[nikolapegayyyaasss]

I don’t claim to be a teacher in anyway accept some simple English but being in China made me see things somewhat differently. I don’t know if this contribution has relevance and I could be completely wrong.

I think it's true that western society is prone to want instant results rather than being careful and patient in their decisions. I'm not sure if my observations have value but where I am in China people have much more of a collective way of thinking and doing. I’m not talking about Communism. They are raised to rather consider the consequences with respect to the whole than the self. It’s very frustrating for a western guy like me that is use to a more individualistic approach to making decisions. I’m constantly struggling with the idea that they can’t make up their minds for themselves. It really threw me after I heard a woman saying I was ‘impetuous’. It was the biggest English word I’ve ever heard here and she said that after I told her that she was being kind.

When I read the quoted article about the Buddha’s struggle with Mara and that his selfless decisions gave him the final victory, I felt that I’ve seen it being practiced to a certain degree in societies with a long Buddhist history like here in China and Thailand. It makes me wonder about how tough it really is to let go of the 'Self' and what some western 'Buddhists' think they are doing, including me.

Thus Siddhartha grounds himself in the wholesome motivation of his dedication to the welfare of all beings. That is the one approach Mara cannot understand. Mara is self-absorbed; he just wants the benefits of realization for himself.