#2. Rule

The Buddha wonders whether it is possible to rule justly, without violence. Māra appears and encourages the Buddha to purse such a path.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans, in a wilderness hut on the slopes of the Himalayas. Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I wonder if it’s possible to rule legitimately, without killing or having someone kill for you; without conquering or having someone conquer for you; without sorrowing or causing sorrow? [Read More]

While the mendicants are listening to the teachings, Māra takes the form of a farmer looking for lost oxen and addresses the Buddha.At Sāvatthī. Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk about extinguishment. And those mendicants were paying heed, paying attention, engaging wholeheartedly, and lending an ear. Then Māra thought, “The ascetic Gotama is giving a Dhamma talk about extinguishment … and the mendicants are listening well. [Read More]

Māra ensures that the Buddha fails to get alms, but the Buddha is happy to feed on joy.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Magadhans near the brahmin village of Pañcasālā. Now at that time in Pañcasālā the young women were taking care of guests. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Pañcasālā for alms. Now at that time Māra had possessed the brahmins and householders of Pañcasālā, so that they thought, “Don’t let the ascetic Gotama get any alms! [Read More]

While the mendicants are listening to the teachings, Māra makes an awful roar to distract them.At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the six fields of contact. And those mendicants were paying heed, paying attention, engaging wholeheartedly, and lending an ear. [Read More]

While the mendicants are listening to the teachings, Māra takes the form of an ox and looks as if he will break their almsbowls.At Sāvatthī. Now at that time the Buddha was educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the five grasping aggregates. And those mendicants were paying heed, paying attention, engaging wholeheartedly, and lending an ear. Then Māra thought, “This ascetic Gotama is educating, encouraging, firing up, and inspiring the mendicants with a Dhamma talk on the topic of the five grasping aggregates. [Read More]

Māra threatens the Buddha with a “mental snare” in the sky.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse: “There’s a mental snare wandering the sky. I’ll bind you with it—you won’t escape me, ascetic!” “Sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches so delightful: desire for these is gone from me. [Read More]

Māra discourages the Buddha from teaching, warning him that he will become corrupted by favoritism.At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans near the brahmin village of Ekasālā. Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly of laypeople. Then Māra thought, “The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly of laypeople. Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes? [Read More]

The Buddha rests after being struck by stone splinters, and Māra criticizes him for being lazy.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Maddakucchi deer park. Now at that time the Buddha’s foot had been cut by a splinter. The Buddha was stricken by harrowing pains; physical feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable. But he endured with mindfulness and situational awareness, without worrying. [Read More]

Māra criticizes the Buddha for his lion’s roar, asserting that the Buddha is not in fact peerless.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now, at that time the Buddha was teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Then Māra thought, “The ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly. Why don’t I go and pull the wool over their eyes?” Then Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse: “Why now do you roar like a lion? [Read More]

Māra smashes boulders in an attempt to scare the Buddha.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain. Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down. Then Māra the Wicked, wanting to make the Buddha feel fear, terror, and goosebumps, approached him, and crushed some large boulders close by him. Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse: “Even if you shake this entire Vulture’s Peak, the rightly released, the awakened, are unshaken. [Read More]