Are there demons or devils in Buddhism?

• Jacky Woo

  21 Aug 11, 23:43

  so are there any in mythology figures in Buddhism, like Satan?

• reborn76

  22 Aug 11, 12:31

  In Buddhism, we called demon, MARA. It was said, Buddha encounter it prior to his enlightenment. Traditionally, we classified Mara into

  • Psychological- the embodiment of all unskillful emotions.
  • Death, endless round of birth and death.
  • Metaphor for the entirety of conditioned existence.
  • Literal existent being  as a spiritual being who out to tempt or harm

  Sometime it is literal or metaphor, it is dependent on the circumstance and the context of the sutra. However, being a Mara does not imply is end of the world, because Mara can also tread on the path to enlightenment when he chose to forsake his evil way. In another word, Mara was not created by God but by his own desire.

  In Nichiren Shu, we honor Mother of Demon Sons (Kishimojin) as mentioned in Lotus Sutra Chpter 26, as part of Gohonzon's entity. Not because, we are demon worshipper or practising black magic. In the ancient world, people believe that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome was caused by such evil spirit. She was one of those spirit used to steal and kill babies as a living. Buddha tried to awaken her by stealing one of the favourite child, out of her 500 children. She was very upset and began to search all over the places for him. In the end, she went to consult Buddha. Buddha told her, "Since you still have 499 children, you should rejoice. What's the big fuss over a lost child. Have you consider how the parent feel when their child is kill by you?" In the end,she was awaken to the pain of losing a child and her former evil way. The Buddha return her child. Together with her children, she vowed to reform her evil way and seek to protect the people instead of harming them. The negative energy she possess can turn into positive energy in protecting us (Literal). Whether the story is real or not is subjective, just as it was written in the Bible in the books of Job. How Satan went before the God to seek permission to afflict Job.

  On a metaphor level, she remind us that everyone is capable of turning over a new leaf if one is guided by the truth. Even misfortune or things which under some circumstances can be very negative can also be catalysts for awakening. Hence we should never write anybody off as a hopeless case. We never know when there might be a sudden turn-around and then they will become our benefactor.

• FireIce

  22 Aug 11, 12:53

  urself
• Amitayus48

  22 Aug 11, 13:56

  In buddhism, mara can be a state of calm, bliss, buddha appearing etc arises during in deep meditation. This state of mara is from within as well, and is not easy to identify while in deep meditation of stillness - For instance when one was in a dream during sleeping, they never knew it was a dream. Likewise to mara, and it is far more "intelligent" than in a dream. Other than mara from deep meditation, is karmic debtors in the form of spirits etc.

• Domo Kun

  22 Aug 11, 14:09

  Wrong post
• sinweiy

  22 Aug 11, 14:31

  Actually, we should pity mara. As the definition for mara is due to their mistake, they 'zhe mo' (torture) themselves. We know how great was Buddha. After every Sutra we read at the end, those Qian Da Po, Qin Na Lo, Lo He Mo Lo, are all Maras. All take oathed to help Buddha, protect the Dharma. If in the Future buddhists who recite the sutras and are bother by anyone, they oathed to destory them. if not their heads will break/crack into 7 pieces. Maras are very afraid of swearing. But now they swear to Buddha. Look at how great is Buddha. So maras are not unchangable. When we change them, they no longer become mara.

  /\

• I No Stupid

  22 Aug 11, 15:08

  Originally posted by Jacky Woo:

  so are there any in mythology figures in Buddhism, like Satan?

  What good will God be if there is no Satan?

  Similarly, Buddhism like any other religion, there has to be personification of demons or devils.  Mara is something like Satan who is the 'alternate' voice or advocate.

  Demons, devils, spirits, departed souls, pontianaks, ghosts, vampires - whatever you called them existed in the minds of human a long long time ago.  Are you afraid of them?  Or are you like me, more afraid of humans?  hahahha.

• reborn76

  23 Aug 11, 13:11

  Originally posted by sinweiy:

  Actually, we should pity mara. As the definition for mara is due to their mistake, they 'zhe mo' (torture) themselves. We know how great was Buddha. After every Sutra we read at the end, those Qian Da Po, Qin Na Lo, Lo He Mo Lo, are all Maras. All take oathed to help Buddha, protect the Dharma. If in the Future buddhists who recite the sutras and are bother by anyone, they oathed to destory them. if not their heads will break/crack into 7 pieces. Maras are very afraid of swearing. But now they swear to Buddha. Look at how great is Buddha. So maras are not unchangable. When we change them, they no longer become mara.

  Hmmm Sinwei

  I am afraid those entities u mentioned, they are not Mara. They are parts of 天�八部.

   Qian Da Po乾闥婆譯為嗅香，以香為食，惟嗅香臭而長養，故亦云香陰，「五陰色身ã€�，其身出香，此是ä¾�奉天å¸�而å�¸å¥�音樂之神

  Qin Na Lo,緊那羅譯為疑神或疑人，其形似人而頭有一角，人見之常疑為似人或�人故�。是天�法樂神，居�寶山，身有異相，�上�樂

  Lo He Mo Lo, 摩�羅伽譯為大腹行，是爬行於地上者

  Pls refer to http://www.swastika.org.tw/introduction.htm for further reference or verify with your teacher.

  Regards

• lastime

  23 Aug 11, 21:55

  hihi,

         qian da po seems to be  gandabas(if i didnt spell wrongly) deities which are takes fragance as food and they are very expert in the playing of musical instruments,which they often do so to entertain the higher deities such as lord sakkra.

  Qin Na Loh sounds like kinara which is a type of deity with bird like features in thai buddhism  but the description sounds like gandabas also.

  Dont know what is Lo he mo lo..hmm

• 2009novice

  23 Aug 11, 23:10

  Mara is a deva residing at one of the heavenly planes leh... not a complete devil like Christianity

• sinweiy

  24 Aug 11, 09:05

  Originally posted by reborn76:

  Hmmm Sinwei

  I am afraid those entities u mentioned, they are not Mara. They are parts of 天�八部.

   Qian Da Po乾闥婆譯為嗅香，以香為食，惟嗅香臭而長養，故亦云香陰，「五陰色身ã€�，其身出香，此是ä¾�奉天å¸�而å�¸å¥�音樂之神

  Qin Na Lo,緊那羅譯為疑神或疑人，其形似人而頭有一角，人見之常疑為似人或�人故�。是天�法樂神，居�寶山，身有異相，�上�樂

  Lo He Mo Lo, 摩�羅伽譯為大腹行，是爬行於地上者

  Pls refer to http://www.swastika.org.tw/introduction.htm for further reference or verify with your teacher.

  Regards

  u are right. they are under 天龙八部. if i recall or forgot to mention it was their previous life, that they have been maras?. maybe the translation of "魔王" can be of general demon king, monster king, certain creature king as such.

  though 天龙八部 too wide a range. mara第六天魔王 can also be under the deva potion.

  anyway these 天龙八部 also became the disciples of Buddha.

  天龙八部
  http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A9%E9%BE%8D%E5%85%AB%E9%83%A8

  天龙八部包括：一天，二龙，三夜�，四乾闼婆，五阿修罗，六迦楼罗，七紧那罗，八摩�罗伽。

  第六天魔王, 簡稱天魔，�稱波旬�摩羅，梵文��「婆羅維摩婆奢跋��。
  http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AC%AC%E5%85%AD%E5%A4%A9%E9%AD%94%E7%8E%8B

  他化自在天 (mara dwelling)
  http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%96%E5%8C%96%E8%87%AA%E5%9C%A8%E5%A4%A9

  /\

• sinweiy

  24 Aug 11, 09:15

  Originally posted by 2009novice:

  Mara is a deva residing at one of the heavenly planes leh... not a complete devil like Christianity

  
  yes, number 6) Paranirmitavasavartin (Dwelling of Mara).

  他化自在天 (mara dwelling) or 摩醯首羅天
  http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BB%96%E5%8C%96%E8%87%AA%E5%9C%A8%E5%A4%A9

  there is an article on

  52) Various Types of Demons
  http://www.ymba.org/BWF/bwf73.htm#types

  External demons

  "External demons" take the form of various spirits, ghosts and deities. Once the cultivator has reached a certain level of attainment, he will be subject to demonic disturbances which will put him to the test. External demons may be divided into three groups.

  1. Terrorizing Demons

  2. Demons of Lust and Attachment

  3. Nuisance Demons

  Celestial Demons

  This refers to the type of demon that resides in the Sixth Heaven, also called the Heaven of Free Enjoyment of Others' Emanations. This type of demon possesses merits and blessings and enjoys the highest heavenly bliss in the Realm of Desire [of which our world is but a small part]. They then mistake such happiness and bliss as ultimate, and do not wish anyone to escape their influence.

  http://www.ymba.org/BWF/bwf73.htm#types

  /\

• Kosen pang

  27 Aug 11, 03:03

  Originally posted by FireIce:

  urself

  
  simi ?

   

  Anyway . yes there are when buddha was undergoing meditation he was disturbed multiple times by Mara(Demon) and other ghosts and Djinn creatures .

• sinweiy

  27 Aug 11, 10:06

  u mean the Keanu Reeves 1993 Movie "Little Buddha". last stage he need to fight is him"SELF". Self is the Mara. :D

   

  本是无佛亦无魔，�到境缘，关键在于如何对待

  　　问：在佛陀时代，�婆达多以五逆��的行为�磨难佛陀，并以逆增上缘�就了佛陀，所以他是��大�示现为魔的形象，虽堕地狱，但��地狱苦报。在当今这个颠倒的时代，有许多妖魔鬼怪化现���的形象，请问�法师，他们是�也�磨难佛或�就佛？我们应该如何识别与对待？

  　　答：你这个�说得也有��，佛跟魔是在你心里头，�在外头，外�无魔也无佛。(pretty zen saying) 你能够如�如法的对待，外�境界就是佛境界；���法，那外�境界就是魔。譬如说，你有个冤亲债主天天找你麻烦，天天�折磨你，你在�折磨而没有怨�心�没有瞋�心，那就是��，为什么？�就你�辱波罗蜜，�就你�戒波罗蜜，他真的�就你，所以说在一念之间；如果你�折磨的时候起怨�心，起了报�心，那就是魔，将�你们两个生生世世冤冤相报没完没了。一念之间��在外�，在自己内心。自己内心是真正学佛，�得起磨链，对于折磨的人，侮辱的人，陷害的人，你还会生感�的心，为什么？业障消了。就是在逆境�缘里头�起瞋�，没有报�，�而感�他替我消业障。无始今生的业障太多，�是这样的折磨，业障怎么消得掉？都在一念觉。所以我们一念觉，没有一法�是佛法；一念迷，佛法也是妖魔鬼怪，也没有佛法了，一念觉迷之差。这�会用，真正�得起考验。

  　　å�¯æ˜¯å­¦ä½›çš„人为什么在境界里é�¢å�—ä¸�了折磨？顺境生贪æ�‹ï¼Œé€†å¢ƒç”Ÿçž‹æ�šï¼Œå¯¹äºŽå®‡å®™äººç”Ÿçš„真相ä¸�知é�“，迷了，所以他起心动念与事实真相相è¿�背。在这ç§�情形之下，我们就晓得ç»�ä¸�能ä¸�读，å�¤äººæ‰€è®²ä¸‰å¤©ä¸�读圣贤书，é�¢ç›®å�¯æ†Žã€‚那就ä¸�åƒ�人。现在的人一天ä¸�读圣贤书就是妖魔鬼怪。ä¸�但è¦�读书，è¦�å�¬è®²ï¼Œä¸ºä»€ä¹ˆï¼Ÿç»�书你ä¸�一定能够看得懂，你ä¸�一定了解它的æ„�æ€�。读，ä¸�了解æ„�æ€�，ä¸�å¾—å�—用，所以一定è¦�明了通达，然å�Žåº”用在日常生活。生活当中ã€�工作之中，处事待人接物，知é�“怎么转境界。我们最近，《å�Žä¸¥ç»�》这一å“�“净行å“�”，那是法身è�©è�¨ï¼Œä½ çœ‹ä»–们怎么转境界法，举了一百四å��一个例å­�给我们看。我们è¦�学会了，那就是学普贤è�©è�¨ï¼Œè¿™æ˜¯å±žäºŽæ™®è´¤è¡Œã€‚普贤行在è�©è�¨é‡Œé�¢æ˜¯æœ€é«˜çš„ã€�最圆满的，圆修圆è¯�。

  　　我在离开新加å�¡ï¼Œç¦»å¼€æ–°åŠ å�¡æœ‰å››å¹´äº†ï¼Œç¦»å¼€çš„时候我给我们的å�Œå­¦å†™äº†ä¸¤å�¥è¯�，勉励大家，也是一副对è�”。上è�”是“处顺境”，环境一切都好，称心如æ„�，“éš�善缘”，缘是人事环境，周边的人都是善人ã€�都是好人，“ä¸�生贪痴”，这贪跟愚痴ä¸�生，ä¸�生贪痴，“ç¦�慧全现”；下è�”是“处逆境”，环境ä¸�好，处处都是障ç¢�，“éš�æ�¶ç¼˜”，周边的人都是æ�¶äººã€�都是冤亲债主，在这个环境里头“ä¸�èµ·çž‹æ�šï¼Œä¸šéšœå…¨æ¶ˆ”。你能懂得这个é�“ç�†ï¼Œæ— è®ºåœ¨ä»€ä¹ˆçŽ¯å¢ƒå½“中，无论在什么样人事当中，统统都是好因缘，都是帮助我们ã€�æˆ�就我们的。如果在境界里头起贪瞋痴慢，那就是魔，那就ä¸�是佛。佛是在任何环境决定ä¸�起贪瞋痴慢。（净空法师·ç­”香港å�‚å­¦å�Œä¿®ä¹‹äºŒå��一　2005/12/2）

  /\