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!
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?
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" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
with metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
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.
