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Māra has over the years been an important entity in my life. For whatever reason, and there are many, the “evil one” has whispered in my ear. His voice sounds just like mine or yours if not seen and heard for what it is.

Just the other day I went to the local café and planned to order a delicious and healthy salad. When asked what I wanted, the words “cinnamon bun” slipped out of my mouth. The waitress asked if I would like that heated and I wondered why she would suggest that the salad would be heated. Then, understanding that Māra the tempter had crept in and that I could clarify the situation I still didn’t. In one fell swoop and slip of the tongue the Lord of Darkness provided the keys to craving, desire, sloth, fear, doubt, stubbornness, and ignorance. I have discovered that Māra has a difficult time discerning between needs and wants.

The Evil One has a base sense of humor which is to corrupt, demote, disparage, disgrace, and depress others. Meditation and Dhamma are the only antidotes to his whisperings and he really does not like being seen. In fact, he slinks away hissing when caught. Whenever Māra is caught, we can have a good laugh at ourselves in the plight of the human condition. Some things I have learned by catching Māra in the act:

The appearance of Māra . . .

* Can allow us to see the impermanence of thoughts, feelings, fears and opinions.
* Can allow us to feel our suffering which in turn can release fear and lead to the arising of empathy for others.
* Can allow us to experience life as it is.
* Can help us to realize the Four Noble Truths.

Last year after being diagnosed with an extremely rare blood disease, I underwent a treatment called monoclonal antibody therapy which is a six hour infusion that takes place every three weeks. Every fifteen minutes, the nursing staff checked my heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and other vital statistics. I Page 2 of 2

thought, with Māra’s help, how kind, wonderful, thoughtful and caring the staff was. Of course Māra suggested I not read the handout about the drug I was given until a few weeks later. At the top of the form in bold letters was written “Retuxamab may kill you.” The nursing staff was indeed thoughtful and caring but they were mostly interested if I were still living or had croaked while being infused.

I told this story to Ajahn Amaro, who in turn related a story Ajahn Chah told about a chicken who thought she was loved by her owner. The hen was picked up daily and rocked up and down. From the chicken’s point of view she was loved and from the owner’s point of view he was seeing when it was time for her to be part of a delicious and special Thai meal.