Restoring Soul's Original Components in Reverse Order
In various spiritual traditions, such as Vedanta, Buddhism, and Jainism, the philosophy that the soul uses the five elements to manifest reality holds significant importance. These elements - earth, water, fire, air, and space - are considered the fundamental building blocks of the physical universe and the body [1][3].
According to this philosophy, the soul expresses itself in the material world through these elements, which serve as the gross material substrate that shapes our sensory and physical experience, making reality tangible and perceptible. However, the interaction between the five elements and our five senses creates an illusion or limitation, often termed Maya in Vedanta, that masks the soul’s true, limitless nature [3].
To regain the soul's full potential and transcend this illusion, spiritual practices aim to reverse or dissolve the conditioning of the five senses and the five elements. This typically involves recognising the sensory world as impermanent and illusory, turning inward through meditation or yoga, mastering or transcending the functions of the elements, and cultivating knowledge and direct experience of the eternal soul beyond the gross body composed of elements [1][3].
The earth element is of utmost importance in this process, as without it, you cannot transform the understandings of all things back into the five elements. The earth element represents the physical world, but it also symbolises stability, grounding, and nourishment [2]. With the proper foundation (earth element), you are like a tree that is a thousand years old, deeply rooted into the earth.
Water, on the other hand, represents memory, which you need to get out of the now to get your consciousness back and your water element. The human body is mostly water, and it is through this fluid that the soul communicates and experiences the world [2].
The other elements - fire, air, and space - also play crucial roles in this process. Fire represents energy, passion, and transformation. Air symbolises the breath of life, the vitality that sustains us. Space represents the infinite, the void, and the potential for creation [1][3].
In summary, the philosophy holds that reality as perceived is a manifestation of the soul through the five elements. The senses tied to these elements create an illusion that can be reversed or transcended by spiritual discipline, allowing one to regain the soul's full potential - its inherent unity, freedom, and true nature beyond physical form and sensory limitation [1][3]. This concept resonates with multiple traditions and esoteric systems, echoing the teachings of Vedanta, Buddhism, Jainism, and Anthroposophy.
References:
[1] Das, S. (2016). The Five Elements: Understanding the Pancha Mahabhutas. Speaking Tree. [Online] Available at: https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/the-five-elements-understanding-the-pancha-mahabhutas/vid-223649
[2] Steiner, R. (1918). Theosophy: An Introduction. Rudolf Steiner Press.
[3] Zimmer, H. (1951). Philosophies of India. Princeton University Press.
- The earth element, underpinned by stability and nourishment, forms the foundation for transforming understandings of all things, akin to a deeply rooted tree that transcends the illusion created by the interaction between the five elements and our senses.
- Water, embodying memory, is crucial for escaping the present moment, enabling one to escape the illusion and regain their consciousness, connecting with their water element.
- Fire, symbolizing energy, passion, and transformation, along with air and space, plays pivotal roles in the process of recovering the soul's full potential.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health, such spiritual practices encourage individuals to dissolve the conditioning of the senses and elements, cultivating an understanding of their true nature beyond physical limitations.
- The universal applicability of this philosophy can be observed across various spiritual traditions, from Vedanta and Buddhism to Jainism and Anthroposophy, and even echoes the teachings of environmental-science regarding climate-change and the interconnectedness of all life forms.
