The Dissolution of the Elements

Substantial manifestation begins in the subtle, non-physical dimension of the elements and moves toward grosser manifestation. This is the creative process by which things and entities arise.

The death process, described in the prayer at the front of this book, moves in the reverse direction, from substantial to insubstantial.

In each stage of death, dictated by the dissolution of the internal elements, there are particular physical and visionary phenomena experienced by the dying person.

These correlate to the energy of the earth element dissolving in water, water in fire, fire in air, air in space.

Tantric practitioners regularly train in the death process so that when death occurs they can (1) find the path through it, (2) maintain awareness, and (3) fully realize the practice.

This process of dissolution is not only related to death, but also to the processes of sleeping and waking. Just as death can, for the prepared practitioner, reveal what is unchanging and unborn, so can the dissolution of the elements in experience lead to the realization that what fundamentally exists is space and pure light

Source: Wangyal, Tenzin Rinpoche. Healing with Form, Energy and Light: The Five Elements in Tibetan Shamanism, Tantra, and Dzogchen. Boston, Massachusetts: Snow Lion, 2002.