Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (17)

The situation when the earth element perishes

Original text: 大王。又此地界。欲坏灭时。或为火焚。或为水漂。或为风吹。譬然酥油。其焰炽盛。乃至灰烬。不复可见。若为水漂。犹如以盐。投于水中。须臾消散。若为毗岚。猛风所吹。彼时三千大千世界。悉皆散坏。净尽无余。

Explanation: The Buddha said: Great King, when the earth element is about to perish, it may be burned by great fire, submerged by great water, or blown apart by great wind. When the earth element is burned by great fire, it is like the lighting of a ghee lamp: the flame blazes fiercely until the ghee is completely burned up, leaving not even ashes to be seen. When the earth element is swept away by great water, it is like salt thrown into water—in a moment it dissolves and disappears. When the earth element is destroyed by the fierce virūḍhaka wind, the entire trichiliocosm (three-thousandfold great world) at that time completely disintegrates, utterly clean and gone, with nothing remaining to exist.