Your research of the Five Elements has barely scratched the surface. The description of the Five Elements that include metal and wood are from the chinese philosophy.
Samartha Ramdas gives a very nice overview of the Five Elements from the point of view of the Vedic philosophy from which Ayurveda is derived. http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=325&uid=113690818646639 Whatever has happened, nothing has happened. What other purpose could advaita have that of the Self knowing itself? If the Self doesn't care to know itself, who cares?
