If we don't have merit and parami, Mara won't come to disturb us

If we don't have merit and parami, Mara won't come to disturb us

For those of us who are sincere Buddhists, making a lot of merit and perfecting our parami, it is inevitable to encounter Mara who will come to test us. Mara can manifest in various forms. 

1. For those who have Dhamma in their hearts, Mara can manifest as obstacles for us to overcome to perfect our parami.

2. Mara enters our lives as difficulties, sickness and misfortune to remind us that kamma is real, all beings are heir to their kamma they have created in the past.

3. Mara appears in the form of a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife. 

This happens when your spouse is your kammic creditor whom you have harmed in a past life. You must be exceedingly patient and tolerant, and restrain yourself from creating new bad kamma which will bind both of you together again in a future life.

4. Mara comes in the form of a friend, such as a colleague, neighbour or peer, in order to test our resolve and morality. For instance, they may encourage us to go drink alcohol or party.  This helps us understand what level of our mind is at, and whether or resolution to the Dhamma and precepts is strong or not.

5. Mara manifests in the form of scarcity. Poverty helps us understand the true nature of gain and loss in the world, so we know how to live a life of moderation, without carelessness, and gain wisdom to not be dependent on money as our main source of happiness.

6. Mara comes in the form of great wealth. Suddenly we become very rich overnight, what will happen to our practice? Will we start indulging in sensual pleasures or continue perfecting our parami?

7. Mara knocks at your door in the form of a difficult problem you have to solve. Maybe it is a business issue, or a legal lawsuit. How are you going to resolve it? You may gain wisdom and patience in the course of tackling the problem. 

8. Mara arrives in the form of obstacles when you are committed to making merit. For example, I have heard many stories of people who keep falling sick every time they want to meditate or attend a vipassana course. This could be due to Mara trying to obstruct them.  Or sometimes when we want to organise a merit-making ceremony or share the Dhamma, there might be many jealous green-eyed 'Dhamma' friends gossiping or 'sabo'-ing us behind the scenes. 

We should look at Mara not as a 'Devil', but as an opportunity for us to cultivate our parami. Because we need difficulties in order to develop and refine our spiritual perfections. 

Cr. Based on a Thai post drawing on Kruba Srivichai's teachings. Kruba Srivichai had many enemies that were jealous of his popularity and large following, hence they sought to undermine him several times by reporting him to the Bangkok Sangha Authorities. However, as Kruba Srivichai is a Bodhisatta, he had to go through such trials and tribulations in order to perfect his parami. Now he has been reborn as Kruba Boonchum, and still many people constantly criticise Kruba Boonchum.