#1. Life Span

Though the Buddha says that life is short, Māra says it is long.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. There the Buddha … said: “Mendicants, the life span of humans is short. You must go to the next life. So you should do what is skillful, you should practice the spiritual life. No-one born is immortal. A long life is a hundred years or a little more. [Read More]

Though the Buddha says that life is short, Māra says it is long.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “Mendicants, the life span of humans is short. You must go to the next life. So you should do what is skillful, you should practice the spiritual life. [Read More]

The Buddha and Māra exchange verses on whether attachments are a source of delight or suffering.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 recited this verse in the Buddha’s presence: “Your children bring you delight! Your cattle also bring you delight! For attachments are a man’s delight; without attachments there’s no delight. [Read More]

After meditating all night, the Buddha lies down to sleep at dawn, and Māra scolds him for being lazy.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. He spent most of the night practicing walking meditation in the open. At the crack of dawn he washed his feet and entered his dwelling. He laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up. [Read More]

Māra manifests as a huge serpent, but the Buddha is unshaken.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. 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, manifested in the form of a huge serpent king and approached him. [Read More]

When the Buddha explains to the mendicants how he has realized freedom, and so have his mendicant followers, Māra claims he is still trapped.At one time the Buddha was staying near Benares, in the deer park at Isipatana. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “Mendicants, I am freed from all snares, both human and divine. You are also freed from all snares, both human and divine. [Read More]

When the Buddha explains to the mendicants how he realized freedom, Māra claims he is still trapped.So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Benares, in the deer park at Isipatana. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this: “Mendicants, I have attained and realized supreme freedom through proper attention and proper effort. You too should attain and realize supreme freedom through proper attention and proper effort. [Read More]

Māra tries to scare the Buddha by taking on shifting forms both beautiful and hideous.So I have heard. At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying near Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River. 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 while not far away generated a rainbow of bright colors, both beautiful and ugly. [Read More]

Māra manifests before the Buddha in the form of a ferocious elephant in order to scare him.So I have heard. At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying near Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River. Now at that time the Buddha was meditating in the open during the dark of night, while a gentle rain drizzled down. [Read More]

Māra accuses the Buddha of having abandoned the path of true austerity.So I have heard. At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying near Uruvelā at the root of the goatherd’s banyan tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River. Then as he was in private retreat this thought came to his mind, “I am truly freed from that grueling work! Thank goodness I’m freed from that pointless grueling work. [Read More]