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Summary of Question:	Mind As Life Of 5 Elements??
Category:	Gurbani
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 8/05/2003 8:30 PM MDT

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Hello, and thanks for your time.
I have a question regarding something that I have found in bani.
"ih man panch tat ko jee-o.
This mind is the life of the five elements."
Bhagat Kabeer Ji
Raag Gauree
342
There are many other occasions in which the 5 elements are recognized. But the thing is I cannot comprehend what it is that Bani is refering to when it talks about the five elements. Modern science depicts the universe to be made up of the 4 fundamental forces... gravity, electromagnetic, weak and strong nuclear. In times of old the ancients talked of the 4 elements, air, water, fire, and earth. I could not see how the later would be relevent. And I do not see how the first 4 could be relevent to any reader of the Guru in the old times. SO my questions is how and what are the 5 elements... and how is the mind of life the 5 elements? If you know please tell... thank you

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

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REPLY
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Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
The five elements here refer to: earth, water, fire, air, ether. They are also known as the 5 tattvas. This shabd does NOT refer to the 4 fundamental forces you cite above. It does indeed, however obliquely, reference the 5 elements I just listed. I might add that the verses that come before and after the line you are questioning are ALSO important to the point Kabeer is making.

Each of the elements corresponds to physical body energy centers we know as chakras. (Kabeer was indeed familiar with yogic teachings on chakras.) Earth - > 1st chakra (root of spine; elimination organs); water --> 2nd chakra (sexual organs); fire --> 3rd chakra, navel/solar plexus; air: 4th chakra, heart (lungs in this chakra); ether, 5th chakra, throat.

Kabeer is saying that the activity-- conscious, subconscious, and unconscious-- of the mind influences the activity of the 5 elements and their corresponding chakras. While all the chakras are important to physical functioning, until the mind is controlled, the elements and chakras will not be under one's control. WHen one can subdue the mind (through meditation on the Naam) then one can subdue/control and balance the chakras to serve one's path of enlightenment, rather than being distracted by the chakras or elements themselves. I might add that having all the chakras able to function properly and IN BALANCE is essential for a person to attain this enlightenment.

Enlightenment, yogically speaking, happens at the crown chakra (dasam duar or 10th gate), but enlightenment cannot happen if the other chakras cannot support it energetically. This is why people don't (generally!) attain enlightenment overnight. It is a developmental process.
This was a thoughtful question. Keep studying SGGS! Guru ang sang,
-DKK