Elements - Eighteen elements I

ln the Buddha's teachings realities are classified as elements, some of which are rūpa and some of which are nāma. When they are classified as eighteen elements; they are as follows:

The five senses:

1.  eye-element (cakkhu-dhātu)

2.  ear-element (sota-dhātu)

3.  nose-element (ghāna-dhatu)

4.  tongue-element (jivhā-dhātu)

5.  body-element (kāya-dhātu) which is the body-sense

 

The five objects (experienced through the five senses):

6.  visible object-element (rūpa-dhātu)

7.  sound-element (sadda-dhātu)

8.  smell-element (gandha-dhātu)

9.  taste-element (rasa-dhātu)

10.  element of tangible objects (photthabba-dhatu), comprising the following

three kinds of rupa:

      earth-element  (solidity), appearing as hardness or softness

       fire-element  (temperature), appearing as heat or cold

       wind-element, appearing as motion or pressure

  The dvi-pañca-viññānas (experiencing the five sense objects):

11.  seeing-consciousness-element  (cakkhu-viññāna-dhātu)

12.  hearing-consciousness-element (sota-viññāna-adhātu)

13.  smelling-consciousness-element (ghāna-viññāna-dhātu)

14.  tasting-consciousness-element (jivhā-viññāna-dhātu)

15.  body-consciousness-element (kāya-viññāna-dhātu)

 

Three more elements:

16.  mano-dhātu or mind-element

17.  dhamma-dhātu

18.  mano-viññāna-dhātu or mind-consciousness-element