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Dissolution of the elements

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:15 am
by PadmaVonSamba
Earth, water, fire, and air are terms used to describe the dissolution of the body towards the time of death.
I’m curious about whether the “fire” element is even regarded as part of the composition of cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, fish, and amphibians.
Any thoughts on this?

Re: Dissolution of the elements

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:28 am
by FiveSkandhas
Well, according to this character, if you scroll past the Hinduism to the Buddhism section...:

https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/mahabhuta
. Fire element (teja-dhātu)
Internal- fire elements include those bodily mechanisms that produce physical warmth, ageing, digestion, etc.
Presumably even if they don't "produce physical warmth," the creatures in question experience ageing and digestion...and then there is the ever-enigmatic "etc" category.

Re: Dissolution of the elements

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:53 am
by Malcolm
PadmaVonSamba wrote: Tue Nov 10, 2020 1:15 am Earth, water, fire, and air are terms used to describe the dissolution of the body towards the time of death.
I’m curious about whether the “fire” element is even regarded as part of the composition of cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, fish, and amphibians.
Any thoughts on this?
Metabolism.

Re: Dissolution of the elements

Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2020 6:25 am
by PadmaVonSamba
Thanks. That’s kind of what I was wondering, the extent of functions suggested by “fire” element.