Mara

2002-8-23 00:38:00

Ben writes:
Did you see the movie 'Little Buddha'?

Do you recall when Mara, the evil one, arose in front of Gautama, and Gautama said, "You do not exist."

Mara then dissolved.

Was Mara Gautama's dweller?

Thanks for clarifying.


JJ
You are correct here. The movie, however, played a little loose with the details, but is worth seeing.

The Buddha whose given name was Siddhattha (sometimes spelled Siddhartha) and family name was Gautama, actually stated that Mara was Self. Mara was indeed his dweller as indicated from the Gospel of Buddha:

"The three daughters of Mara tempted the Bodhisatta, but he paid no attention to them, and when Mara saw that he could kindle no desire in the heart of the victorious samana, he ordered all the evil spirits at his command to attack him and overawe the great muni. But the Blessed One watched them as one would watch the harmless games of children. All the fierce hatred of the evil spirits was of no avail. The flames of hell became wholesome breezes of perfume, and the angry thunderbolts were changed into lotus-blossoms. When Mara saw this, he fled away with his army from the Bodhi-tree, whilst from above a rain of heavenly flowers fell, and voices of good spirits were heard."

This account was not placed in writing until hundreds of years after Buddha's death and is somewhat whitewashed to make it sound like the victory was as easy as getting out of bed. Oftentimes the real struggles of great teachers are left out by well meaning students who have placed the history in writing.

Both the struggle of Christ in the wilderness and the Buddha with Mara was much more intense and difficult than the few words we have about it bear record.

The scripture does accurately reflect that Buddha used the Principle of Attrition to overcome his dweller.