I’ve not been active here for a while because I’ve been deeply involved in supporting the Wildmind community. Our supporters contribute monthly to help me continue exploring and teaching meditation and Buddhism. This article is a condensed version of some writings I created for them. If you enjoy this and wish to support Wildmind, you can find out more about the benefits we offer to sponsors.
I’d like to introduce you to a transformative practice I’ve developed over the years. Have you heard of Māra from Buddhist mythology? He’s often described as having conversations with the Buddha and his monks and nuns, always being recognized and then disappearing.
Māra appears in various forms, sometimes as a demon in art, but scriptures often depict him as a charming young man, smart and persuasive. The name Māra comes from the Sanskrit root “mṛ”, meaning death and destruction, which is also the origin of words like “mortality” and “murder”. Māra symbolizes the forces that destroy spiritual practice and peace.
In Buddhist texts, Māra tries to distract spiritual practitioners, including the Buddha, by tempting, scaring, or distracting them. He can appear as a young man, a fearful animal like a snake, or create physical disturbances like throwing boulders or making loud noises. Despite his many tricks, Māra never physically harms anyone, suggesting he’s more of a psychological projection.
Recognizing Māra makes him vanish. For instance, Māra once tried to scare the meditating nun Uppalavaṇṇā with threats of assault. She saw through him and he disappeared, demonstrating how mindfulness can dispel unskillful thoughts.
I’ve adopted this practice myself. When I’m feeling annoyed, despondent, or anxious, recognizing Māra by saying “I see you, Māra,” breaks his spell and restores my calm and balance. I recommend trying it. When you’re caught in negative emotions, observe your thoughts and feelings, then acknowledge them with “I see you, Māra”. Recognize these distracting forces and refuse to let them unsettle you.
Another aspect of this practice is appreciating how clever Māra’s tricks are. Whenever you notice his tricks, you might say, “Nice try, Māra!” This shows you’re onto his games and refuse to be manipulated. You can admire the convincing nature of these tricks that lead you to anger, fear, or frustration. It’s like watching a movie with excellent special effects—you know it’s not real, but it still feels compelling.
Appreciating Māra’s work is powerful because appreciation itself is a positive state of mind. Recognizing his tricks as illusions helps reinforce your detachment from these deceptive emotions. The Buddha often compared our perceptions and emotions to illusions, like foam, bubbles, mirages, or magic tricks, emphasizing their lack of substance.
Seeing these reactions as illusions helps us disengage from them and find peace. This practice allows me to admire Māra’s tricks as just that—tricks. Recently, I woke from an anxious dream about a dystopian future but quickly recognized and praised Māra’s convincing special effects. Acknowledging these reactions as illusory brought me peace, and I soon fell back asleep.
I suggest that whenever you feel upset or know you’re suffering, recognize Māra at work. Appreciate his convincing tricks but also offer compassion to him and yourself. This conscious practice helps dissolve the power of these negative emotions.
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