| SURPASSING THE MARA Dharma Talk by Living Buddha Lian Sheng on 31/07/96 |
Today, we shall discuss about the correct view we should have towards Mara. It was mentioned in "The story of Milarepa" that when Milarepa returned to his cave he could feel the presence of a Mara in it. So he used the ordinary ways he had learned to try to expel the Mara. Since some of the Maras have impressive backgrounds, and they may be residing at the various levels of heaven. An ordinary way might not be able to expel them. How then ? Milarepa quickly changed his antidote, he started to sing hymns to praise him, hoping that he will leave peacefully. But all his efforts went to waste. Mara said to himself: "You can't drive me away. I do not accept your praise. What can you do? Obviously, this particular Mara was very powerful. Using both hard and soft approaches, Milarepa still failed to get rid of him. So he just ignored the Mara. But the Mara still stayed put in the cave.Milarepa then decided not to enter into the cave, and went for a stroll. When he returned, the situation remained unchanged. Outwitted, Milarepa suddenly recalled that "Mara is also an illusion." In fact, the whole universe is nothing but an illusion, whichever way we look at it . Milarepa himself has no self-nature, so is the Mara. Applying the thought, Milarepa changed himself to selflessness, and entered into his cave. True enough, there was no Mara in it. What is the cause ? This is something very profound. "Mara is a sentient being that has no self-nature". He can only cause harm to you when you are real. When you realize that both you and the Mara are illusory, there is nothing left . It is very difficult for people to grasp this concept. But as cultivators, we must know we are sentient beings, so are Maras. Moreover, we must realize that Maras are Bodhisattvas from the higher levels, who will come and test us, before we can be enlightened as Buddhas. When Sakyamuni Buddha was about to be enlightened, he sat under the Bodhi tree. Heaven Maras descended to test him. Maras always like to use greed, hatred and ignorance as criteria to test human weaknesses. Only those who can surpass the Mara will have great spiritual achievement. Therefore, Maras are not always bad. When they come to test cultivators, they are doing good deeds. We should not be afraid of them, and must take the tests set by them. By conquering Maras and their hindrances, our achievement will be noteworthy. In our mind, we must always view them as certain Bodhisattvas from the higher stages of spiritual world, who come to verify which level we are in, and how affirmative is our resolution to be enlightened. The way Milarepa used is a very profound method - to treat Mara as an illusory object that does not have a self-nature. If we are able to be self-less, then no Mara can attach to us. As Mara arises from self, when there is no self, Mara will not appear. That is why when Milarepa entered into the cave, the Mara did not exist anymore.--what an expedient way to get rid of the Mara.As Tantric cultivators we must know how to define the boundary and protect ourselves, as well as have the right views towards the Maras. Failing which, we will not be able to surpass their hindrances. For me, Mara is nothing, it does not exist. Hence all the Mara-hindrances and other obstacles come to naught. As I am not annoyed by vexations and hindrances, all the Maras just evaporate. If vexations and hindrances are not seen as such, they will disappear. This is a cultivation method to transcend all the vexations in life, hindrances and Maras. That is why when Milarepa viewed the Mara as an illusionary entity, it went away immediately. Some of you might not fully understand what I have just said; I hope to give you a clearer explanation in the near future. That is all for today
|
|