Which sutta is this?

by **dhamma savaka** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:29 pm

Hi folks,

I remember reading several different retellings of the tale where the Buddha meets up with Mara as an "old friend" and they have tea together. Unfortunately, none of these retellings tells me which sutta this story is found in. I tried googling it but to no avail. I wanted to read the original story (I have the Wisdom Publications' DN, MN, SN, and the AN). Any help would be much appreciated!

Metta, :anjali:

Al

by **lojong1** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:34 pm

Buddha (in the 'tea' story): "You think you, [Mara], have trouble with your disciples? Mine put words in my mouth and write them into "sutras" that I have never said."
Could it be?

by **dhamma savaka** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 5:24 am

Hi Lojongm

Yes that is the story! Do you know which sutta it was in?

Metta,

Al

by **perkele** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:05 am

dhamma savaka wrote:Hi Lojongm

Yes that is the story! Do you know which sutta it was in?

Metta,

Al

Are you serious? You are looking for a joke story that is poking fun at the suttas, and you think that you can find that story in the suttas?

:reading:

by **cooran** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:12 am

Hello Logjong1,

It is definitely not from a sutta.

It appears to be just a story from a Mahayana teacher:
Mara Comes for Tea - Retold from Thich Nhat Hanh's Heart of Understanding
http://voices.yahoo.com/mara-comes-tea- ... tml?cat=34

with metta
Chris

by **dhamma savaka** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:01 am

Hi,

I know this "story" appears in Jack Kornfield's "After the Ecstasy, the Laundry" as well as Thich Nhat Hanh's "Heart of Understanding" but I'm also sure that a Theravada monk who visited my city in the past year (or two) had also brought up this story. Of course, it could just be a story, but I don't see it as a joke story that is poking fun at the suttas (though it can appear funny) but instead has a powerful message about the things we learn from our "enemies"....and that we should welcome our enemies. Seeing how I've come across other suttas that might seem "crazy" or "ridiculous", I did not reject the possibility of this story being found in the suttas. I've also read from various sources about the numerous other times that Mara tries to tempt/"visits" the Buddha.

Metta,

Al

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