I am haunted by a demon a ghost. At times it is a major inconvenience to life and to practice.
The only ways I know of to confront them directly require a high level attainment - such as entering the spirit body after 4th jhana.
The only practice I've found in the suttas about how to deal with this is metta. Metta doesn't work. The only other theravada approach is equanimity about being haunted. This is a non-ideal solution.
Does anyone have any experience overcoming this problem?
how to deal with demons
Re: how to deal with demons
Can u tell us about your experience?
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Re: how to deal with demons
The occasion for this discourse, in brief, according to the commentary, is as follows: The city of Vesali was afflicted by a famine, causing death, especially to the poor folk. Due to the presence of decaying corpses the evil spirits began to haunt the city; this was followed by a pestilence. Plagued by these three fears of famine, non-human beings and pestilence, the citizens sought the help of the Buddha who was then living at Rajagaha.
Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse
Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse
Last edited by cappuccino on Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:11 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: how to deal with demons
Sorry to hear of your trouble, friend. I strongly advise you to speak to a ajahn/teacher. These things don't usually get resolved without outside help.
Re: how to deal with demons
To haunt another person is an immoral or evil deed; similar to harassment or rape. To overcome this, look down upon this evil deed, similar to how you would look down upon a rapist or other criminal. If you have high moral standards towards not harming others, your morals should protect you. Also practise recollection of the Buddha. If you accurately recollect the virtuous harmless loving qualities of the Buddha, this will cleanse the demon from your mind. Evil is overcome by goodness. Metta is not required. What is required is goodness & disempowering the demon via not being in awe of the demon.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
Re: how to deal with demons
I have read somewhere about a monk (Mahayana) whom overcome spirit or demon by practising "Emptiness" meditation or base of Nothingness meditation where the demon could not find his whereabouts .squizzlebizzle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:37 am I am haunted by a demon a ghost. At times it is a major inconvenience to life and to practice.
The only ways I know of to confront them directly require a high level attainment - such as entering the spirit body after 4th jhana.
The only practice I've found in the suttas about how to deal with this is metta. Metta doesn't work. The only other theravada approach is equanimity about being haunted. This is a non-ideal solution.
Does anyone have any experience overcoming this problem?
Another solution is find an adept teacher of vajrayana whom accomplished in "wrathful" deity meditation . But , one must has the sincerity , pure motivation , practise virtue and try to follow right path .
You always gain by giving
Re: how to deal with demons
I would avoid the above because you will end up worshipping the demon and be even more enslaved to the demon. The above is not Buddhism. The Buddha & his Noble Disciples vanquished Mara. They did not worship Mara.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
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Re: how to deal with demons
cappuccino wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:41 am The occasion for this discourse, in brief, according to the commentary, is as follows: The city of Vesali was afflicted by a famine, causing death, especially to the poor folk. Due to the presence of decaying corpses the evil spirits began to haunt the city; this was followed by a pestilence. Plagued by these three fears of famine, non-human beings and pestilence, the citizens sought the help of the Buddha who was then living at Rajagaha.
Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse
This was a really interesting sutta, thank you for sharing. But this is the problem: He doesn't say anything about what to do about it.
Re: how to deal with demons
It depends on how one define "Mara" !
If one is Not considering other sects as Buddhism is another thing , however ,
Not necessarily the other sects is to be seen as
demon , perhaps , it seems like Jain , samana , brahmana ie Hinduism and Christianity , even Taoism can lead one to kamaloka rupaloka and arupaloka realm where a person still can practice dhamma .
Last edited by sentinel on Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
You always gain by giving
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Re: how to deal with demons
The one time I met a monk was at a Goenka 10 day vipassana retreat. I tried to tell the monk that I was being disturbed by beings. He essentially said to ignore it, they are just forms. I thought he . would have a more substantial answer but he did not.dharmacorps wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:04 am Sorry to hear of your trouble, friend. I strongly advise you to speak to a ajahn/teacher. These things don't usually get resolved without outside help.
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Re: how to deal with demons
Heruka is a "Wrathful deity." Demons are not Vajrayana deities.James Tan wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:40 amI have read somewhere about a monk (Mahayana) whom overcome spirit or demon by practising "Emptiness" meditation or base of Nothingness meditation where the demon could not find his whereabouts .squizzlebizzle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:37 am I am haunted by a demon a ghost. At times it is a major inconvenience to life and to practice.
The only ways I know of to confront them directly require a high level attainment - such as entering the spirit body after 4th jhana.
The only practice I've found in the suttas about how to deal with this is metta. Metta doesn't work. The only other theravada approach is equanimity about being haunted. This is a non-ideal solution.
Does anyone have any experience overcoming this problem?
Another solution is find an adept teacher of vajrayana whom accomplished in "wrathful" deity meditation . But , one must has the sincerity , pure motivation , practise virtue and try to follow right path .
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- Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2019 12:48 am
Re: how to deal with demons
DooDoot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:20 am To haunt another person is an immoral or evil deed; similar to harassment or rape. To overcome this, look down upon this evil deed, similar to how you would look down upon a rapist or other criminal. If you have high moral standards towards not harming others, your morals should protect you. Also practise recollection of the Buddha. If you accurately recollect the virtuous harmless loving qualities of the Buddha, this will cleanse the demon from your mind. Evil is overcome by goodness. Metta is not required. What is required is goodness & disempowering the demon via not being in awe of the demon.
I apppreciate the sentiment behind this comment but practicing virtue does not decrease the attacks.
Re: how to deal with demons
Agreedsquizzlebizzle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:18 am
Heruka is a "Wrathful deity." Demons are not Vajrayana deities.
You always gain by giving
Re: how to deal with demons
This was a sufficient answer. The "demons" only haunt when the "forms" & "sounds" are construed into "beings" or "selves".squizzlebizzle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:17 amHe essentially said to ignore it, they are just forms.
It helps stop the effects of the attacks. Its like a boxer without defense. If there is no defense, the punches keep hitting. But when there is defense, the attack of punches have no effect.squizzlebizzle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:20 amI apppreciate the sentiment behind this comment but practicing virtue does not decrease the attacks.
Last edited by DooDoot on Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
There is always an official executioner. If you try to take his place, It is like trying to be a master carpenter and cutting wood. If you try to cut wood like a master carpenter, you will only hurt your hand.
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/paticcasamuppada
https://soundcloud.com/doodoot/anapanasati
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Re: how to deal with demons
It's not a sufficient answer. You are also wrong about when they haunt. Maybe you have not experienced it, which is fortunate for you. I recognize that not many people will be able to speak about this, most will just dismiss it. But I thought perhaps there is someone out there who understands this.DooDoot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:21 amThis was a sufficient answer. The demons only haunt when they are construed into "beings" or "selves".squizzlebizzle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:17 amHe essentially said to ignore it, they are just forms.