Four Maras

Four Maras (bdud bzhi).

Demonic influence that creates obstacles for practice and enlightenment. Generally, there are four maras or obstructions to practice of the Dharma: those of defilements, death, the aggregates, and the godly mara of seduction.

"The first of the four demons is the demon of the Lord of Death, which cuts our life short. Second is the demon of the physical aggregates, which prevents the attainment of the rainbow body. Third is the demon of the disturbing emotions, the three poisons which prevent liberation from samsara. Finally there is the demon of the son of the gods, which is distraction in the meditation state and the tendency to postpone practice. Procrastination is the mara of the son of the gods, which creates obstacles for samadhi. The real demon is our conceptual thinking. Falling into conceptualization is the demon. By recognizing our mind essence, all demons are defeated; the four maras are vanquished and all obstacles are done away with. The main point is to train in that." Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

• Lord of Death Mara, Godly Son Mara, Klesha Mara and Skandha Mara.
• (phung po'i bdud) (tshang pa ser po), (nyon mong pa'i bdud) (dbang phyug dkar po), (lha bu'i bdud) (lha dbang kham ser), ('chi bdag gi bdud) (khyab 'jug nag po)
• the Four Maras in Chod practice.

dgra bcom pa - (arhanta) Arhat [foe destroyer, enemy slayer, the status of an arhat (one who has slain the foe of conflicting emotion, and overcome the enemy the four maras and reached the highest result of the vehicles of pious attendants [IW]

dgra bcom pa'i 'bras bu - the fruition of arhatship [one of the dge sbyong gi 'bras bu bzhi, having abandoned all to be abandoned by meditation in the three realms have conquered the enemy, the four maras] [IW]

rgyal ba - Jina, 'Conqueror'. Victorious One. Same as a buddha; one who has conquered over the four maras [RY]

rgyal ba - victor, victor over the four maras; victorious one; to win/ be victorious; Jina, the Victorious One, (Syn. Buddha); conqueror; 1) [jina], victorious one, victor, conqueror, all the victorious ones [in general], conqueror. an epithet for the buddhas who are - conquerors of samsara. victor over the four maras. 2) the Dalai Lama (h). 3) Jaya, [the 28'th year of {rab byung} Male Wood Horse]. Syn {shing pho rta} 4) Gyalwa, Jina. {rgyal ba, rgyal ba, rgyal ba} intr. v [RY]

rgyal dbang pad ma ka ra - Padmakara, the king of the victorious ones. He is called the king of victorious ones because he conquered the enemy of the four maras. Padmakara means Lotus Born (padma 'byung gnas) [RY]

gcod lugs kyi bdud bzhi - the four maras of chöd [IW]

'chi bdud - mrityu/ lord of death mara [from the formations of life separate from life and joy producing cutting the continuity, 1 of the four maras.] [IW]

bdud - Mara. Demon or demonic influence that creates obstacles for practice and enlightenment. Mythologically said be a powerful god who dwells in the highest abode in the Realm of Desire; the master of illusion who attempted to prevent the Buddha from attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya. For the Dharma practitioner, Mara symbolizes one's own ego-clinging and preoccupation with the eight worldly concerns. Generally, there are four maras or obstructions to practice of the Dharma: those of defilements, death and the aggregates, and the godly mara of seduction. Sometimes the four maras are mentioned by name; Lord of Death, Godly Son, Klesha and Skandha [RY]

bdud - Maras [1) being who harms sentient beings and opposes what is virtuous and wholesome [one of six kinds of gods of the desire realm {'dod lha rigs drug}; 2) evil/ obstruction, demon, evil, fiend, monster, evil people; 3) four [from the four maras] [IW]

bdud bzhi - [TRS 61-2] acc. to gcod; expl; [TRS 61-3]; the four maras. 1) {phung po bdud} demon of the aggregates. the demon of the aggregates, {nyon mongs pa'i bdud}, the demon of the emotional disturbances, {'chi bdag gi bdud}, the demon of the Lord of Death, {lha'i bu'i bdud} the demon of the godly son] [RY]

bdud bzhi - the four maras [IW]

dpung gnyen - a last resort/ friend; final relief, protector, defender, troops [of the four maras], hordes [of maras]. friend and helper; One who lends a hand [RY]

phung po bdud - [skandha mara] Demon of the aggregates, one of the {bdud bzhi} the four maras [RY]

lha'i bu'i bdud - Demon of the Devaputra, one of the {bdud bzhi} four maras [RY]

Internal links

• Mara