The eight armies of Mara -

The inner forces that obstruct awakening.



On the night of his awakening, Siddhartha Gautama encountered
Mara and his "devil" army, who attempted to prevent his awakening.

In the Padhana Sutta, the Buddha identifies the Mara armry as
a series of forces that obstruct liberation.

Mara is a "negative" being within Buddhist cosmology,
but ultimately Mara represents grapsing, fear, doubt, etc
that obstruct awakening.

1) Sensual desire : "Sensual pleasures are your first army"
Attachment to pleasurable experience. Distraction, consumption, addiction.

2) Discontent : The inability to be at ease with what is present.
Comparison, restlessness, "not enough"

3) Hunger and thirst : The persistent sense of lack.
"I need more to become complete."

4) Craving : Desire becoming attachment: "I must have this."
compulsive pursuit and inability to let go.

5) Sloth and torpor : Dullness, passivity, and loss of energy.
Avoidance and procrastination.

6) Fear : Fear of uncertainty, loss, change and the dissolution
of familiar identity.

7) Doubt : Doubt that prevents direct practice and realization.
Endless questioning without moving forward.

8) Hypocrisy and stubbornness : The ego can even appropriate
Dharma as a source of pride and superiority. "I understand
Dharma better than others."

The Padhana Sutta also names "Mara's Subtle Weapons":

Gain - Fame - Honor - Prestige - Self Praise - Contempt for others.

The most subtle form of Mara is not necessarily rejection of Dharma.
It is turning Dharma into "me" and "mine."

"I will smash your army with discernment."

Sutta Nipatat 3.2

The Buddha does not need to destroy Mara.

He becomes unavailable to Mara.

The forces arise, but they are not grasped.

To see Mara is to recognize the obstacle.
To understand Mara is to see its conditions.
To not follow Mara is to overcome it.

artofbuddhadharma _/\_