Five elements: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Five elements means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Yoga (school of philosophy)
The Five Elements are denoted by the Sanskrit term Pañcabhūta, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I will teach the practice of that, which produces absorption. [...] Having abandoned the thought that the universe exists of five elements (pañcabhūta); that the body consists of five elements; and that everything consists of the elements, cultivate the thought, ‘[everything consisting of the elements] does not exist’. [...]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
The Five Elements (in Indo-Tibetan tradition) are known in Tibetan as 'byung ba lnga.—Accordingly, Sāṃkhyas assert definitively that all objects of knowledge are enumerated into twenty-five: (1) the principal, (2) the great, (3) the I-principle, (4–8) the five sense objects, (9–13) the five elements, (14–24) the eleven sense faculties, and (25) the person, which is self, consciousness, and the knower. Of those, the person is asserted as conscious, while the remaining twenty-four — as aggregate composites — are insentient matter.
The Five Elements are:
- earth,
- water,
- fire,
- air, and
- space.
The Five Elements (in Chinese tradition) are:
- wood,
- fire,
- earth,
- metal, and
- water.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Five Elements:—A technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit mahābhūta defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 39):
- Earth (pṛthvī),
- Water (āpas),
- Fire (tejas),
- Wind (vāyu),
- Space (ākāśa).
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., ‘five elements’). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: The, The, Te, Element.
Full-text (+362): Pancabhuta, Pancabhautika, Pancatva, Bhuta, Pancata, Bhutamaya, Pancatatvem, Pancatattva, Pancatmaka, Bija, Pancabhutatman, Bhautika, Pancikrita, Arthaprakriti, Pancatanmatra, Karya, Pancatatva, Pancavastha, Ashtamurti, Prithivi.
Relevant text
Search found 255 books and stories containing Five elements, The five elements; (plurals include: Five elementses, The five elementses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Part 7 - Prayer to the Four Gods of the Five Elements < [The history of The Thakaali According to the Thakaali Tradition]
Part 6 - The History of the birth and arrival of Lha Hyawa Rhangjyung < [The history of The Thakaali According to the Thakaali Tradition]
Part 5 - The History of the Origin of the Earth < [The history of The Thakaali According to the Thakaali Tradition]
The concept of Creation in the Major Upanisads (by C. Poulose)
9. The Process of Pancikarana < [Chapter 4 - Concept of Creation in the Major Upanishads]
3. The Subtle Body (suksma-sarira) < [Chapter 4 - Concept of Creation in the Major Upanishads]
9. Concept of Creation in the Sankhya System < [Chapter 3 - Concept of Creation]
Animal Kingdom (Tiryak) in Epics (by Saranya P.S)
An Exploration of the Cultural Landscape Model of Zhuge Village < [Volume 10, Issue 9 (2018)]
Interpreting the Inheritance Mechanism of the Wu Yue Sacred Mountains in... < [Volume 10, Issue 7 (2018)]
A Study on the Public Landscape Order of Xinye Village < [Volume 11, Issue 3 (2019)]
Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata (by Shini M.V.)
The creation of Mahābhūtas (five main elements) < [Chapter 4 - Sāṃkhya thoughts in the Śānti-parva of Mahābhārata]
The Mahābhūtas (five main elements)—Introduction < [Chapter 4 - Sāṃkhya thoughts in the Śānti-parva of Mahābhārata]
Yājñavalkya king Janaka Saṃvāda < [Chapter 3 - The Philosophical Tenets in the Śānti-parva]
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 7 - Account of the Body < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
Chapter 64 - Mātali’s Discourse on Old Age < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
Chapter 71 - Identity of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
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