Categories: Cosmic Messengers
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Through our spiritual discussions, you may have already developed an understanding of what we call “Universal Representatives.” Today, we will deepen that understanding. Based on practical, lived experiences, we will explore the profound challenges these individuals face,the spiritual obstacles presented by a force known as Māra,and the incredible support they receive from righteous divine beings. This teaching is meant to bring greater clarity to your own journey.
You may have heard about Māra through various teachings, books, or media. You might have a basic idea of this figure, often called Māra the Deva. But to truly navigate the spiritual path, we need to understand who he is and the nature of the spiritual obstacles he creates.
Meet Māra: The Architect of Spiritual Obstacles
So, who is this being we call Māra? In the Buddhist teachings, Māra is not a devil in the Western sense, but a powerful celestial being, a deva, who resides in a heavenly realm. His name itself means “bringer of death” or “destroyer,” not of the physical body, but of spiritual progress. He is the ultimate architect of spiritual obstacles.
Māra possesses extraordinary abilities. He can read the thoughts of most beings, see their past lives, and even glimpse their future rebirths. He is the primary impediment to anyone who lives a spiritual life, upholds virtue (known as sīla), develops concentration (samādhi), or tries to live righteously.
His influence extends from individuals to entire communities. If there is a spiritual family, village, or even a country, he works to disrupt its harmony. He aims to break people down economically and mentally, pulling them away from their virtuous path.
His goal is to make you abandon your journey towards higher consciousness, whether you call it developing Universal Energy, Kundalini, or attaining the fruits of the path (magga-phala) and meditative absorptions (jhāna). He and his vast legion are dedicated to creating these spiritual obstacles. You may already be familiar with some of the ways we have discussed that he obstructs spiritual seekers in the world, and specifically in a spiritual land like Sri Lanka.
Are You a Universal Representative Fulfilling Your Purpose?
In a previous teaching, we spoke of “Universal Representatives” who are fulfilling their pāramitā. Pāramitā are noble qualities or “perfections” that are cultivated over many lifetimes to reach a high spiritual goal. It’s important to clarify who these individuals are.
Some of these representatives are fulfilling perfections to attain high positions in the dispensation of a future Buddha,for instance, to become a chief disciple. Others are on the long path to becoming a Buddha themselves. However, there is another crucial group I must highlight: there are people among us today who have come as Universal Representatives to achieve the ultimate goal of Arahantship,full liberation, or Nibbāna,in this very lifetime, under the teachings of Gotama Buddha. They are here to attain not just liberation, but also profound states like the eight meditative absorptions (aṭṭha-samāpatti) and the four kinds of analytical knowledge (paṭisambhidā-ñāṇa).
These individuals can be of any race, religion, or social standing. As I’ve mentioned before, their accumulated merit and the power of their past pāramitā will inevitably draw them towards the Buddha’s teachings. Once they connect with the path, they begin to practice and eventually share their experiential understanding of the Dhamma. This is already happening and will continue into the future. It is vital to understand that this group of dedicated practitioners exists among us.
Common Traps: How Māra Exploits Your Spiritual Doubts
For anyone trying to fulfill their pāramitā, Māra and his forces will create various spiritual obstacles. Let’s explore some common traps. Imagine you begin to feel you might be a person with a special spiritual purpose, but you are filled with doubt. To confirm this feeling, you might seek out a spiritual teacher, who could be a layperson or ordained, famous or unknown.
Here is where Māra sets his snares:
- The Seduction Trap: Let’s say you are an attractive woman. You approach a teacher for guidance. This teacher may be a counterfeit, only appearing spiritual to fulfill their own desires. As your connection deepens, what began as a spiritual inquiry could be manipulated into a romantic or even a sexual relationship.
- The Exploitation Trap: If the first trap doesn’t work, a false teacher might try to exploit you for financial gain or other worldly resources, using cunning methods disguised as spiritual guidance.
- The Doubt Trap: Even if neither of the above happens, the experience can leave you so disheartened that you abandon your aspiration, believing it was all a delusion.
These traps are set for both men and women, of any age. This is a deliberate strategy by Māra to delay your journey through saṃsāra (the cycle of rebirth) and make you give up on your profound resolutions. This is one of the most common and potent spiritual obstacles.
A Deeper Obstacle: The Story of a Bodhisattva’s Mother
To understand the depth of these spiritual obstacles, consider the life of our own Buddha-to-be, the Bodhisatta. If you read the Jataka stories, the tales of his past lives, or texts like the Paramita Prakaraṇaya by the venerable Rerukane Chandawimala Thero, you will see how Mara relentlessly tried to prevent him from reaching Buddhahood, making the path seem unbearably harsh.
Let’s take a specific example. Imagine a woman who is fulfilling the pāramitā to one day become the mother of a great Bodhisatta, such as the future Buddha Metteyya. She may not even give birth to the specific child she aspires to in every lifetime; sometimes she becomes the mother to other Bodhisattas on their journey. For instance, the one destined to be Metteyya’s mother might, in another life, have been the mother of our own Bodhisatta, Prince Siddhartha.
This noble aspiration presents a target for Māra. Her life may become a trial for one of two reasons: first, due to the ripening of her own past negative actions (kamma), or second, Māra sees this karmic vulnerability and exploits it to amplify her suffering. She might find herself in an unsuitable marriage with a man who offers no support. Neither financial nor emotional,and only brings her pain. She could be left to raise children alone, struggling in deep poverty just to survive. This is a severe form of spiritual obstacles.
But here is the crucial difference: unlike an ordinary person overwhelmed by suffering, she possesses an inner knowing. She understands, “I am enduring these hardships because I am fulfilling a great perfection.” This realization gives her the strength not just to survive, but to strive.
Fueled by the power of her accumulated pāramitā from countless past lives, she finds the energy to educate her children, build them a future, and provide for them. Her past perfections inevitably bear fruit, giving her the fortitude to overcome the immense pressure and continue her sacred task.
Māra’s Reach: From Personal Life to Global Affairs
The example of the Bodhisatta’s mother is just one illustration. You must apply this understanding to every kind of noble aspiration. These spiritual obstacles are universal. Whether one is aspiring to be the wife of a future Buddha, the father, a loyal friend like Channa who assisted Prince Siddhartha, a chief male or female disciple (like Sāriputta or Khemā), or a great lay supporter (like Visākhā), Māra will interfere.
He operates on every level. He will create strife with your siblings over property. He will turn your own parents and relatives against you. He might cause you to lose your job, destroying your financial stability. The scope of his interference is almost unimaginable.
On a larger scale, he can inflict hardship upon an entire country through corrupt and unrighteous rulers, creating political and economic chaos. The goal is to make people forget their spiritual heritage, to erase their history, and to instill such deep doubt that they abandon their path. It is essential to recognize this as the nature of Māra’s work. He creates these spiritual obstacles to break your resolve.
Your Inner Resilience and the Blessings of the Enlightened
Despite this relentless onslaught of spiritual obstacles, a person fulfilling pāramitā does not ultimately collapse. Why? Because they are supported by a vast reservoir of inner strength built over countless lifetimes. Their past perfections,of virtue (sīla), meditative cultivation, generosity, patience, and the merit gained from helping other Bodhisattas,act as a powerful foundation. This inner capital helps them endure the pressure, whether it’s a husband leaving, a divorce, or financial ruin.
Furthermore, on their long journey through saṃsāra, they receive the blessings of enlightened beings. They are guided by Arahants (fully liberated ones) and Pacceka Buddhas (silent Buddhas) whom they meet along the way. And when their perfections are mature, they will inevitably meet a fully enlightened Buddha and receive a definite prophecy of their future attainment. This enlightened assurance, combined with their own resolute determination, makes Mara’s efforts ultimately futile.
Historically, Mara has never won such a battle. The most he can do is cause delays. In his attempts to create spiritual obstacles, he and his followers only accumulate immense negative kamma for themselves. When their time as Maras is over, they will fall into lower realms of existence, such as the Four Hells, and even the deepest hell, Avīci, to experience profound suffering as a result of obstructing such noble beings. It’s vital to remember this when facing challenges.
You Are Not Alone: The Support of Righteous Deities
Now, let’s turn from the darkness of spiritual obstacles to the light of divine support. The beings who help those on a spiritual path are known as Sammā Diṭṭhika devas, deities who hold Right View. This includes righteous beings from the highest Brahma worlds, the deva realms, and even powerful beings from other planes like the Yakkhas, Nāgas, Kumbhāṇḍas, and Gandhabbas.
These beings form a vast, invisible network of support. They protect and guide all who are fulfilling pāramitā, regardless of their current age, gender, race, or religion. Over time, these seekers will be drawn back to the true path. No matter how many spiritual obstacles Māra creates, this divine council provides protection and correct guidance, aided by the seeker’s own accumulated meritorious energy.
No one, not even a great Bodhisatta, undertakes this journey entirely alone. While the perfections, giving one’s own eyes, flesh, and blood, are fulfilled individually, there is always an unseen force of deities helping. Think of the story of our Buddha. Deities invited him to leave the Tuite heaven for his final birth. The god Sakka disguised himself to show him the Four Sights, which prompted his renunciation.
From cutting his hair to his final battle with Mara’s ten-fold army, deities were present, offering their support. The moment you make a firm aspiration for a great spiritual goal, be it Buddhahood, Arahant ship, or becoming the parent of a Buddha, you connect to this divine network. From that day forward, they are there to help you.
How Divine Guardianship Works in Daily Life
How does this divine help manifest in your daily life? Even if you are currently living an unvirtuous life,perhaps you drink to excess, engage in sexual misconduct, or break the five precepts, the moment a true spiritual aspiration arises, the deities begin their work.
When the time is right, they help you understand your path. They will gradually steer your mind towards wholesome conduct. You’ll find yourself wanting to stop drinking. Your desire to lie, steal, or harm others will diminish. You will be guided to become a virtuous person.
They also help you navigate the spiritual obstacles created by Mara or your own kamma, such as financial or family problems. But their help is wise, not indulgent. Let’s use an analogy. Suppose you need 100,000 units of currency a month to live simply and practice.
But if you received 150,000, that extra 50,000 would lead you to break your precepts through sensual indulgence. Mara would try to give you that extra 50,000 to cause your downfall. The righteous deities, however, will ensure you only receive the 100,000 you truly need.
They know you better than you know yourself. You might get angry and blame them, you might even stop making offerings. But they do not get offended. They see you as a parent sees a toddler who hits them, with compassion, not anger. They provide just enough support, a vehicle, a home, resources, for your spiritual journey to continue, but not enough to let you go astray. This is their tough love, protecting you from the greatest spiritual obstacle: your own unbridled desires.
The Mark of a True Seeker: A Life of Simplicity
You can often recognize those on this path by their trajectory. Some people who are not fulfilling pāramitā may spend their entire lives chasing wealth and sensual pleasure, only to die in regret, with no spiritual understanding. This can happen to the rich and poor alike.
In contrast, a person with a deep spiritual aspiration, even if born into great wealth, will eventually feel a pull towards simplicity. They may have spent years indulging in sense pleasures, but a time comes when it feels empty. This is when the deities, aided by the seeker’s own wholesome tendencies from the past, gently pull them towards a life of virtue. They become simple people. They stop chasing after more and more money.
Those fulfilling pāramitā love simplicity, freedom, peace, and harmony. They are drawn to meditation. A key characteristic is that they are always trying to correct their own faults and shortcomings, as if they are already training to be an Arahant. They are vigilant about not harming others. As they purify their minds and strengthen themselves through their past perfections, it becomes even easier for the deities to help them overcome spiritual obstacles.
The Enduring Battle: They Never Give Up, and Neither Should You
This brings us to the nature of this enduring battle. You must remember this: Māra and his forces will never give up. They will have agents assigned specifically to you, trying to create spiritual obstacles and knock you off your path until the very day you die. They will not abandon their game.
But just as relentlessly, the righteous deities will not abandon you either. They will continue to guide and protect you, all the way to your final goal. Even if that goal is to be achieved in a future life under another Buddha, they will see you through. When you understand the sheer scale of the support you receive from these divine beings, you may feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Therefore, it is good to share merits with them, not out of attachment or aversion, but as a simple act of thanks. This understanding of the cosmic network of support and the nature of spiritual obstacles should bring great clarity to your journey.
Your Practice is Your Shield: An Action Plan for the Path
So what is your role in navigating these spiritual obstacles and receiving this support? Your practice is your greatest shield and your strongest magnet for help. I believe this teaching is sufficient for now, so before concluding, my final advice is this:
- Practice Meditation: Persistently develop your mind through both tranquility meditation (samatha-bhāvanā) and insight meditation (vipassanā-bhāvanā).
- Cultivate the Threefold Training: Constantly uphold and develop your Virtue (Sīla), Concentration (Samādhi), and Wisdom (Paññā).
- Engage in Wholesome Acts: Practice loving-kindness meditation, make offerings at sacred places, support the monastic Sangha, and engage in regular chanting and rituals.
The more you dedicate yourself to these practices, the more your mind becomes pure and concentrated. The purer your mind, the easier it is for the righteous deities to help you, and the more resilient you become to Mara’s attacks. As you purify your heart, you will be able to successfully overcome all spiritual obstacles and move forward on your path.
With the blessings and power of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, may you all be able to grasp these matters well and act accordingly.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments section below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
