All kinds of attachment to the worldly realm are known as the Mara matters. In the Shastra of Crossing over with Great Wisdom, the following explanations are given:
The first kind of Mara matters refer to our playful jokes, playful words, singing and dancing, looking at people evilly. These activities arise from a mind of greed.
Secondly, the Mara matters involved the tying up of living beings, beating them up in interrogation, poking them, cutting them up, chopping them and torturing them cruelly. All these arise from an angry mind.
Thirdly, self -mortification such as burning the body or lying on ice, starving, pulling off one’s hair, entering the fire, cliff jumping or jumping into an abyss. All these actions arise from a deluded mind.
The four types of Maras refer to
- The Mara of afflictions
- The Mara of skandhas
- The Mara of death
- The Heavenly Mara from the Heaven of Ease in transforming others’ bliss
All the desires, bondages are known as the Mara.
A cultivator who arrives at the practice of the Bodhisattva Path will be able to break down the Mara of Affliction.
A cultivator who attains the Dharma Nature Body will break down the Mara of Skandhas.
A cultivator who attains the path and the Dharma Nature Body will break down the Mara of death.
A cultivator who often dwells in a single-minded state, who has no attachment or who arrives at the Unmoving Samadhi will see through the Heavenly Mara from the Heaven of Ease in transforming others’ bliss.
In the Mixed Stores Sutra, the Buddha explains in details on the Mara of desire.
A question was put forward to the Buddha, ‘What is meant by Mara?’
The Buddha answered, ‘He is able to rob you of your wisdom life. He breaks down your merits and virtues in cultivating the path so that you will have no more goodness.’
And the Buddha spoke in verses to explain the armies of the Mara. He said to the Mara King,
‘Desire is your first army.
Worries and anxiety the second army,
The third army is hunger and thirst,
The fourth army is loving desire.
Sleeping is your fifth army
And terror and fear the sixth army.
The seventh army is suspicion
While the poisonous content the eighth army.
The ninth army is money and benefits,
And the attachment to false names and fame.
The tenth army is arrogance
Who loves to slight others.
These are your armies.
All the worldly men,
And all the heavenly beings
Are unable to destroy them
I equip myself with the arrow of wisdom
Cultivating concentration
And with the strength of wisdom
I am able to destroy your Mara armies.
Just the way a broken vase is unable to hold any water.
I single-minded cultivate wisdom,
So as to cross over all living beings
My disciples are hardworking and diligent
Even though you do not wish to let go of them
They are able to arrive at a state
Which is unattainable by you.’
On listening to this, the Mara King was filled with worries and anxieties. He left quickly. His retinues also retreated and disappeared.
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