bem po

matter. DKC

dead matter, physical organ, matter, external, inanimates, old, box, SA bem [JV]

1) inert/ inanimate matter; lifeless; material substance, dead matter inanimate, [Syn gzugs def. rdul du grub pa. the physical body; material things 2) pestilential disease [RY]

gross material object [ggd] [RY]

matter [thd]

matter, inanimate, inanimate matter [RY]

1) inanimate/ mindless/ lifeless [things]; 2) thick bed clothes/ blankets built up from many patches; 3) existing as particles; 4) Material substance; 5) a pestilential disease; 7) physical body [IW]

inert/ inanimate matter; lifeless [RB]

Discussion

matter. Established as particles. Equivalent to form. One of the three classifications of things, along with mind and non-concurrent formations. Note that matter is not necessarily lifeless nor dead: your physical body is, after all, matter (bem po), but if you can read this one would assume it were neither lifeless nor dead.

In the expression bem stong, however, it is appropriate to translate bem as inanimate because that fits the meaning in that context. DKC