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Turning Māra into Buddha: Stopping to Transform Suffering
The story of the Venerable Ānanda and a visit from Māra the tempter illustrates the non-dual relationship between the Buddha and Māra, which is like the relationship between a flower and garbage. Just as a gardener transforms garbage into compost to grow flowers, suffering is the organic matter necessary to cultivate peace and joy. Everything is of an organic nature; love can transform into hate, and Māra can be transformed into Buddha if one knows how to handle the garbage. We all possess Buddhatā, or Buddha nature, which allows the Buddha to be born in our hearts every moment. While Ānanda practiced the Five Precepts and served as an attendant, he learned that even the Buddha faces difficulties, such as being misunderstood or having his teachings distorted.
The practice of śamatha, or stopping, is essential for healing, much like a wounded animal in the jungle that simply lies down to rest. Humans have a habit of running that has lasted for four or five thousand years, yet the key to restoring health is not doing anything and allowing the body and consciousness to rest. Fasting for up to three or four weeks allows the body to clean itself, while the process of mental detoxification eliminates toxins accumulated over the years:
- Fear
- Craving
- Anger
- Despair
Meditation involves two elements: 1. śamatha (stopping) and 2. vipaśyanā (looking deeply). By establishing oneself in the present moment, one can touch the wonders of life and embrace positive qualities: 1. joy, 2. happiness, 3. love, and 4. compassion. This mindfulness is applied to daily activities such as eating a string bean, where one sees the work of the stars, sun, clouds, earth, and water. To transform suffering on a societal scale, such as drug addiction among the youth, a collective Sangha is required, including:
- Lay people
- Government officials
- Doctors
- Psychotherapists
- Educators
- Artists
