Page "Classical element" Paragraph 6

The Buddha's teaching regarding the four elements is to be understood as the base of all observation of real sensations rather than as a philosophy.

The four properties are cohesion ( water ), solidity or inertia ( earth ), expansion or vibration ( air ) and heat or energy content ( fire ).

He promulgated a categorization of mind and matter as composed of eight types of " kalapas " of which the four elements are primary and a secondary group of four are color, smell, taste, and nutriment which are derivative from the four primaries.