Four Maras

Four Maras (bdud bzhi).

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.

• 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.