2.
The Second Chapter
1.
The Discourse on the Stone
147. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain. Now at that time the Blessed One was seated in the open air in the darkness of the night, and the rain god was sprinkling drop by drop. Then Māra the Evil One, wishing to arouse fear, trepidation, and terror in the Blessed One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he split a great boulder not far from the Blessed One.
Then the Blessed One, having understood "this is Māra the Evil One", addressed Māra the Evil One in verse -
There is indeed no perturbation for the Buddhas who are rightly liberated."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.
2.
The Discourse on "What is a Lion?"
148. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the Blessed One was teaching the Teaching surrounded by a great assembly.
Then this occurred to Māra the Evil One: "This ascetic Gotama is teaching the Teaching surrounded by a great assembly. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama for the purpose of blinding their vision." Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One in verse -
For there is a rival wrestler for you; do you think yourself victorious?"
Truth-finders who have attained power, who have crossed over attachment in the world."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.
3.
The Discourse on the Splinter
149. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Deer Park at Maddakucchi. Now at that time the Blessed One's foot had been cut by a splinter. Severe indeed were the feelings that occurred to the Blessed One, bodily feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, bitter, disagreeable, displeasing. These the Blessed One endured, mindful and fully aware, without being distressed. Then the Blessed One, having prepared the double robe folded in four, lay down in the lion's posture on his right side, overlapping foot upon foot, mindful and fully aware. Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One in verse -
Are your purposes not abundant?
Alone in a secluded resting place,
With drowsy face, why do you sleep?"
Having attained the goal, I am free from sorrow;
Alone in a secluded resting place,
I lie down with compassion for all beings.
With heart trembling again and again;
Even they here obtain sleep with the dart,
Therefore I do not sleep, being free from the dart.
Nights and days do not torment me;
I see no deterioration anywhere in the world,
Therefore I sleep with compassion for all beings."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.
4.
The Discourse on the Suitable
150. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans at Ekasālā, a brahmin village. Now at that time the Blessed One was teaching the Teaching surrounded by a great assembly of householders.
Then this occurred to Māra the Evil One: "This ascetic Gotama is teaching the Teaching surrounded by a great assembly of householders. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama for the purpose of blinding their vision." Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One in verse -
Do not get attached while practising thus, in compliance and opposition."
The Truth-finder is free from compliance and opposition."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.
5.
The Discourse on the Mind
151. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he addressed the Blessed One in verse -
With that I will bind you, you will not escape from me, ascetic."
Here my desire has departed, you are defeated, O Death."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.
6.
The Discourse on the Bowl
152. At Sāvatthī. Now at that time the Blessed One, with reference to the five aggregates of clinging, was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching. And those monks, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listen to the Teaching with ears inclined.
Then this occurred to Māra the Evil One: "This ascetic Gotama, with reference to the five aggregates of clinging, is instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching. And those monks, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listen to the Teaching with ears inclined. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama for the purpose of blinding their vision."
Now at that time several bowls had been placed in the open air. Then Māra the Evil One, having created the appearance of an ox, approached those bowls. Then a certain monk said this to another monk: "Monk, monk, this ox might break the bowls." When this was said, the Blessed One said this to that monk: "That is not an ox, monk. This is Māra the Evil One, come for the purpose of blinding your vision." Then the Blessed One, having understood "this is Māra the Evil One", addressed Māra the Evil One in verse -
'This I am not, this is not mine' - thus one becomes dispassionate therein.
Searching in all states, even Māra's army did not find him."
Then Māra the Evil One, etc. disappeared right there.
7.
The Discourse on the Six Sense Bases of Contact
153. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall. Now at that time the Blessed One, with reference to the six sense bases of contact, was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching. And those monks, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listen to the Teaching with ears inclined.
Then this occurred to Māra the Evil One: "This ascetic Gotama, with reference to the six sense bases of contact, is instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching. And those monks, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listen to the Teaching with ears inclined. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama for the purpose of blinding their vision." Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, not far from the Blessed One, he made a great fearful and terrifying sound, so much so that the earth, methinks, was splitting open. Then a certain monk said this to another monk: "Monk, monk, this earth, methinks, is splitting open." When this was said, the Blessed One said this to that monk: "This is not, monk, the earth splitting open. This is Māra the Evil One, come for the purpose of blinding your vision." Then the Blessed One, having understood "this is Māra the Evil One", addressed Māra the Evil One in verse -
This is the terrible worldly gain, here the world is infatuated.
Having passed beyond the realm of Māra, shines like the sun."
Then Māra the Evil One, etc. disappeared right there.
8.
The Discourse on Almsfood
154. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Magadhans at Pañcasālā, a brahmin village. Now at that time at Pañcasālā, the brahmin village, there were gift-givings for the young girls. Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, entered Pañcasālā, the brahmin village, for almsfood. Now at that time the brahmin householders of Pañcasālā had been possessed by Māra the Evil One - "Let not the ascetic Gotama obtain almsfood."
Then the Blessed One entered Pañcasālā, the brahmin village, for almsfood with his bowl as washed, and departed with his bowl as washed. Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said this to the Blessed One - "Did you, ascetic, obtain almsfood?" "So you, Evil One, acted in such a way that I would not obtain almsfood." "If so, venerable sir, let the Blessed One enter Pañcasālā, the brahmin village, for almsfood a second time. I shall act in such a way that the Blessed One will obtain almsfood."
What do you think, Evil One, does not my evil ripen?
We shall be feeders on rapture, like the radiant gods."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.
9.
The Discourse on the Farmer
155. At Sāvatthī. Now at that time the Blessed One was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with Nibbāna. And those monks, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listen to the Teaching with ears inclined.
Then this occurred to Māra the Evil One: "This ascetic Gotama is instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching connected with Nibbāna... etc. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama for the purpose of blinding their vision." Then Māra the Evil One, having created the appearance of a farmer, having placed a great plough on his shoulder, having taken a long goad-stick, with dishevelled hair, clothed in hempen cloth, with feet smeared with mud, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said this to the Blessed One - "Have you, ascetic, seen my oxen?" "But what have you to do with oxen, Evil One?" "Mine alone, ascetic, is the eye, mine are forms, mine is the sense base of eye-contact-consciousness. Where, ascetic, having gone, will you escape from me? Mine alone, ascetic, is the ear, mine are sounds... etc. mine alone, ascetic, is the nose, mine are odours; mine alone, ascetic, is the tongue, mine are flavours; mine alone, ascetic, is the body, mine are tangible objects; mine alone, ascetic, is the mind, mine are mental phenomena, mine is the sense base of mind-contact-consciousness. Where, ascetic, having gone, will you escape from me?"
"Yours alone, Evil One, is the eye, yours are forms, yours is the sense base of eye-contact-consciousness. But where, Evil One, there is no eye, there are no forms, there is no sense base of eye-contact-consciousness, there is no access for you there, Evil One. Yours alone, Evil One, is the ear, yours are sounds, yours is the sense base of ear-contact-consciousness. But where, Evil One, there is no ear, there are no sounds, there is no sense base of ear-contact-consciousness, there is no access for you there, Evil One. Yours alone, Evil One, is the nose, yours are odours, yours is the sense base of nose-contact-consciousness. But where, Evil One, there is no nose, there are no odours, there is no sense base of nose-contact-consciousness, there is no access for you there, Evil One. Yours alone, Evil One, is the tongue, yours are flavours, yours is the sense base of tongue-contact-consciousness... etc. yours alone, Evil One, is the body, yours are tangible objects, yours is the sense base of body-contact-consciousness... etc. yours alone, Evil One, is the mind, yours are mental phenomena, yours is the sense base of mind-contact-consciousness. But where, Evil One, there is no mind, there are no mental phenomena, there is no sense base of mind-contact-consciousness, there is no access for you there, Evil One."
If here your mind is present, you will not escape from me, ascetic."
Thus know, Evil One, you will not even see my path."
Then Māra the Evil One, etc. disappeared right there.
10.
The Discourse on Kingship
156. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans in the Himalayan region in a forest hut. Then, when the Blessed One had gone to a private place and was in seclusion, this reflection arose in his mind: "Is it possible to exercise kingship without killing, without causing to kill, without conquering, without causing to conquer, without sorrowing, without causing to sorrow, righteously?"
Then Māra the Evil One, having known with his mind the reflection in the mind of the Blessed One, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he said this to the Blessed One - "Let the Blessed One exercise kingship, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One exercise kingship without killing, without causing to kill, without conquering, without causing to conquer, without sorrowing, without causing to sorrow, righteously." "But what do you see in me, Evil One, that you speak to me thus - 'Let the Blessed One exercise kingship, venerable sir, let the Fortunate One exercise kingship without killing, without causing to kill, without conquering, without causing to conquer, without sorrowing, without causing to sorrow, righteously'?" "The four bases for spiritual power, venerable sir, have been developed by the Blessed One, cultivated, mastered, made a basis of, practised, accumulated, and thoroughly undertaken. And if he wishes, venerable sir, the Blessed One could resolve that the Himalaya, the king of mountains, be gold, and it would be gold."
Even twice that would not be enough for one, knowing this, one should live righteously.
How could that being incline towards sensual pleasures;
Having understood that clinging is attachment in the world,
A being should train for the removal of that very thing."
Then Māra the Evil One, thinking "the Blessed One knows me, the Fortunate One knows me", afflicted and unhappy, disappeared right there.
The second chapter.
Its summary:
Bowl, sense base, almsfood, farmer, with kingship - these are ten.