How are the four great elements perceived in taste(jivha)?

On the cultivation of insight/wisdom
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Dhammapardon
Posts: 373
Joined: Mon May 09, 2022 12:11 am

How are the four great elements perceived in taste(jivha)?

Post by Dhammapardon »

Hello,

When I try to examine through the four great elements in taste-consciousness(jivha-vinnana), it all becomes body(kaya). One wouldn't call pressure on the eyeball or hot and cold on the eyeball same as eye sight. Where are the four elements in taste(jivha)?

Is spicy food fire element?

:anjali:
Just as a bird, wherever it goes, flies with its wings as its only burden; so too is he content with a set of robes to provide for his body and almsfood to provide for his hunger. Wherever he goes, he takes only his barest necessities along. This is how a monk is content.(DN11)
pegembara
Posts: 3465
Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:39 am

Re: How are the four great elements perceived in taste(jivha)?

Post by pegembara »

When swallowing the saliva, you notice the hardness of 'the teeth'(earth), the wetness of 'the saliva'(water), the movements of the tongue, and throat(air), and the warmth of the mouth(heat). These are sensations of the 'body' in and of itself.

Smells and tastes don't seem to be part of the 'body' and don't fall under the category imo.
Just as sights and sounds are not.

Spicy food is 'external' to the 'body' and also not under the elements.
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.
Dhammapardon
Posts: 373
Joined: Mon May 09, 2022 12:11 am

Re: How are the four great elements perceived in taste(jivha)?

Post by Dhammapardon »

pegembara wrote: Sun May 28, 2023 2:30 am When swallowing the saliva, you notice the hardness of 'the teeth'(earth), the wetness of 'the saliva'(water), the movements of the tongue, and throat(air), and the warmth of the mouth(heat). These are sensations of the 'body' in and of itself.

Smells and tastes don't seem to be part of the 'body' and don't fall under the category imo.
Just as sights and sounds are not.

Spicy food is 'external' to the 'body' and also not under the elements.
Its interesting. I got so used to looking at the body through the sense basis it didn't occur to me they could be largely overlapping but different concepts. Very helpful observation, thanks.
Just as a bird, wherever it goes, flies with its wings as its only burden; so too is he content with a set of robes to provide for his body and almsfood to provide for his hunger. Wherever he goes, he takes only his barest necessities along. This is how a monk is content.(DN11)
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