of matter – solid, liquid, gas, and plasma which share many attributes to the four elements respectively.
In Buddhism the Four Elements are explained as sensory qualities – Solidity (Earth); Fluidity (Water); Temperature (Fire); and Mobility (Air). The philosophy of the Four Elements is to diminish our focus on the material aspects of life, and instead learn to observe how the physical aspects are sensed, felt and perceived within ourselves.
The Four Elements also represents man as we are comprised of these elements and therefore are connected with all matter – Earth, (Physical Body); Air (Breath); Water (Mind); Fire (Energy). At death man returns to all these elements and reunited with nature.
