The Contemplation of the Fourfold Great Essentials

Myaung Mya Sayadaw

2
5
6
7
10
11
14
15
22
24
25
31
32
37
40

Myaung Mya Sayadaw

Please see how your own body is composed.
composition.

First have a look into the physical

You stand, sit, lie down and walk, changing occasionally when you feel

uncomfortable and inconvenient.

Your body is always showing its manifestation of painful

feeling which you rarely notice. Mainly your body is composed of fourfold Elements.
What are they? They are called four Great Essentials or Elements:
The Element of Earth (the Element of solidity/ extension)
The Element of Water (the Element of fluidity/ moistening/ cohesion)
The Element of Fire (the Element of heat/ maturing/ ripening) and
The Element of Wind (the Element of motion/ disintegrating/ uplifing)
Every Element has four qualities or dimensions, namely colour, odour, taste, and
nutritional essence. So the four Great Essentials and these four qualities are inseparable and
inherent in every matter. These Elements are not always well-balanced but sometimes are out
of equilibrium.

When the Earth Element is excessive the Water Element also becomes

excessive in combination with it and if the Element of Motion is excessive then the Fire Element
also increases in combination with it.
When they are in equilibrium they consolidate and support the whole body.

While

interdependent to each other they are performing their respective functions and giving
assistance to other dependent material properties such as the five faculties, physical vitality etc.
While we are standing still we can do so without swaying, falling down on the strength of the
earth element whole the other three elements are cooperating, namely uplifting, giving warmth,
and cohering with other elements. In this case the fact should be noticed that our mind or
consciousness has predominantly influenced them producing and changing proper postures.
For every living being these fivefold elements are changing from moment to moment with
tremendous frequency. When you are observing the breath as it is coming in and going out
the element of wind or motion is predominant, in the meantime the other three elements are
also coordinating with it.

The Rocky Mountains which have been established by the four great essentials throughout the
ages do not remain steady and still but are always changing, undergoing evolutionary processes
of change, namely they are not neatly lying stratum above stratum. They have been crumpled,
bent, thrust about, distorted, mixed together, then worn away and decomposed again after
having melted down and remolded and reappearing again in new forms and new chemical
combination. So also when the disturbance of the earth element comes about in us we feel
stiffness and inflammation in our body, especially, in joints and muscles, sometimes to the
extent of some parts of our body paralysed.
Just as when a great fire broke out like bush fires in Australia then all plants and trees together
with animals therein were burnt down to ashes, so also when the disturbance of the Fire
Element takes place we feel the unbearable heat as though the body is being burnt in all parts.
Just as when as active volcano erupts all surrounding things disappear under lava, so also when
the disturbance of the Fire Element comes about we feel as if our chest and stomach etc. were
under the burning fire.
Just as when a great river, overflows its banks as in the case of River Mississippi in America and
Yellow river in China all living creatures together with vegetation and soil came to destruction,
so also when the disturbance of the Water Element takes place we feel various kinds of
stomach disorders.
Just as when such a windstorm as a hurricane, cyclone, tornado hits all villages and towns,
strong magnificent buildings are demolishing, so also when the disturbance of the Wind
Element takes place we feel various kinds of illness such as gastric disorder, heartburn and
different forms of ailments.
In this way our body undergoes constant changes due to cold and heat, hunger and thirst,
severe weather conditions etc. Although it is apparently growing strong and beautiful in our
young age, yet it is actually changing, gradually decaying and enfeebling itself and yielding to
the affliction of different and divergent diseases and lastly to the total dissolution or death.
Likewise in the physical world whether it is inside or outside our body the same nature and
process of change, transition and impermanence keeps endlessly going on.
Please contemplate on this real nature of your body as an object of meditation on the
four great essentials. This kind of understanding will save you from unhappy feelings such as
loneliness and depression.

()

When Vassa is over

The young in Burma all over
Pay all to the Elder
Kowtow and respect in honor.
,

Lights illuminating ever,

This month everywhere,
Diverse and varied items in wish tree,
Donors filled with glee,
Aim at that ill-free,
Do ablution on the spree.
,
,

,
,

Triple Jewel on the head

To live and go ahead

From youth starts piety

To implant is parents duty.
,

2013
17.08.13

18.08.13

+
Reba & Chandra family

19.08.13

20.08.13

21.08.13

22.08.13

23.08.13

24.08.13

25.08.13

26.08.13

,
+
Mr Raymond Smith+

( )
(

300

240

150

Dr

& family

()

120

90

90

90

60

Yugene Nyunt +Yolanda+Graham

(10 for Vihara)

60

The B.E.S.T (Buddhist Essentials Support Trust)

60

60

60

60

(
(

)+

- +
(Plus Extension)

- 30
-

(
Mr Thulangit Wijesuraya

30+
100)

30 +

(30 for Vihara)

+ Elizabeth A Tun & family

30 +

(20 for Vihara)

30+

(20 for Vihara)

30+

(20 for Vihara)

(+Vihara)

30 +

(10 for Vihara)

30 +

(5 for Vihara)

30

30

(Margate)

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

Dr

Dr
Dr.Christopher Alan Birt

Euan Birt

)Alexandra Aye Aung

()

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

Mr & Mrs L. Gray

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

30

Mr David,

Mr David Cave

(BBC)

Dr Julian, Dr Chaw Su Kyi &

(Daughters) Calista & Paloma De Silva

Yuba

15

110

( )

()

()
()

()

()

( )

()

()

()

()

- -

Meditation Centre

(April August, 2013)

1000

500

Dr

ufung

Dr

300

150

, Dr Ashley Groves, David Groves

& Johnathan Groves (In honour of father Mr. Win)

150

100

100

Dr

100

imon Than

100

100

100

)
)

100

100
100

(Late Mrs Khin Ahm)

100

75

($100)

65

60

50

50

Mr B.D. ave

50

Rekha Aman & Neha Khasla

50

50
50

Japan

Mr HirakiKoji

r aymond mith

Sally

Daniel

50
50

50

50

50

50
Dr

Dr

50

50

50

Mrs Reba

40

40

Dr

30

30

30

Mr Thulangit Wijesuraya

30

 Mr Thulangit Wijesuraya

30

In memory of late father Mahinda Mendis Wijesuriya & all beings

Mr Thulangit Wijesuraya

30

(Dessert offering for 19 Aug.)

30

Jerry, Teresa, Faye & Portia

(17 Silas Court, Lockhart Road, Loatford, Horts WD 17 4BQ)

30

30

Kristle

(-

30

29

Mr Norman M Khin

25

25

Mrs Jaruvan M Craig

20

20

20

20

Ms Renascence Barua, Priyanka Barua & Navojit Barua

20

20

(Taiwan)

20

15

Alexandra
+

Sandra

10
Liam

10

+
(

10
Mrs Dorathy Ferguson

10

10

10

) Dr

Dr

Dr
rd

[(3 Weds of the moth for 6 months) (June Nov)

520

+Dr

)]

400
100

+Dr

(April- 4weeks)

40

+Dr

(June- 4weeks)

40

+Dr

(August- 4weeks)

40

+Dr

(Sept- Wednesdays)

40

+Dr

(April August 2013)

Tyra Soe,
+

Christopher Soe,

550

500

400

200

100
100

100

100

100

100
100

)
70

)+ Cheque

70

Los Angeles USA ($100)

67.75

50

50

50
)
50

(Global Solution Valley Ltd)

35

30

(Taiwan)

25

25

20

- -
- () () ( ) () (
) () ()
" ()

()

()
-
-

- -(+)

-

-

=()

"

()

()

()

-



()

 ()



- ()
"

()

"

revision

Extension

Chiswick Town Hall

Easter

Website
www.tisarana.info

donation tab
Tisarana Vihara Association

"tisarana.uk@gmail.com"

email
email

Form

Facebook

Gift Aid Declaration Form

Form

Gift Aid Declaration

25p
Gift Aid Declaration Form

3, 5, 10, 20, 30