98 - The Buddhist Devil?! (DEEP DIVE on Māra)

Does Buddhism have a devil? Not exactly. But it does have Māra.

In the first of my "deep-dive" episodes, we explore some of the fascinating stories of Māra found in Buddhist scripture and tradition, from attempts to discourage the Buddha before awakening to encounters that continued long after enlightenment.

Through these stories, we’ll see Māra use temptation, fear, doubt, deception, distraction, and even attacks on the Buddha’s disciples. The Māra Saṃyutta alone contains 25 discourses featuring these encounters!

We’ll also explore the famous assault beneath the Bodhi Tree, Māra’s daughters, and what these stories can teach us about recognizing the “armies of Māra” in our own Buddhist practice.

Is Māra a supernatural being? A symbol for the obstacles to awakening? Or is the Buddhist understanding more nuanced than either explanation alone?

Let’s go directly into the stories and teachings to find out.

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