We all have that very precious person in our life. That one person, who the universe put in our lives specifically to... ...test every thread of our patience. They are unavoidable. They are always poking, prodding and agitating. And often times, they are a direct reflection of our own inner demons. This person is your own personal mara. And believe it or not, they just might be your greatest teacher. The Many Faces of MaraThe Maras are a very old and widespread teaching in eastern religions and philosophies. Sometimes, Maras are personified into mythic characters like demonic tricksters and agitators, other times, the Maras are presented as simply philosophical tenets, guiding creeds of wisdom to help us understand our own inner tricksters and agitators. Like many teachings this old, there are many different and complex interpretations of the Maras. Zen teacher Lynn Jnana Sipe points out in "Reflections on Mara" that the notion of a trickster being responsible for disillusionment is found in Vedic Brahmanic mythological traditions and also in non-Brahmanic traditions. In other words, every religion in India seems to have had a character like Mara in its myths. In all of these tales, overcoming the mara was essential in our path. Shiva, the god of destruction had a mara. Even the Buddha has his own agitating mara. See? We are in good company. First, lets read about the 4 Maras in Buddhist Philosophy and then, learn more about their personified characters in eastern mythology. The Maras in Buddhist Teachings: |
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