The Metal Element

by David Bole, aka Lama Losang

Licensed Acupuncturist, Director of the Traditional Acupuncture Center in Gainesville, Florida, resident teacher (Lama) at Gainesville Karma Thegsum Choling Tibetan Buddhist Meditation, Center, and apprentice teacher with the Tai Chi Foundation.

Crystalline light shines.

A cool breeze blows fallen leaves,

Summer has ended.

                                                     –Lama Losang

Autumn is a time for critical reflection in our lives. It is a time we gather nature’s bounty and reap what we have sown. This is also true in our inner lives. It is an excellent time to contemplate the positive qualities we wish to bring to fruition from seeds previously planted—a time to contemplate virtuous activity that will lead to our happiness and well-being. We can also contemplate, uproot, and weed out those behaviors that do not serve our higher purpose, that lead to suffering for ourselves and others. We can, through our discriminating wisdom, clear away negative habits that do not serve our higher goals and aspirations. This is a time of year that naturally lends itself to taking stock of where we are and establishing an effective strategy for moving forward in our lives by looking inward.

Autumn officially begins on the Fall Equinox, September 22, although the hint of the seasonal change comes well before. This time represents the beginning of the Yin time of the year, when nature begins to slow down its activity in preparation for winter. We see the brilliant colors of fall foliage, the clear blue skies, and feel the cool, dry air that is such a welcome relief from the heat and humidity of summer. We become more introspective and reflective. We begin to slow down and prepare for winter.

The Metal Element also represents our precious, valuable internal qualities. The Chinese character for metal is Jin, the symbol representing the most prized metal, gold. This corresponds to our essential nature and the recognition and understanding of our innate goodness, our Buddha Nature. It presents us with a tremendous opportunity to achieve true and lasting happiness. It is the cultivation of virtue that leads to our sense of self-worth and value, and the highest and best manifestation of who we truly are. The Buddha said that this is how we progress along the spiritual path, and it is the essence of the Metal Element.

The Metal Element is associated with the lungs, as well as with the large intestine. There is much that we can say about all the correspondences associated with this element. Briefly, I would like to point out the emotional connection with the lungs. There are inner and outer factors that affect our well-being. We have, over the centuries, been able to influence the external factors of disease, for example, by controlling the temperatures in our homes and workplaces, etc. However, without training, our emotions are not so easily controlled and can become the underlying factor for our current dis-eases. In traditional Asian medicine, it is taught that our lungs are most affected by grief, sorrow, separation from loved ones, and change.

What we experienced just a few years ago with COVID-19 was devastating in terms of the emotional impact of being separated and cut off from one another. This was an opportunity to see both the fragility of our human condition and to find the strength and wisdom to grow under adverse conditions; to cooperate and work together. This is also the essence of the Metal Element. When out of balance, we become rigid, intolerant, cold, and unyielding. This unbalanced aspect of the Metal Element is what we see right now being acted out on the nightly news. We can see now more than ever how the principles of Tai Chi, at the deepest levels, help to bring about balance and internal strength and integrity. Strength through softness!

There is so much more to say about this precious Metal Element. I will close with a brief description of one of the Six Paramitas or virtues associated with this element for your consideration. In Buddhism, the Bodhisattvas traverse the path to Buddhahood by practicing what are called the Six Paramitas, often translated as the Six Perfections. There is an association with each element and its corresponding quality. The Metal Element is associated with the Perfection of Ethics. This is the enlightened quality of virtuous and ethical behavior, morality, self-discipline, personal integrity, honor, and harmlessness. The essence of this virtue is that through our love and compassion, we do not harm others with our thoughts, speech, or actions. We realize that unethical behavior is always a cause of suffering and unhappiness for ourselves and others. Practicing the perfection of ethics, we free ourselves of this negativity, are at ease, naturally confident, and happy because we are not carrying any underlying guilt or remorse.

We are free, we have nothing to hide.

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