English
The Second Discourse on Life 146. Thus have I heard – At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Place. There the Blessed One... (rest omitted)... said this – "Short is this life of humans, monks. The next world is to be gone to, good is to be done, the holy life is to be lived. There is no deathlessness for one who is born. Whoever, monks, lives long, lives a hundred years, or a little more." Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse – "Days and nights do not pass by, life does not cease; Life revolves, for mortals, like the rim around the chariot's hub." "Days and nights pass by, life ceases; Life wastes away for mortals, like water in small rivers." Then Māra the Evil One, miserable and dejected, thinking "The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me," vanished right there. The First Chapter. Its Summary – Austerity and action, and the Nāga, Auspiciousness, and those two with the snare; The snake sleeps, and Nandana, And the other two with life. 2. The Second Chapter 1. The Discourse on the Rock 147. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, on Vulture Peak Mountain. Now at that time the Blessed One was sitting in the open air, in the deep darkness of night, and the sky was drizzling drop by drop. Then Māra the Evil One, desiring to arouse fear, terror, and hair-raising horror in the Blessed One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, the Blessed One... He split a great rock not far off. Then indeed the Blessed One, knowing, ‘‘This is Māra, the Evil One,’’ addressed Māra, the Evil One, with a verse: ‘‘Even if you shake The entire Vulture's Peak, There is no tremor at all In Buddhas rightly liberated.’’ Then indeed Māra, the Evil One, distressed and disheartened, thinking, ‘‘The Blessed One knows me, the Sugata knows me,’’ disappeared right there. 2. The Kinnusīha Sutta 148. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time the Blessed One, surrounded by a great assembly, was teaching the Dhamma. Then indeed this thought occurred to Māra, the Evil One: ‘‘This ascetic Gotama, surrounded by a great assembly, is teaching the Dhamma. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama to make him confused?’’ Then indeed Māra, the Evil One, approached where the Blessed One was; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse: ‘‘Why indeed do you roar Like a lion, confident in the assembly? For you have an opponent, Do you think you are victorious?’’ ‘‘Indeed the great heroes roar, Confident in assemblies; The Tathāgatas, having attained strength, Have crossed over entanglement in the world.’’ Then indeed Māra, the Evil One, distressed and disheartened, thinking, ‘‘The Blessed One knows me, the Sugata knows me,’’ disappeared right there. 3. The Sakalika Sutta 149. Thus have I heard – at one time the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Maddakucchi Deer Park. Now at that time the Blessed One's foot was wounded by a splinter, and very much indeed the Blessed One's bodily feelings arose, painful, intense, sharp, bitter, disagreeable, unpleasant. These indeed the Blessed One, mindful and clearly comprehending, endured without being distressed. Then indeed the Blessed One, having spread out his outer robe folded fourfold, lay down on his right side in the lion's posture, placing one foot on the other, mindful and clearly comprehending. Then indeed Māra, the Evil One, approached where the Blessed One was; having approached having approached the Blessed One, he addressed him with a verse: Are you sleeping from sloth, or intoxicated by desire? Or do you have no abundant aims? Alone in a secluded resting place, With a sleepy face, why do you thus slumber? I do not sleep from sloth, nor am I intoxicated by desire, Having attained my aim, I am sorrowless; Alone in a secluded resting place, I sleep, compassionate to all beings. Even those with a dart piercing their chest, Again and again, shaking their heart; Even they here find sleep, though with a dart, Therefore, I, dart-free, do not sleep. I do not fear waking, nor do I dread sleeping, Day and night do not torment me; I see no loss anywhere in the world, Therefore, I sleep, compassionate to all beings. Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me," sorrowful and dejected, vanished right there. 4. The Discourse on What is Fitting 150. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans, in the brahmin village of Ekasālā. Now at that time the Blessed One was teaching the Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly of householders. Then it occurred to Māra, the Evil One: "This recluse Gotama is teaching the Dhamma, surrounded by a large assembly of householders. What if I were to approach the recluse Gotama to make him lose his sight?" Then Māra, the Evil One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse: This is not fitting for you, That you instruct others; In attachments and aversions, Do not cling, act accordingly. The Fully Awakened One, compassionate for welfare, Instructs others; From attachments and aversions, The Tathāgata is completely freed. Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, "The Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me," sorrowful and dejected, vanished right there. 5. The Discourse on Conceit 151. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Then Māra, the Evil One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One with a verse: spoke thus: “The snare that flies in the sky, That which moves in the mind; With that I will bind you, You will not escape me, ascetic.” “Forms, sounds, tastes, smells, And delightful touches; Herein my desire has ceased, You are defeated, Ender.” Then Māra, the Evil One, thinking, “The Blessed One knows me, the Sugata knows me,” sad and dejected, vanished right there. 6. The Bowl Sutta 152. Occasion at Sāvatthī. At that time, the Blessed One was instructing, urging, rousing, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk concerning the five aggregates of clinging. And those bhikkhus, paying attention, applying their minds, attending with all their hearts, and listening with open ears, were hearing the Dhamma. Then it occurred to Māra, the Evil One: “This ascetic Gotama is instructing, urging, rousing, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk concerning the five aggregates of clinging. And those bhikkhus, paying attention, applying their minds, attending with all their hearts, and listening with open ears, are hearing the Dhamma. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama to make them lose their vision?” At that time, many bowls were left out in the open. Then Māra, the Evil One, having created the appearance of an ox, approached where those bowls were. Then a certain bhikkhu said to another bhikkhu: “Bhikkhu, bhikkhu, that ox might break the bowls!” When this was said, the Blessed One said to that bhikkhu: “That, bhikkhu, is not an ox. That is Māra, the Evil One, who has come to make you lose your vision.” Then the Blessed One, knowing, “This is Māra, the Evil One,” addressed Māra, the Evil One, with a verse: “Form, feeling, perception, Consciousness, and what is conditioned; I am not that, that is not mine, Thus there, becomes dispassionate. Thus dispassionate, secure, gone beyond all fetters; Searching in all places, Mara's army did not find him. Then Mara, the Evil One… vanished right there. 7. The Discourse on the Six Sense Bases 153. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Now at that time the Blessed One was instructing, urging, rousing, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk concerning the six sense bases. And those bhikkhus, having paid attention, having applied their minds, having gathered all their thoughts, listened to the Dhamma with attentive ears. Then it occurred to Mara, the Evil One: "This recluse Gotama is instructing, urging, rousing, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk concerning the six sense bases. And those bhikkhus, having paid attention, having applied their minds, having gathered all their thoughts, listen to the Dhamma with attentive ears. What if I were to approach the recluse Gotama to confuse them?" Then Mara, the Evil One, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, not far from the Blessed One, he made a great, fearful, terrifying sound, and it seemed as if the earth were splitting open. Then a certain bhikkhu said to another bhikkhu: "Bhikkhu, bhikkhu, it seems as if this earth is splitting open!" When this was said, the Blessed One said to that bhikkhu: "Bhikkhu, this earth is not splitting open. That is Mara, the Evil One, who has come to confuse you." Then the Blessed One, having understood, "This is Mara, the Evil One," addressed Mara, the Evil One, with verses: Forms, sounds, tastes, smells, touches, and mental phenomena, all of them; This is the world's dreadful bait, here the world is infatuated. But having overcome this, the mindful disciple of the Buddha; Having transcended Mara's realm, shines forth like the sun. Then Mara, the Evil One… vanished right there. Thus it was said. 8. The Discourse on Alms 154. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Magadha, in the brahmin village of Pañcasālā. Now at that time, there were feasts for the maidens in the brahmin village of Pañcasālā. Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the morning, taking his bowl and robe, entered the brahmin village of Pañcasālā for alms. Now at that time, the brahmin householders of Pañcasālā were possessed by Māra, the Evil One, thinking: "May the ascetic Gotama not obtain alms!"