Friends,
I encountered more than once reports that for meditators who try to go beyond the sensual realm, Mara tries to bribe them out of the fear of losing a customer. Usually, this is associated with having an object of desire appearing at one's "door steps".
The above does not have to be confined to the lenses of Buddhist cosmology. It is noticeable that the more we renounce the world, the more it becomes rewarding. I personally interpret it as strange coincidences.
How does the above work? have any members here encountered Mara's bribes? It is also said that he can get violent. Any experiences that can be shared in that regard?
Thank you
Mara's bribes
Mara's bribes
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
- JamesTheGiant
- Posts: 2147
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- Location: New Zealand
Re: Mara's bribes
On retreats and stays at monasteries, usually there's very gorgeous and single Buddhist women there too, whom I inevitably fall in love with. I suspect it's all been arranged by Mara to tempt us both!
Re: Mara's bribes
A lot of talks about Mara. But has anyone encounter the manifestation of him as a physical being?
Re: Mara's bribes
This reminded me of Ajahn Chah who was staying at a monastery and then a regular female visitor, a divorced woman as i remember, started sending her son to talk to the venerable. It is said that the venerable left the monastery without looking back.JamesTheGiant wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 3:16 am On retreats and stays at monasteries, usually there's very gorgeous and single Buddhist women there too, whom I inevitably fall in love with. I suspect it's all been arranged by Mara to tempt us both!
But Mara's bribes sounds to be more radical than that. While Mara sending his daughters is quite symbolic, in the heavenly realms below where Mara resides there are Devas capable of creation through the power of their imaginations. Maybe within the echelons in kamma loka, higher realms seems to coincide with mind over matter. Maybe such abilities or psychic powers can seduce meditators to use them for worldly pursuits rather than liberation.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
Re: Mara's bribes
This happened to me many years ago, and towards the end of the retreat, our eyes often met. We both...knew. We were waiting excitedly for the end when noble silence would end, we could chat, and then...maybe....JamesTheGiant wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 3:16 am On retreats and stays at monasteries, usually there's very gorgeous and single Buddhist women there too, whom I inevitably fall in love with. I suspect it's all been arranged by Mara to tempt us both!
When we did finally get to chat, I found her to have a truly appalling personality: bigoted, dull, and full of stale clichés. I don't suppose she found me any more alluring. Had we exchanged phone numbers, I would have thrown my phone away and got a new number.
That's one of the retreats where I learnt a lot of Dhamma.
Re: Mara's bribes
I personally have not, but i think the personification of deities serves as an antidote to the dogmas of Abrahamic religions.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
Re: Mara's bribes
When I was meditating many years ago my mind started to get clearer and more relaxed I could sense a deeper state to my mindfulness was about to happen and then an image of a naked woman came into my mind to distract my meditation. I also believe there is some kind of angry yakkha, Mara or demoness living in my back. I can feel it's darkness in the body. it makes me physically shake my head side to side as if saying no get out positive thought, this happens sometimes when I think positive thoughts.
Take care of mindfulness and mindfulness will take care of you.
Re: Mara's bribes
My friend has similar experience.befriend wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 1:43 pm When I was meditating many years ago my mind started to get clearer and more relaxed I could sense a deeper state to my mindfulness was about to happen and then an image of a naked woman came into my mind to distract my meditation. I also believe there is some kind of angry yakkha, Mara or demoness living in my back. I can feel it's darkness in the body. it makes me physically shake my head side to side as if saying no get out positive thought, this happens sometimes when I think positive thoughts.
Re: Mara's bribes
As one of my Ajahns said : when Mara see that a practitioner becomes serious about renounciation he sends to him a perfect job, perfect woman, perfect friends...
In some way Mara is similar to the well-intentionned but over-protective mother who cincerely tryes to protect his child from going outside and gives him all toys he wants only to prevent him to go out... If toys dont help she tell him frightening stories...
In some way Mara is similar to the well-intentionned but over-protective mother who cincerely tryes to protect his child from going outside and gives him all toys he wants only to prevent him to go out... If toys dont help she tell him frightening stories...
We don't live Samsara, Samsara is living us...
"Form, feelings, perceptions, formations, consciousness - don't care about us, we don't exist for them"
"Form, feelings, perceptions, formations, consciousness - don't care about us, we don't exist for them"
Re: Mara's bribes
Seeing things what affect body. Dependent on the content, relevant organ or body part is affected. So far that can be verified by anyone.befriend wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 1:43 pm When I was meditating many years ago my mind started to get clearer and more relaxed I could sense a deeper state to my mindfulness was about to happen and then an image of a naked woman came into my mind to distract my meditation. I also believe there is some kind of angry yakkha, Mara or demoness living in my back. I can feel it's darkness in the body. it makes me physically shake my head side to side as if saying no get out positive thought, this happens sometimes when I think positive thoughts.
Affect is strong and causes physical manifestation, but when mind or body gets stronger the affect won't manifest. Instead there is a sign what can be mentally apprehended, which then give arise to another sign what is bodily affect and that sign can be ceased and what left is the real thing.
But that above can't be done if the sign isn't acquired prior. And for majority it is physical requirement, because its the real thing. I have followed debates if the things you do in games are real or not, there are people who tell they are not. Then these people need physical activities real. Simple deductions, take it with salt.
Re: Mara's bribes
when you recognize the mara, it goes away.Bundokji wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 1:14 am Friends,
I encountered more than once reports that for meditators who try to go beyond the sensual realm, Mara tries to bribe them out of the fear of losing a customer. Usually, this is associated with having an object of desire appearing at one's "door steps".
Perhaps you have to reply in a way that the mara would understand that you recognized him:https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn05/sn05.010.bodh.html?msclkid=8f693421b9c111ecb8064a6c85cb3400 wrote:Then Mara the Evil One, realizing, "The bhikkhuni Vajira knows me," sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.
its like a puzzle. Could just refer to how one would attain concentration after Mara is recognized and defeated, going above the Mara's territory this way.wrote:Then the bhikkhuni Vajira, having understood, "This is Mara the Evil One," replied to him in verses:
Re: Mara's bribes
I heard before a few Chinese Buddhists telling me after they accepted the three refuges, for a few months they have some scary encounters relating to Mara and his demons. I personally do not believe these stories.
Re: Mara's bribes
As part of Mara's playbook, he usually sends the carrot first before giving the stick. Just like he first sent his three beautiful daughters to the Buddha before sending his army. That's why most of the time, a bhikkhu returns to lay life not due to some terrible hardships but because of some young voluptuous woman.form wrote:I heard before a few Chinese Buddhists telling me after they accepted the three refuges, for a few months they have some scary encounters relating to Mara and his demons. I personally do not believe these stories.
Re: Mara's bribes
Four out of five Māras are metaphorical. The one you seem to be singling out is the "Māra of afflictions," particularly of the affliction of greed. Certainly Māra "personally" might trouble some great contenplatives, but most often the fall comes from within, from one of the metaphorical Māras, such as the Māra of the Khandhas or Kilesas. I don't know if the "five Māras" is sūtric, commentarial, or abhidharmic. I don't think I've seen them outlined as such in a sutta or āgamasūtra, but my memory might be failing me. Māra metaphorically sends his daughters and armies after all Buddhists as a "Māra of the Conditioned."Bundokji wrote: ↑Mon Apr 11, 2022 1:14 am Friends,
I encountered more than once reports that for meditators who try to go beyond the sensual realm, Mara tries to bribe them out of the fear of losing a customer. Usually, this is associated with having an object of desire appearing at one's "door steps".
Last edited by Coëmgenu on Wed Apr 13, 2022 3:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
What is the Uncreated?
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.