It’s been a while since I last posted here. Most of my time and effort are spent on supporting Wildmind’s community—individuals who contribute financially each month to help me delve into and teach meditation and Buddhism. The content of this article comes from some things I’ve written for them. If you find this piece interesting and want to support Wildmind, you can check out the benefits our sponsors receive by visiting our page.
I want to share a practice that has been incredibly transformative for me over the years.
Have you heard of Māra? He’s a character in Buddhist mythology, often depicted having conversations with the Buddha and his followers. These exchanges always end with Māra being recognized, at which point he disappears.
Māra is sometimes shown as a demon in art, but in the scriptures, he appears as a handsome young man, often dressed royally and holding a lute. This portrayal suggests that Māra is both clever and manipulative.
The name Māra originates from the Sanskrit root “mṛ,” which means death and destruction. This is also where we get words like “mortality” and “murder.” Māra represents the destruction of spiritual practice and the demise of peace and joy.
In scriptures, Māra appears to spiritual practitioners, including the Buddha, trying to lure them away from their practices, distract them, or instill fear. He can show up as a young man or a menacing animal, like a snake or wild ox. He can create terrifying illusions, like throwing boulders down a mountainside or making loud, distracting noises. He can even cause unpleasant physical sensations. However, he never physically harms anyone, suggesting that even the earliest Buddhists viewed Māra as a mental projection.
If you recognize Māra, he vanishes. For instance, Māra once tried to scare a nun named Uppalavaṇṇā by implying she might be sexually assaulted. She saw through his trick and remained unafraid, causing Māra to disappear. This moment underscores how mindfulness can dispel unhelpful thoughts.
This recognition of Māra has become my practice. Whenever I feel annoyed, despondent, impatient, or anxious, simply saying, “I see you, Māra,” helps me regain a sense of calm and balance. It’s about acknowledging that Māra is trying to trick me.
I recommend trying this practice. Whenever you’re upset or caught in negative emotions, observe your thoughts and feelings. Then say, “I see you, Māra.” Understand that these forces are trying to disrupt your peace and refuse to be misled by them.
Another crucial aspect of this practice is appreciating how clever Māra’s tricks are. Emotions that lead to suffering are signals that Māra is at play, even mild distractions in meditation.
Instead of just saying, “I see you, Māra,” you might say, “Nice try, Māra!” This acknowledges how convincing these inner disruptions can be. You can marvel at how realistic Māra’s tricks are, just like the special effects in a movie. Feelings like despondency, anxiety, and anger are powerful and vivid, making it seem like you have to act on them.
By admiring Māra’s tricks, you cultivate appreciation—a skillful state of mind—even if what you’re appreciating isn’t inherently good. This helps reinforce your freedom from Māra’s illusions. Furthermore, you’re recognizing these thoughts and feelings as delusions, which is liberating.
The Buddha taught that form, feelings, perceptions, emotions, and consciousness are illusion-like phenomena. These are known as the “five skandhas (aggregates).” They arise only as patterns of sensation caused by the firing of neurons, so there’s no need to be scared by them.
In other teachings, the Buddha equates these skandhas with Māra, suggesting that recognizing their illusory nature helps us disengage from reactivity and find peace.
Recently, I woke up from an anxious dream where the US had turned into a fascist state. I recognized Māra and admired how convincing the dream and its accompanying anxiety were. Acknowledging this helped me return to a state of calm, and I soon fell back to sleep peacefully.
Next time you feel distressed, recognize that Māra is at work. Appreciate how convincing his attempts are to make you suffer, and extend compassion to yourself and these inner forces. This practice can bring immediate and profound relief.
If you found this helpful and want more insights, please look into supporting Wildmind’s Meditation Initiative.