[Jasonstawnosaa]

Hi I have a real rambling query someone here may be able to help me with.

I remember reading something a while ago, which I'm struggling to categorise (some scripture) and also to even articulate the nature of the writing. So apologies in advance for out and out vagueness.

Basically a Buddhist story/ parable type thing about a practitioner expressing gratitude to someone (an entity, possibly Mara but probably not) for 'tribulations sent' that he saw as an opportunity to test his resolve. For practice.

Does this ring any bells ?

[Zmniubqr]

Hi Lazarus ,

The only sutta that immediately comes to mind involving Mara and a practitioner is this one:

SN 5.4 - Vijaya Sutta: Vijaya


Setting at Savatthi. Then, in the morning, the bhikkhuni Vijaya dressed... she sat down at the foot of a tree for the day's abiding.

Then Mara the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the bhikkhuni Vijaya,
desiring to make her fall away from concentration, approached her and addressed her in verse:

You are so young and beautiful,
And I too am in the bloom of youth.
Come, noble lady, let us rejoice
With the music of a fivefold ensemble.

Then it occurred to the bhikkhuni Vijaya: "Now who is this...? This is Mara the Evil One... desiring to make me fall away from concentration."

Then the bhikkhuni Vijaya, having understood, "This is Mara the Evil One," replied to him in verses:

Forms and sounds, tastes and odors,
Tactile objects that delight the mind:
I offer them right back to you,
For I, O Mara, do not need them.

I am repelled and humiliated
By this foul, putrid body,
Subject to break up, fragile:
I've uprooted sensual craving.

As to those beings who fare amidst form,
And those who abide in the formless,
And those peaceful attainments too:
Everywhere darkness has been destroyed.

Then Mara the Evil One, realizing "The bhikkhuni Vijaya knows me," sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.


http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....004.bodh.html Someone else might know of a better one.

With kind wishes,

A-D

[Sleedyhex]

Thankyou kindly for your reply Aloka-D, unfortunately that is not the scripture I'm seeking.

I can remember for sure that the practitioner was male, that the tribulations were several (in verse) and were great. Possibly involving the death of a sibling. The Mara aspect may well likely be a red herring.

Apologies again for being so vague.

[Nabeqiv]

Maybe: http://members.cox.net/solarmyth/buddhastory.htm

[trubreTab]

There's a thread in our Beyond Belief forum 'Reflections on Mara' which you might find interesting:

http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries...ctions-on-Mara

[Ibrattnofich]

Thanks guys, I'm familiar with both those accounts, so still looking. Normally I save the text or link but that one slipped through the net for some reason. Not the end of the world though, perhaps I'll come across the piece at an opportune time.

[ptolerezort]

Hi Lazarus, try using the search facility for suttas with Mara in them at the Access to Insight website.


http://www.accesstoinsight.org/

kind regards,

A-D

[apatteopipt]

Thanks A-D, I'll give that a go, but as I say I'm really not even confident about the Mara connection, just a vague notion about a subversive deity of sorts of which recollection is not reliable, hehe. The link will certainly come in handy though.

Namaste.