'byung ba bzhi

four elements [earth water, fire and air] sa, chu, me, rlung] [IW]

the four bonds, [Syn. rba rlabs bzhi, zag pa bzhi [RY]

the four bonds [IW]

four elements [JV]

the four elements. Four Elements. Earth, water, fire and air [RY]

four sources DKC

Discussion

The four sources are earth, water, fire and air. According to Wangchuk Dorje: "From beginningless time they have never been known not to arise, and they are the source which makes the form of the result arise, so they are called sources. They are the greatest of the causes of the form of the result, and they are the greater part of their actions, so they are great. As they hold their own characteristics and the form of the result, they are called dhātu or elements."

In the literature, earth, water, fire and air are called both elements (khams or dhatu) and sources ( 'byung ba). Using the word sources, while not common in English, does prevent confusion with other uses of the word elements. However, since this use is not idiomatic in English, it is best reserved for technical situations. DKC