Monkhood is NOT equal to Enlightenment

Monkhood is NOT equal to Enlightenment

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A couple of years back, I met up with an ex-student who made the following comment :

"It's sad that XX and XX are doing this, considering they're enlightened."

My reply to him was,

"They're NOT enlightened. It does NOT mean they're monks means they're enlightened."

On the spot, I corrected my ex-student's wrong view.

During that time, 2 highly acclaimed renowned monks who are heading their own group of monastics,

With vast number of followers and supporters,

Were in the news because of some wrong doing.

One is even a leader.

Now think about it :

If the monks were truly enlightened,

They would have given up on name, fortune, fame, recognition, power, glory, land, estate and praise etc,

And NOT hanker, covet or thirst after them.

For a truly enlightened one, there would be NO Such thing as mine (clinging/attachment),

I (conceit/ego), and self (wrong/false view).

They would have let go.

(P.S. As a matter of fact, not only are they NOT enlightened, they're also NOT, and NOT FIT to be monks.

As The Buddha said,

"How can an ill-disciplined man who utters lies be a monk? He's NOT a monk."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 264. )

Like I said in 'Why Can't They?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-cant-they.html,

"Many monastics nowadays are simply riding on the good name of The Buddha and His Savaka Arahants,

And taking advantage of it."

As Ajahn Boowa himself said,

"Even monks have defilements." (Read 'Dhamma is ..... ' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/12/dhamma-is.html)

Notwithstanding the present time,

Even in The Buddha's time,

There are the Ariya Bhikkhus (meaning : Noble Enlightened Bhikkhus - Bhikkhus who have attained at least Stream Entry)

And ordinary Bhikkhus (i.e. ignoble, unenlightened normal worldlings).

The Buddha, upon the request of Venerable Sariputta, His First Chief Disciple,

Said in one of the verses as He expound The Buddhavamsa,

"Dear Son, Sariputta,

There are certain bhikkhus,

Who even in my lifetime,

Have to depart life as mere trainees without having attained Arahatta-phala (Arahantship).

They are reproached by The Wise."

Why?

Bacause as I quoted The Buddha in "Mara's Tenfold Army" - 17/01/11 :

"And there are recluses who die still as worldlings amidst the monastic materials of sensuality

In the form of the 4 requisites :

Lodging, food, clothing and medicine,

Because they CANNOT give them up."

So you see, it does NOT mean that a monk don the yellow robe means that the monk is enlightened,

Or have an elevated status.

Monks do go to woeful states on account of their unwholesome, unrighteous deeds and behaviour. (See the 2 Dhammapada accounts below).

So, enlightened or NOT, please watch carefully.

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Dhammapada Verse 240

Ayasa' va malam samuttthitam - tadutthaya tam'eva khadati

Etam atidhona carinam - saka kammani nayanti duggatim.

Just as rust is formed from iron, and corrodes the iron from which it is formed,

So also, his own deeds lead the transgressor to a lower plane of existence.

XVIII:3 A monk who was born as an insect (Tissa)

Once there was a monk in Savatthi named Tissa.

One day, he received a set of fine robes and was very pleased.

He wanted to wear them the next day, but he died that very night,

And because he was unduly attached to the fine set of robes,

He was reborn as an insect and lived within the folds of the robes.

As there was no one to inherit his belongings,

It was decided that the other monks should share this particular set of robes.

When the monks were preparing to share it out among themselves,

The insect was very much agitated and cried out,

"They are destroying my robes!"

The Buddha, on hearing his cry by means of his Supernormal powers of hearing,

Advised the bhikkhus to dispose of the robes only at the end of seven days.

On the eighth day, the robes that belonged to Tissa were shared out by the bhikkhus.

Later, the Buddha explained the reasons for his admonition.

"Tissa was attached to this particular set of robes at the time of his death and so he was reborn as an insect for a few days and stayed in the folds of the robes.

When you all were preparing to share out the robes,

Tissa the insect was very much in agony and was running about to and fro in the folds of the robes.

If you had taken the robes at that time,

Tissa the insect would have felt very bitter against you and he would have had to be born in a suffering state.

Now, however, he has been reborn in a happy state due to his previous Kamma and that is why I have allowed you to take the robes.

Indeed bhikkhus, attachment is very dangerous;

As rust corrodes iron from which it is formed, so also,

Attachment destroys one and sends one to lower forms of existence.

A bhikkhu should not indulge too much in the use of the four requisites or be attached to them because attachment will delay the process of mental purification.’

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Dhammapada Verse 337

Manujassa pamutta carino - tanha vaddhati maluva viya

So plavati hurahuram - phalam iccham'va vanasmim vanaro.

The craving of the person addicted to careless living grows like a creeper.

He jumps from life to life like a monkey in the forest looking for fruit.

Yam esa sahati jammi - tanha loke visattika

Soka tassa pavaddhanti - abhivattham'va biranam.

Whoever in this world is overcome by this wretched clinging thirst,

His sorrows grow like birana grass after rain.

Yo c'etam sahati jammim - tanham loke duraccayam

Soka tamba papatanti - udabindu'va pokkhara.

But whosoever in this world overcomes this wretched craving so difficult to overcome,

His sorrows fall away from him like water-drops from a lotus-leaf.

Tam vo vadami bhaddam vo - yavant' ettha samagata

Tanhaya mulam khanatha - usirattho'va biranam

Ma vo nalam va soto' va -maro bhanji punappunam.

Therefore, I say to you:

Greetings to you all who have assembled here!

Dig up the root of craving just as one who wishes to have the fragrant root digs up the birana grass.

Don't let Mara destroy you again and again, as the flood destroys the reed.

XXIV:1 The golden fish with stinking breath (Kapila)

One day, some fishermen of Savatthi caught a fish with a beautiful golden body.

Since the fish was so beautiful, they presented it to the king who in turn took the fish to The Buddha.

As soon as the fish opened its mouth, a foul smell spread all around the Jetavana monastery.

The king then asked The Buddha why such a beautiful fish should have such a foul smell.

The Enlightened One then revealed that the fish in one of his past existences was a learned bhikkhu named Kapila during the time of Kassapa Buddha.

Because of his deep knowledge of The Dhamma, he had gained much fame and honour.

He also became very conceited and looked down upon the other bhikkhus.

When the other bhikkhus pointed out to him what was proper or not proper,

He invariably retorted, ‘How much do you know?’

Implying that he knew much more than those bhikkhus.

In the course of time, most of the bhikkhus avoided him.

On one occasion, the bhikkhus did not join him when he was reciting The Fundamental Precepts for the bhikkhus (i.e., The Patimokkha).

Observing that the bhikkhus remained silent, Kapila said,

'There is no such thing as Sutta, or Vinaya.

It makes no difference whether you listen to The Patimokkha or not'

And left the congregation.

Thus Kapila was hindering the development and growth of The Teaching (Sasana).

For his misdeeds, Kapila had to suffer for a long period life after life.

The Buddha then explained that because Kapila had taught the sublime Dhamma to many,

He had been endowed with a golden body as a fish,

But because he had reviled and abused the bhikkhus and The Dhamma

He was afflicted with a stinking breath.

The Enlightened One then delivered a discourse on the benefits of combining learning with practice.

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"It is better for one to eat a red-hot iron ball burning like a flame,

Than to eat almsfood offered by the people,

If one is WITHOUT morality

And UNrestrained in thought, word and deed."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 308

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"Though much he recites The Sacred Texts,

But acts NOT accordingly,

That heedless man is like a cowherd who counts others' kine.

He has NO share in the fruits of The Holy Life."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 19

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"Any loose act,

Any corrupt practice,

A life of dubious holiness -

NONE of these is of much benefit."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 312

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"Many men wearing the yellow robe up to their necks

Who have an evil disposition

And are unrestrained in thought, word and deed

Are reborn in a woeful state

On account of their evil deeds."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 307

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"Just as kusa grass wrongly grasped cuts the hand,

Even so the monkhood wrongly handled

Drags one to a woeful state."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 311

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"Not wandering naked,

Nor matted locks,

Nor filth,

Nor fasting,

Nor lying on the ground,

Nor dust,

Nor ashes,

Nor striving to squat on the heels,

Can purify a mortal who has NOT overcome doubts."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 141

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"He is NOT therefore an Ariya (Noble) if he harms living beings;

Through his harmlessness towards ALL living beings,

Is he called an Ariya (Noble)."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 270

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"Not by a shaven head does an undisciplined man who utters lies become a monk.

How can one who is full of desire and greed be a monk?"

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 264

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"He is NOT thereby a bhikkhu merely because he seeks alms from others;

By following The Whole Code of Morality,

One certainly becomes a bhikkhu,

And NOT merely by seeking alms."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 266

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"Though gaily decked if he should live in peace,

With passions subdued,

And senses controlled,

Certain of The Four Paths of Sainthood,

Perfectly Pure,

Laying aside the rod in his relation towards ALL living beings,

A Brahmana indeed is he,

An ascetic is he,

A bhikkhu is he."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 142

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"From craving springs grief,

From craving springs fear;

For him who is WHOLLY free from craving,

There is NO grief,

Much less fear."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 216

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"The bhikkhu who is calm in body,

Calm in speech,

Calm in mind,

Who is well-composed,

Who has given up worldly things,

Is truly called

'A Peaceful One'."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 378

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"The person who wears dust-free robes,

Who is lean,

Whose veins stand out,

Who meditates Alone in the forest, -

Him I call a brahmana."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 395

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* * * Read

1) 'Saving Others' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/07/saving-others.html

2) 'Taking Refuge' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/08/taking-refuge.html

3) 'The Ratana' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/06/ratana.html

4) 'The Teacher and The Teachings Part 1' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/04/teacher-and-teachings-part-1-teacher.html

5) 'The Teacher and The Teachings Part 2' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/05/teacher-and-teachings-part-2-teachings.html

Liar Liar

Liar Liar


As he was sitting to one side,

King Pasenadi of Kosala said to The Blessed One:

"Just now, Lord, as I was sitting in judgement,

I saw that even affluent nobles, affluent brahmans, & affluent householders —

Rich, with great wealth & property,

With vast amounts of gold & silver, vast amounts of valuables & commodities, vast amounts of wealth & grain —

Tell deliberate lies with sensual pleasures as the cause, sensual pleasures as the reason,

Simply for the sake of sensual pleasures.

Then, the thought occurred to me:

'I've had enough of this judging! Let some other fine fellow be known for his judgements!'"


"That's the way it is, great king!

That's the way it is!

Even affluent nobles, affluent brahmans, & affluent householders...

Tell deliberate lies ........ simply for the sake of sensual pleasures.

(And) That will lead to their long-term harm & pain."

That is what The Blessed One said.


Having said that,

The One Well-Gone, The Teacher, said further:

"Impassioned with sensual possessions,

Greedy, dazed by sensual pleasures,

They don't awaken to the fact

That they've gone too far —

Like fish into a trap set out.

Afterwards it's bitter for them:

Evil for them the result."

— SN 3.7

- The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya 3.7
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"He who is stained with defilements

Without self-control and Truthfulness,

Is NOT worthy of wearing the yellow robes."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 9




"Not by a shower of gold coins does contentment arise in sensual pleasures.

Of little sweetness, And painful, are sensual pleasures.

Knowing this, the wise man finds no delight even in heavenly pleasures.

The disciple of The Fully Enlightened One delights in the destruction of craving."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 186-187




"Easy is the life of a man who is shameless,

Bold like a crow,

A fault finder, insolent, impudent and corrupt."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 244




"Bhikkhus! One who has abandoned the course of telling The Truth,

And pursued the course of telling lies.

Has Also forsaken the advantages of attainment of Nibbana

And rebirth in the worlds of deva and humans,

And as such, there is NO immoral act that these people,

Destined for the planes of woes,

Will NOT dare to perform."

- The Buddha, The Discourse given by The Buddha after Cincamanavika's false accusation.


* * * Read

1) 'The Future' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/11/future.html

2) 'Honesty and Courage' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/01/honesty-and-courage.html

3) 'How Buddha Taught Part 3 : Rahula' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-buddha-taught-part-3-rahula.html

Mara Tries To Stop The Buddha From Sharing The Dhamma/Truth

Mara Tries To Stop The Buddha From Sharing The Dhamma/Truth


Despite The Buddha's victory over Mara,

Mara refused to concede defeat.

Unrepentent and filled with vengence and conceit,

Mara relentlessly continued to hound and attack The Buddha,

And tried to stop The Buddha from sharing The Dhamma throughout The Buddha's life.

There was an exchange between The Buddha and Mara just after The Buddha enlightened the 5 ascetics and others,

Which I find is very cute -

One of shameless sour pettiness,

The other of firm integrity.

As such, I'm putting it down to share with all.

Enjoy!


Mara (thinking to himself) : 'As if planning to wage a big war, this monk Gotama (i.e. The Buddha) is sending out 60 Arahants to disseminate The Dhamma.

How will I be if all the 60 Arahants teach The Dhamma as planned by the monk Gotama?

I shall now deter the monk Gotama from doing so!'


So thinking, Mara went to the presence of The Buddha.


Mara : 'O monk Gotama! You are bound and caught in all the snares of impurities such as craving and greed,

BUT especially the snare of craving and greed for sensual pleasure of devas and the humans.

You are tied down in the bondage of kilesa (i.e. defilements) in my prison of the 3 existences!

O monk Gotama, you will not for that reason be able to escape in any way, from my domain of the 3 existences!'


The Buddha : You evil Mara! I, The Buddha, am, in fact, one who have successfully and completely free myself from ALL the snares of such impurities as craving and greed said by you.

I have cleared myself from the snare of craving and greed for sensual pleasure

Especially of the devas and the humans.

I am also one who Truly escaped,

Once and for all,

From the bondage of kilesa in the prison of the 3 existences.

As a matter of fact, I have totally vanquished you in this battle of kilesa.

You have in fact suffered total absolute defeat!'


Mara : O monk Gotama! Such a snare as passion/lust is generated in the minds of ALL beings and NONE is capable of escaping from it.

Even individuals and monks who possess high knowledge and great supernatural powers are bound.

You, monk Gotama, is likewise bound by me.

And I shall kill you with that snare of passion.

You shall in no way, escape from my domain of the 3 existences.'


The Buddha : You evil Mara, heretic and murderer of all beings in the world.

There are undeniably the 5 objects of sensual pleasure -

Various sights, sounds, taste, odours/smells, and contacts,

Which can delight and give pleasure to the devas and humans.

Your threat of passion will only be able to bind those who are NOT freed from craving and greed for attachment and enjoyment of the said 5 objects of sensual pleasure.

I, The Buddha, however, am entirely freed from craving, greed, desire, passion and lust for the attachment and enjoyment of these 5 objects of sensual pleasure.

In this context therefore, I have TOTALLY vanquished you.

You have, whether you admit it or not,

Suffer Absolute DEFEAT !!'


Looking sad and dejected, Mara muttered to himself :

'The Glorious Buddha has known me for what I am.

The Buddha of Truth has known me for what I am!"

With that, Mara disappeared from the presence of The Buddha.




" 'O Ascetic Gotama, if you know the good secure path leading to Nibbana,

Go alone.

Why do you want to teach others?'

'O Mara, however hard you try to stop/hinder me, I shall keep on teaching The Dhamma - The correct Path leading to Nibbana.

If I am asked about the good Path and Nibbana, which is free from death

By the devas, humans and Brahmas, who are desirous of reaching Nibbana,

I Shall Teach them.' "

- The Buddha, The Padhana Sutta




"And I discovered that profound Truth,

So difficult to perceive, difficult to understand,

Tranquilizing and sublime,

Which is NOT to be gained by mere reasoning

And is visible ONLY to The Wise.

The world, however, is given to pleasure, delighted with pleasure, enchanted with pleasure.

Truly such beings will hardly understand

The Law of Conditionality, The Dependent Arising of Everything,

Incomprehensible to them will also be The End of existence conditions;

The forsaking of every substranum of rebirth;

The fading away of craving, detachment, extinction, Nibbana.

Yet there are beings whose eyes are only a little covered with dust -

They will understand The Truth."

- The Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya Sutta no.26
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"He who is free from craving and from attachment,

Who is skilled in the knowledge of the significance of terms,

Who knows the grouping of letters and their sequence,

Is indeed called, 'One who has lived his last,

A man of great wisdom,

A Great Man'. "

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 352




"Through many a birth in Samsara have I wandered in vain

Seeking the builder of this house of life.

Repeated birth is indeed suffering!

O house builder you are seen -

You shall build NO house ever again.

For thy rafters are broken

Thy ridgepoles shattered.

My mind has reached The Unconditioned

I have attained The Destruction of Craving! "

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 153/154




* * * So, on this Lunar New Year,

As you go about enjoying yourselves through the 5 Senses,

Do remember The Buddha's words,

If you do NOT want to be bound by Mara.

Have A Happy 'Sensual-Free' Lunar New Year, Everyone!

With Love,

Maitre-Light

Mara's daughters Try to Seduce/Entice The Buddha

Mara's daughters Try to Seduce/Entice The Buddha


After The Buddha conquered Mara,

Mara felt despondent and sad over his utter defeat.

Seeing their father's dejection,

Mara's 3 daughters - Tanha (Craving), Arati (Aversion), and Raga (Passion/Lust),

Decide to tempt The Buddha through the lure of feminity.

As an act of revenge, they want and hope to bound The Buddha in the snares of passion and lust.

"We are womenfolk. We know men - Men are ALL Lustful.

All men go weak at the sight of women.

We shall assume different disguises cos menfolk have different tastes :

Some love young and tender females, others like women in the first phase of life.

Still others prefer those of middle phase.

Lets assume these various ages and allure this recluse."


As such, each of them create 100 ladies -

All beautiful and seductive.


Approaching The Buddha,

They said enticingly,

"Venerable Recluse, permit us to attend on you - sitting at your feet, satisfying all your needs."

Undettered, The Buddha remained unmoved and continued to be absorbed in His meditation without opening his eyes or casting them even a glance.

The 3 daughters tried relentlessly over and over again.

Finally, coming out from His meditation,

The Buddha told them,

"Go away dieties.

Of what benefit to you that you try to tempt me thus?

Such a thing should be done to those who are NOT freed yet -

From passion, hate and delusion.

As for me, I have absolutely done away with passion, done away with hate and delusion.

Having overcome passion, I have NOTHING to conquer again.

No defilement that has been conquered follows The Buddha.

The Buddha is devoid of craving -

Which like a net, would ensnare one back to existence;

Which like a venomous, poisonous glue clings and sticks onto things.

For The Buddha who has destroyed craving,

For the trackless Buddha of infinite range,

By which way will you trace Him?"


Hearing that, the 3 daughters of Mara realised that they can't entice The Buddha;

And like their father, Mara,

Dejected, they left the scene.


So, do you want to be like The Buddha i.e. free,

Or do you want to be stuck/trapped and glued in a venomous pit?



* * * Read

1) 'One is Enough' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/08/one-is-enough.html

2) 'Isn't She Lovely?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/09/isnt-she-lovely.html

3) 'How Foolish Can We Get Part 2 : The Trap' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-foolish-can-we-get-part-2-trap.html

4) 'Complain Complain' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/12/complain-complain.html




"As the creeper strangles the sal tree,

So also, a really immoral person overwhelmed by craving does to himself

Just what his enemy wishes him to suffer."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 162




"From lust springs grief,

From lust springs fear,

For him who is wholly free from lust,

There is NO grief,

Much less fear."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 215




"There is NO fire like lust,

No grip like hate,

No Net like delusion,

No river like craving."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 251




"A man who gives way to pleasure will be swept away by craving

And his thoughts will make him suffer,

Like waves."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 339




"A man's joys are always transient,

And since men devote themselves to pleasure,

Seeking after happiness,

They undergo birth and decay."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 341




"The craving of the person addicted to careless living,

Grows like a creeper.

He jumps from life to life

Like a monkey in the forest looking for fruit."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 334




"People beset with craving are terrified like a hare caught in a snare.

Therefore a bhikkhu who wishes his own passionlessness (Nibbana)

Should eradicate craving."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 343




"He whose mind is NOT soaked by lust,

He who is NOT affected by hatred,

He who has transcended both good and evil -

For such a vigilant one,

There is NO fear."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 39




"He who has reached the goal,

Is fearless,

Is without craving,

Is passionless,

Has cut off the thorns of life;

This, is his final body."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 351




"For him who has completed the journey,

For him who is sorrowless,

For him who from everything is wholly free,

For him who has destroyed ALL Ties,

The fever of passion exists NOT."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 90




"Whose conquest of passion is NOT turned into defeat,

Not conquered passion of his in this world follows him.

That trackless Buddha of infinite range,

By which way will you trace Him?

Him in whom there is NOT that entangling, embroiling craving to lead to any life,

Him the trackless Buddha of infinite range -

By which way will you trace Him?"

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 179/180

Mara's Tenfold Army

Mara's Tenfold Army


1) Sensual Passion : 'You Mara, there are objects of sensuality, animate or inanimate,

And defilements of sensuality which is craving for these sensual objects,

Both these forms of sensuality cause those householders to become deluded so that they do NOT know The Truth.

These 2 consititutes your 1st Army.

There are householders who die still as worldlings amidst their worldly possessions

Because they cannot let go of them,

Eventhough they know the rarity of the rise of a Buddha.

As for the monastics, the requisites of food, medicine, lodging and robes, are all materials of sensuality which may be craved and enjoyed by them.

There are also monastics who die still as worldlings amidst these 4 requisites

Because they can't give them up.

These householders and monastics meet their hideous death on encountering your 1st Army.


2) Discontentment : Even if they may have taken up the ascetic life after abandoning sensuality,

Some tend to be disturbed and corrupted by aversion and dissatisfaction/discontentment;

Not taking delight in being in recluse, in learning and practice, in seclusion of forest dwellings, in Meditation, Concentration and Insight/Wisdom.

This, is the 2nd Army of yours, Mara.


3) Hunger and Thirst : Although a few may have overcome the 2nd Army,

But while observing the Dhutanga practices,

Some cannot eat to their heart's content,

And are therefore not satisfied, and become hungry again.

As thirst and hunger sets in, they lose interest in the practice and become drowned in this 3rd Army of yours.


4) Craving : Being oppressed by the burning desire to take food and drinks, many become physically and mentally weak;

Disheartened, indolent and unhappy.

They do NOT continue the practice they are engaged in.


5) Laziness, Sloth and Torpor : Becoming lazy, they get bored.

And with no progress in their spiritual practice,

They take to sleeping in their monasteries.

This is your 5th Army.


6) Fear : Sleeping excessively, their minds become dull, and their meditation practice deteriorates.

Overwhelmed by craving, they become fearful, weak and confused.

Theses monastics drowned themselves in your 6th Army.


7) Doubt/Uncertainty : Even if they were to get back to their meditation practices, having overcome fear,

Your 7th Army : 'Doubt' attacks them on their faith/conviction in Me, The Buddha, The Dhamma and The Sangha.


8) Haughtiness, Ego, Pride and Conceit : While some escape your 7th Army, putting in efforts night and day,

They burn themselves in your 8th Army when unusual signs from meditation appear to them.

Like you, they think highly of themselves and do not accord others their rightful place,

Giving no respect to their competent teachers

And instead, raise their own profile.


9) Fame, Recognition, Fortune, Glory and Praise : As they go on meditating, they see even more unusual signs.

Taking them - the signs - as real,

They become proud of their advancement,

Boasting their 'achievement'.

They destroy themselves in your 9th Army of craving and conceit,

Being pleased and swollen to see the spread of their name,

The amount of gifts they receive, the gains they got,

The increase in ignorant followers eventough they are preaching the false doctrines,

All through the burning desire and craving to increase their ill-gotten gains.


10) Self-praise and condemnation of others : As their ego rises,

They become pleased when they're being praised and become displeased when people question them.

They praise themselves and those who blindly support them, and condemn others who do the Right Practice.

Bringing to their own downfall of pride, conceit and deceit,

They 'kill' themselves in your 10th Army.


"You Mara, who prevent by force, the liberation of devas, humans and Brahmas from the rounds of suffering,

And whose forces are enormous.

I will have you know that :

This Prince Gotama Siddhatta is a Noble Man, a True Hero,

Who will fight you till the end.

If I have to withdraw from battle and be defeated by you and remain alive in this world,

It will be utter disgust and shame for me.

Therefore, You Mara, know me as one who rather die in battle than to concede defeat and live in shame.

I shall fight you and defeat you and vanquish your army and raise The Flag of Victory!"




"Wisdom divorced from Dhamma,

However much it is developed,

CANNOT be appreciated, honoured or trusted."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"Wisdom for destructive purposes is essentially the wisdom of the animal world -
Where might is right,

Where force reigns supreme,

And where happiness comes from satisfying sadistic desires."

- Venerable Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno




"The foolish one,

Who is Lazy, Gluttonous, and Sleepy,

Who just wallows like a well-fed pig,

Is subjected to Repeated Rebirths."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 325




"Faring far, wandering alone,

Bodiless, lying in a cave,

Is the mind.

Those who subdue it

Are Freed from the bond of Mara."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 37

Who is Mara?

Who is Mara?


Mara is disguise , disturb, deceive, distort, distract, deter, delude so as to destroy.

Mara is a temptress; personification of evil.

Mara is NOT the lawful ruler of any deva world.

Mara is just like an ambitious rebel leader with many followers in the human world e.g. an underworld leader, a druglord, a mastermind of evil, etc.

Mara in Reality is just an inhabitant in the deva world, who happen to have some power,

But who thinks himself / herself so great,

That he/she is above/greater than The Buddha, The Dhamma , and Kamma.

Mara is just a being who's jealous of The Buddha,

Wants to be like The Buddha,

BUT Can't, and will NEVER be cos Mara lacks the calibre.

Just as The Buddha is the personification of Truth and Purity,

Helping beings to do good and earn merits for their present and future benefit and welfare,

Mara is the personification of evil, tempting and encouraging beings to do evil, engage in unwholesome, unrighteous, unskillful ways,

And dissuading them from doing good so as to destroy them and cause their long-term downfall and suffering.

Just as The Buddha is Light, Mara is Darkness whose heart is Totally BLACK.

While The Buddha and His Noble Disciples help to free beings and bring Peace and Bliss to the world,

Mara, together with the evil devas under him/her, bound beings and prevent/stop them from doing meritorious deeds, and instead,

Wreak havoc to the world.

While The Buddha is a Cultivator of Truth and Purity,

Mara is a cultivator of ALL things evil : Anger, Lust, Greed, Delusion, Conceit and Wrong/False Views.

As The Buddha Himself said,

"This wicked Mara is not at all aware that he himself has become a servant of mine :

Having been born in the Vasavatti Deva world just because of the few act of merit,

But having not the slightest knowledge about his own life span, the time of his death, and the realm of suffering which he is destined after his death,

He is thinking of himself :

'I am permanent. I am the only one who rules over the whole world.'


He does not reflect nor is he aware of his own plight and of the hazard of falling into the state of woes.

Due to such ignorance (i.e. foolishness),

He dares commit such wrongs."


So,

The next time you're egoistic, haughty, conceited, wants control and is unashame of your wrong doing, know that Mara is 'in' you.

Each time you're vain, lazy, indulging in sensual pleasures, engaging in idle chatter, false speech, act and pretend etc, that's a sign of Mara.

Whenever you're lustful, greedy, discontent, selfish and stingy, that's Mara inside of you.

Everytime you're jealous, resentful, have anger, enmity, ill-will and hate in your heart, speaking in harsh angry tones, know that Mara is present.

If you hurt, harm, kill and/or destroy through your thoughts, speech and actions,

Perform unskillful, unwholesome, unrighteous deeds,

Engaging in wrongful views and practices and encouraging others to do likewise,

YOU ARE MARA.


So bearing in mind ALL of the above,

Guard yourselves well,

If you do NOT want to be slave to Mara.


* * * Read 'Because' - A blog dedicated to All Maras in the world. - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2010/02/because.html




"Whoever lives contemplating pleasant things,

With senses UNrestrained,

In food immoderate,

Indolent, inactive,

Him verily Mara overthrows,

As the wind overthrows a weak tree."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 7




"For the person who is perturbed by evil thoughts,

Who is exceedingly lustful, greedy, covetous,

Who contemplates pleasant things,

Craving increases more and more.

Surely, he makes the bond of Mara - the evil one, stronger."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 349



"He who delights in subdueing evil thoughts,

Who meditates on the loathsomeness of the body.

Who is ever mindful -

It is HE who will make an end of craving.

He will sever Mara's bond."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 350



"Self-conquest is, indeed, far greater than the conquest of all other folk;

Neither a god nor a ghandhabba nor Mara, nor Brahma,

Can win back the victory of such a person who is self-subdued

And ever lives in restraint."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 104-105




"Therefore, I say to you :

Greetings to you all who have assembled here!

Dig up the root of craving just as one who wishes to have the fragrant root digs up the birana grass.

Don't let Mara destroy you again and again,

As the flood destroys the reed."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 337



"You yourselves should make the effort;

The Tathagatas are only Teachers.

Those who enter this Path and who are meditative,

Are delivered from the bonds of Mara."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 276




"THIS is the ONLY Way.

There is NONE other for the PURITY of vision.

If you follow this path;

This is the bewilderment of Mara."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 274

The Padhana Sutta - How Buddha Conquers Mara

The Padhana Sutta - How Buddha Conquers Mara


I came across the following Sutta by chance, and was very impressed and inspired by it.

It details how The Buddha, before His Enlightenment, as a Bodhisatta, repel Mara.

While The then Bodhisatta was striving and exerting Himself,

Mara - the evil one, feigning goodwill and compassion,

Came and dissuade Him to give up His quest for Buddhahood.

Below is an account of what happened.

Enjoy!



" To me —

Resolute in exertion near the river Nerañjara, making a great effort, doing jhana to attain rest from the yoke —

Namuci (i.e. Mara) came, speaking words of compassion:

"You are ashen, thin.

Death is in your presence.

Death has 1,000 parts of you.

Only one part is your life.

Live, good sir! Life is better.

Alive, you can do acts of merit.

Your living the holy life, performing the fire sacrifice, will heap up much merit.

What use is exertion to you?

Hard to follow — the path of exertion — hard to do, hard to sustain."


Saying these verses, Mara stood in The Awakened One's presence.

And to that Mara, speaking thus, The Blessed One said this:

"Kinsman of the heedless, Evil One, come here for whatever purpose:

I haven't, for merit, even the least bit of need.

Those who have need of merit: those are the ones Mara's fit to address.

In me are Conviction, Austerity, Persistence, Discernment.

Why, when I'm so resolute do you petition me to live?

This wind could burn up even river currents. Why, when I'm resolute shouldn't my blood dry away?

As my blood dries up, gall & phlegm dry up.

As muscles waste away, the mind grows clearer; mindfulness, discernment, concentration stand more firm.

Staying in this way, attaining the ultimate feeling, the mind has NO interest in sensual passions.

See: a being's PURITY!


Sensual passions are your first army.

Your second is called Discontent.

Your third is Hunger & Thirst.

Your fourth is called Craving.

Fifth is Sloth & Drowsiness.

Sixth is called Terror/Fear.

Your seventh is Uncertainty/Doubt.

Hypocrisy & Stubbornness/Conceit, your eighth.

Gains, Offerings, Fame, & Status wrongly gained,

and whoever would praise self & disparage others.


That, Namuci, is your army, the Dark One's commando force.

A coward can't defeat it, but one having defeated it gains bliss.

Do I carry muñja grass?

I spit on my life.

Death in battle woud be better for me than that I, defeated, survive.

Sinking here, they don't appear, some priests & contemplatives.

They don't know the path by which those with good practices go.

Seeing the bannered force on all sides — the troops, Mara along with his mount — I go into battle.

May they not budge me from my spot.

That army of yours, that the world with its devas can't overcome, I will smash with discernment — as an unfired pot with a stone.

Making my resolve mastered, mindfulness well-established, I will go about, from kingdom to kingdom, training many disciples.

They — heedful, resolute doing my bidding — despite your wishes, will go where, having gone, there's no grief."


Mara:

"For seven years, I've dogged The Blessed One's steps, but haven't gained an opening in the One Self-awakened & glorious.

A crow circled a stone the color of fat —

'Maybe I've found something tender here. Maybe there's something delicious' —

But not getting anything delicious there, the crow went away.

Like the crow attacking the rock, I weary myself with Gotama."


As he (i.e. Mara) was overcome with sorrow, his lute fell from under his arm.

Then he, the despondent spirit, right there disappeared."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.3.02.than.html

- The Buddha, The Padhana Sutta - The Discourse of Conquest, Sutta Nipata 3.2




"You Mara, I would like you to take me as one who would fight and vanquish your tenfold army,

And raise The Flag of Victory! "

- The Buddha, The Padhana Sutta / Sutta Nipata 3.2




"Whoever lives contemplating the Impurities,

With senses Restrained,

In food moderate,

Full of Faith, Full of Sustained Energy,

Him, Mara overthrows NOT,

Just as the wind does not overthrow a rocky mountain."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 8




"Realising that this body is as fragile as a jar,

Establishing this mind as firm as a fortified city,

He should attack Mara with the Weapon of Wisdom (Dhamma)

He should guard his conquest and be WITHOUT attachment."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 40




"Mara finds NOT the path of those who are virtuous,

Careful in living,

And Freed by Right knowledge."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 57




"Swans wing along on the path of the Sun.

Men go through air by psychic powers.

The Wise are led away from the world,

Having conquered Mara and his host (i.e. army)."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 175




"He who delights in subduing evil thoughts

Who meditates on the loathsomeness of the body

Who is ever mindful

It is He who will make an END of craving.

He WILL sever Mara's bond."

- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 350