The wood pile is mostly earth element, and I'm not sure that sutta means what you think it means.Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:36 amI see no reason why the 4 mahabhuta are treated in anyway different from all the other elements. As shown previously, the grammar indicates that they are qualities to be experienced as do other suttas (the wood pile). The wood pile is no more made out of earth, water, fire and air (does that even make sense?) than it is out of the beauty or ugly element. As I say, your interpretation is quite at odds with the Buddha’s own epistemology.Spiny Norman wrote: ↑Tue Jun 15, 2021 8:08 amPerhaps, but this doesn't mean that the mahabhuta are qualities of experience.Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 15, 2021 7:18 am It’s worth noting that the elements (dhatu) in general aren’t physical “things” but are qualities of experience. For example, apart from the 4 elements there is the pleasure element or the element of exertion and so on. They aren’t talking about what stuff makes up things, but aspects of direct experience. Empiricism, not Rationalism.
What we experience is form derived from the mahabhuta.
Anyway, could you clarify exactly what is experienced with your interpretation?
Is it:
1. The mahabhuta.
2. Form derived from the mahabhuta (rupa).
3. Sense-objects (external ayatana).
4. Something else.