Contemplating the Elements - Contemplating Not Self

“Now both the internal earth element and the external earth element are simply earth element. And that should be seen as it actually is with proper wisdom thus: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’ When one sees it thus as it actually is with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the earth element and makes the mind dispassionate towards the earth element.

Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, MN 140 (Wisdom Publications, 2009).

In ‘The Discourse on the Elements,’ the Buddha teaches a practice for contemplating the body in the light of its composition. We are guided to reflect on the body as composed of earth, water, fire, wind and space. After each element is explored, we are further guided to see that the presence of these elements in the body do not constitute a basis for constructing a sense of the body being an enduring ‘something’ that belongs to me or is me or composes a part of me.

This guided reflection by Dharma Friends Community Guiding Teacher, Callie Justice, is intended to help with developing mindfulness of the body that is grounded in attunement to the body as being simply earth, water, fire and wind.