Five elements: 3 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Yoga
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
2. General definition
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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)

: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

The Five Elements are denoted by the Sanskrit term Pa帽cabh奴ta, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.鈥擜ccordingly, as 莫艣vara says to V膩madeva: 鈥淸...] [Now], I will teach the practice of that, which produces absorption. [...] Having abandoned the thought that the universe exists of five elements (辫补帽肠补产丑奴迟补); that the body consists of five elements; and that everything consists of the elements, cultivate the thought, 鈥榌everything consisting of the elements] does not exist鈥�. [...]鈥�.

context information

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 膩sanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

The Five Elements (in Indo-Tibetan tradition) are known in Tibetan as 'byung ba lnga.鈥擜ccordingly, S膩峁僰hyas assert definitively that all objects of knowledge are enumerated into twenty-five: (1) the principal, (2) the great, (3) the I-principle, (4鈥�8) the five sense objects, (9鈥�13) the five elements, (14鈥�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 鈥� as aggregate composites 鈥� 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.

context information

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鈥檚 words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (惫补箩谤补测腻苍补) are collected indepently.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Five Elements:鈥擜 technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit 尘补丑腻产丑奴迟补 defined in the Dharma-sa峁僩raha (section 39):

Earth (辫峁泃丑惫墨),
Water (腻辫补蝉),
Fire (tejas),
Wind (惫腻测耻),
Space (腻办腻艣补).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., 鈥榝ive elements鈥�). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Relevant text

Search found 234 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:

Chapter 2.1 - Genesis of the universe

Chapter 2.2 - The Trimurtis

Chapter 1.12 - Origin of sciences

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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]

11. Concept of Creation in Nyaya < [Chapter 3 - Concept of Creation]

+ 7 more chapters / show preview

S奴tra 3.44 < [Third Chapter (Vibhuti Pada)]

S奴tra 3.42 < [Third Chapter (Vibhuti Pada)]

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The creation of Mah膩bh奴tas (five main elements) < [Chapter 4 - S膩峁僰hya thoughts in the 艢膩nti-parva of Mah膩bh膩rata]