Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein Ep. 213 – The Four Elements, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 10
Sep 4, 2024
Joseph Goldstein, a leading figure in Theravada Buddhism and an expert on meditation, dives deep into the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. He explains how these elements relate to our bodily sensations, enhancing mindfulness and meditation practices. The discussion unveils the transformative power of these elements and explores how understanding them can lead to liberation from attachment. Goldstein also highlights the balance between relative and ultimate truths in spiritual practice and emphasizes the mind's role as our greatest asset.
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Contemplating the Elements
- Contemplate your body in terms of the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air.
- Recognize sensations as the interplay of these elements, shifting from conceptual understanding to direct experience.
Body as Energy Field
- By perceiving experiences through concepts, we create an illusion of solidity and permanence.
- Shifting to the elemental level of sensations reveals the body as a fluid energy field, reducing attachment.
Identifying Sensations
- Joseph Goldstein shares his experience of struggling to identify the sensation of moving forward while walking.
- Through dedicated investigation, he realized the importance of focusing on direct experience rather than conceptual understanding.