What is Fluidity in any Cluster of Form?
The Blessed
Buddha
once explained:
What is this cluster of Form (rūpa-khandha)=
[literally 'group that can break up']?
It is just these 4 primary elements,
and all the forms derived from them...
What are these 4 Primary Elements (mahā-bhūta)
= [literally 'great processes']?
These 4 Primary Elements
(=~ Qualities =~
Qualia) are:
1: The
Qualia
of
Solidity... (pathavī-dhātu)
= [literally 'earth-like' property]
2:
The
Qualia
of
Fluidity... (āpo-dhātu)
= [literally 'water-like' property]
3:
The
Qualia
of
Heat... (tejo-dhātu)
= [literally 'fire-like' property]
4:
The
Qualia
of
Motion... (vāyo-dhātu)
=
[literally 'wind-like' property]
What, now, is the element of
fluidity? The element of fluidity may be one's own and internal,
or it may be external. And what is one's own inner
element of fluidity? Whatever in one's own
body there is of kammically
created liquidity or fluidity, such as bile, lymph, pus, blood, sweat,
fat,
tears, skin grease, spit, snot, oil of the joints, and urine: This is one's own
internal element
of fluidity. However, whether it be one's own internal
element of fluidity, or whether it be the
external element of fluidity,
such as oceans and rivers, they are both merely the same element
of fluidity...
One should understand, according to the utter reality
and true Wisdom:
This does not belong to me! This I am not! This is not my self!
This is a not compact substance.
One may add:
This mind-like conceptual
experience of fluidity is not a 'matter-like thing
out there...'
This quality is not lasting, this is not a real substance, this is thus not
stable or safe...
This ephemeral is not pleasure, this
fluidity is not happiness, this
quality is also suffering...
Seeing this analytic
break-up of fluidity induces releasing disillusion with even very
attractive forms
of form... Whether own or other, internal or external, whether alive or
dead,
whether present or not...
Comment:
The 4 Primary Elements are not 'real substances out there', but
more
realistically:
Experienced qualities or properties appearing 'in here'... They are manifestations of form,
and not lasting 'substantial entities'!
Their 'material' appearances depending on the level
of observation:
Macroscopic Fluidity is a mere manifestation of microscopic cohesion!
In all forms of materiality coexists all
the 4 primary elements in different degrees.
In water, the element of fluidity is domination at ambient temperature. But the
element
of heat, solidity and motion is also there. The solidity in
water is felt when splashing it.
When frozen into ice, the solidity element becomes the dominant aspect,
while the fluidity
heat and element is diminished.
In stone, the element of solidity is domination at ambient
temperature.
When melted into lava, the fluidity element becomes the main feature...
In forceful wind the element (~qualia) of motion dominates
over the 3 other qualities.
On these 4 Primary
Elements (mahā-bhūta):
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Solidity.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Fluidity.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What
_is_Heat.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/What_is_Motion.htm
Source (edited extract):
The Middle Length Sayings of the Buddha.
Majjhima Nikāya. MN 28.
Mahā-hatthipadopama Sutta: The Great Elephant Footprint Simile:
Splendid Book:
https://store.pariyatti.org/Middle-Length-Discourses-of-the-Buddha_p_1543.html
Text:
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.028.than.html
