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When I talked to my wife about “Mara” once she looked at me like I said a bad word … then she explained the word is actually used as a vulgarism in Japan.
I assume people felt their little organ was some kind of “Mara” that drove them to do unbuddhist things, so that’s why they started calling the penis with the name “Mara”
Apparently there’s even a penis-monster named Mara created by the Japanese imaginative mind – it’s rather cool in a strange way … like a phallic Cthulhu:
http://mad-me.sakura.ne.jp/sblo_files/mad-me/image/35_mara01.jpg
Haaaaa-Haaaaaaaah!
As a fan of Lovecraft your .jpg was quite funny!
The nature of evil is personified in Mara, the Buddhist Devil, who represents temptation, sin, and death, while thefinal escape from evil. Until you have seen this beast straight in the eye you have not the slightest notion of what true evil really is and how swift and seductive it is. It is said that the power of Mara is activated you hold on to a singlethought or image and for us who study and devote our lives to contemplate the Mind´s original nature this is indeedtrue.
Mara as such is originally identified with Namuche, one of the wicked demons in Indian mythology with whom Indra struggles. Namuche is the mischievous spirit who prevents rain and produces drought. The name Namuche means “not letting go the waters.” or obstructor /divider of life-giving-force. However, Indra, the god of thunder-storms, forces him to surrender the fertilising liquids and restores the life-bringing element to the earth.
Mara is also called Papiyan the Wicked One or the Evil One, the Murderer, the Tempter, the king of the Heaven of sensual delight in addition he is said to be Varsavarti, meaning “he who fulfils all desires.”
Varsavarti, is according to mythology one of his favorite names. In his capacity as Varsavarti (pali – Varsavatti). Mara personifies the fulfilment of desire or the triple thirst -trishna, which is the thirst for existence, the thirst for pleasure and above all the thirst for power in whatever form.
This is not at all to detract from Tozen’s truly informative exegesis, but after seeing the link Methexis provided, any illusion I may have had that Methexis is unstained like the lotus has weakened somewhat.
Without likewise detracting from any serious-stamp, ol’ Mara is quite the favorite on the Dragon Mind of Zen video series over the years–it has the most hits and approvals.
I can only imagine that when this Tarot-series is completed, that the “Mara Card”, when drawn from the deck, would truly cause one to pause and reflect as to the significance of that particular draw.
In perfect seriousness there is no reason the series could not also be converted to an application for smart phones and portable computers. It might make a handy reference for people to refer to when they are not wi-fi acessible. This would follow on the innovative and quite superb you-tube series.
You intrigue me, n.yeti. Do you have the Tech-savvy skills to put this great concept together?
I neglected to thank-you for the compliment. For me, The Dragon Mind of Zen video series reminds me of something that PBS broadcasts at the end of a broadcast-day–the Star-Gazer series out of Ft. Lauderdale; imagine watching one DMOZ video each night, before retiring; it seems to have that feel to it.
Unfortunately not at present, but I cannot imagine this would present unsurmountable obstacles, and there may even be some kind of design software available which would convert what you already have into the right format without much trouble.
RE: the Star-Gazer series out of Ft. Lauderdale. Even beyond that. Words don’t describe them.
Now you’ve really got my head running wild; a software Apt that allows one to watch the series as stand-alone video; and as Tarot–highlighting one of the cards each time one clicks the bottom Black Dragon-Eye Mandala image–wild!!!
(I mean that in a good way!)
Great idea!
Of course this app would be available free. We’re presently waiting for a friend to get-well who’s going to be activating a new WordPress Plugin, Bookshelf Slider, here on the site that looks like a real-library-shelf design that can portray books and other such multimedia; this new Dragon Mind of Zen App could also be available. Both Tozen and our friend have also urged me to set-up a donation-button–like a bitcoin plugin, available for those who would like to contribute to our online Unborn Mind Zen Monastery here. Perhaps that suggestion could offset the cost for the development of this new app. Possibilities here…
The roots of a lotus are in the mud.