🧡 If you find benefit in my videos, consider supporting the channel by joining us on Patreon and get fun extras like exclusive videos, ad-free audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂
Hi Doug, I would love to see a video about “A day in the life of Doug”. It would be great to see a day vlog of a normal day for you and when you fit in your meditation and how you apply your practice in your daily life!
😄 Thanks for the thought Edith, my concern is that it would be pretty boring! Maybe if I can figure out a way to make sure people don't fall asleep I'll try. Meanwhile I did do an earlier video on constructing a daily practice. It reflects on my own: ua-cam.com/video/ncECq2tcHnc/v-deo.html
This is AWESOME! I've been experiencing voices and internal pressures around my Chakras... The message states its Evil, and it's come to destroy me. Confused (because I experience no disconnect with reality... "Psychosis") I've associated it with Mara... but as an enemy... an enemy to resist. Your explanation shows me a much more vast meaning of what Mara is. I now have a much more awareness of how I should proceed. THANK YOU DUDE!!!😅
Doug, thanks for your explanation. May I say that mara at a personal level is somewhat equal to our ego. It's our ego that prevents us from detachment from all the worldly pleasure, keep us arrogant and defensive from whatever we perceived as threat. These are also apart of the Mara's attributes.
Maara is living in the 6th heaven...Paranimmitha Wasawarthi is the name of that heaven...Because of that we called to the maara as Wasawarthi maara... Thank for your teachings.. Theravada Buddhist from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
Great video, Doug. Really like the cosmological and personal distinction of Mara. And unbelievably true that discontent leads to wanting sense pleasures as a distraction instead of seeing it with wisdom. I feel that especially when working from home every day. A lot of intital aversion to overcome.
Thanks Doug! I really appreciate how you covered this topic. I agree that Mara may be experienced as an obstruction, but I believe it’s unique to the individual. Several years ago I had my first real moment of understanding what Mara means to me. I had a sudden and overwhelming moment of self doubt. It was like everything I had experienced, worked for, and believe in meant nothing. I went to war with myself, and my ego was the enemy. I intellectually knew about Mara before that, but that was the first time I had experienced anything like that. Thank you for these videos. I really enjoy your perspective. ☺️
Really appreciate this explanation of Mara, thank you. I've tried to explain it to others several times when I've been asked and have not done any where near as good a job as this so grateful for your guidance.
Personalizing our own internal tendencies and your examples of birth and death through a passion, creating a sense of self being reborn and dying to that passion, brings to mind Dependent Origination as taught by Buddhadasa. Each time there is contact, feeling, craving, clinging, becoming, birth and death, and it can happen many times throughout each day, there is a rebirth of self. Thank you for this video.
Isnt Mara symbolic to being our Ego? I Remember I had a dream about me being ego less and I cared about everyone and everything without attachment. Then some being came to me and said "Please be me...". (Which was I guess supposed to be my ego) but then I said..."why do you want me to be you? You are an illusion". The Ego looked scared and said "This is all I am and I wish to be real..I wish to be alive forever...I dont want to cease so please attach to me". I felt sort of bad because...even though its an illusion and its not real, I could understand why it want to BE real and live forever and this made me sad. I don't know what to do. I feel like...is their a way to get our EGO to be "one" with us?...even though the point of ego is "Separation"...I just...feel bad. What do I do? Should I feel bad? Is there a way? I need help :(
That's a tough one Krystalized ... Yes in a sense I think Māra can be thought of as a symbol of our "ego" or our sense of self, of clinging to this or that as "who I am". The Buddhist understanding here would be that the 'feeling bad' comes through clinging, when the object of the clinging goes away, as it inevitably will when things change. So sit with it and see what changes.
When siddharta became enlightened and setting under the tree through the day, mara came to him before the sunrise appears from the horizon in the morning with his army of greedfull desires. Because the morning is a time mara comes and have his way.
Great video Doug, I think this is one of your most insightful ones yet. Your explanation of the reproduction of our selves really tied together for me how clinging and the cycles of life-and-death are related.
I first encountered the name "Mara" when reading the life story of Siddhartha Gautama, I had a very difficult time trying to figure who or what Mara is. I had no idea whether "Mara" is a real being or just a mental mirage. Eventually I had settled on accepting it as all the weaknesses of living beings. Then I'd found on some Buddhist websites that Mara is a powerful deva in the heavenly sector of the Kamaloka realm. It just confuses me even more. I've always thought that anyone who can reached the realms of heaven must be virtuous beings. Mara seems like a very destructive being who constantly does everything he could to drag people down. How could such a non-virtuous being get so much merit to ascend into the heavenly realm?
Thanks again for the awesome work you do, you're a great spiritual friend. It'd be cool to have a Meditation device that could read your brain waves and tell you which hinderences are arising.. 🧐 Many Mara mirages..
I mean, it can be both. Even the Christian / Abrahamic Gtod can't just be treated as just "an existing God" - though I imagine it varies depending on the various branches of Buddhism.
Absolutely can't agree with your explanation of the word Mãra. I am Latvian (Europe, Baltic) and we have the ancient pagan goddess Mãra which is no way associated with death or punishment or whatever evil. We have also the women name Mãra. I can't tell you exactly (don't want to lie guessing) but the meaning is very positive, blessing.
Mara isn’t just the “god of death” he’s already said this. Nor is Mara looked at in really a negative way. Death isn’t seen as something “negative” in Buddhism, maybe in your culture or whatever but not Buddhism
@@kendallrivera8995 I just think it is not wise to relate the meaning of words into another languages - for example shortened name of Russians "Gała" means "meat" in Latvian (absolutely the same pronunciation) and the word "né" in Greek which means "yes" in Latvian means "no". Careful with words in different languages 😉😁
Mara the goddess comes from the same etymological root for mother. Mara from Latvian and Mara from Sanskrit are false cognates and he wasn't talking about every word Mara from every language just the ones with the same historical root meaning death.
Yes duedonthasopha has it right ... there are many false cognates of Māra, it's a pretty common name. I'd expect the Latvian goddess is from a different root word.
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
🧡 If you find benefit in my videos, consider supporting the channel by joining us on Patreon and get fun extras like exclusive videos, ad-free audio-only versions, and extensive show notes: www.patreon.com/dougsseculardharma 🙂
Hi Doug, I would love to see a video about “A day in the life of Doug”. It would be great to see a day vlog of a normal day for you and when you fit in your meditation and how you apply your practice in your daily life!
😄 Thanks for the thought Edith, my concern is that it would be pretty boring! Maybe if I can figure out a way to make sure people don't fall asleep I'll try. Meanwhile I did do an earlier video on constructing a daily practice. It reflects on my own: ua-cam.com/video/ncECq2tcHnc/v-deo.html
you have a very calm voice, doug. you are a great person to listen to.
Thanks Noah, glad you are enjoying the videos. 🙏
This is AWESOME!
I've been experiencing voices and internal pressures around my Chakras... The message states its Evil, and it's come to destroy me.
Confused (because I experience no disconnect with reality... "Psychosis") I've associated it with Mara... but as an enemy... an enemy to resist.
Your explanation shows me a much more vast meaning of what Mara is. I now have a much more awareness of how I should proceed.
THANK YOU DUDE!!!😅
Great lovely lucid discussion linked to our life.
Thank you!
Doug, thanks for your explanation. May I say that mara at a personal level is somewhat equal to our ego. It's our ego that prevents us from detachment from all the worldly pleasure, keep us arrogant and defensive from whatever we perceived as threat. These are also apart of the Mara's attributes.
Yes, I think that's a good way to look at it Simon. As we lose our clinging ego, Māra ceases to have control over us.
love the depth and clarity in explaining these topics, great channel
Much appreciated Charles!
Maara is living in the 6th heaven...Paranimmitha Wasawarthi is the name of that heaven...Because of that we called to the maara as Wasawarthi maara...
Thank for your teachings..
Theravada Buddhist from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
Great video, Doug. Really like the cosmological and personal distinction of Mara. And unbelievably true that discontent leads to wanting sense pleasures as a distraction instead of seeing it with wisdom. I feel that especially when working from home every day. A lot of intital aversion to overcome.
That's right Emil, it's perfectly natural but doesn't really help in the long run! Thanks for your comment.
Thanks Doug! I really appreciate how you covered this topic. I agree that Mara may be experienced as an obstruction, but I believe it’s unique to the individual. Several years ago I had my first real moment of understanding what Mara means to me. I had a sudden and overwhelming moment of self doubt. It was like everything I had experienced, worked for, and believe in meant nothing. I went to war with myself, and my ego was the enemy. I intellectually knew about Mara before that, but that was the first time I had experienced anything like that. Thank you for these videos. I really enjoy your perspective. ☺️
You're very welcome Diana, thanks for your insight!
Really appreciate this explanation of Mara, thank you. I've tried to explain it to others several times when I've been asked and have not done any where near as good a job as this so grateful for your guidance.
Glad you found it helpful Jeff!
The brilliancy of this video should be dignified with an artwork:
👹👹👹👹👹
👹 👹
👹 🧘♂️ 👹
👹 👹
👹👹👹👹👹
😋🙏🏻
Excellent xiao mao! 😄
Personalizing our own internal tendencies and your examples of birth and death through a passion, creating a sense of self being reborn and dying to that passion, brings to mind Dependent Origination as taught by Buddhadasa. Each time there is contact, feeling, craving, clinging, becoming, birth and death, and it can happen many times throughout each day, there is a rebirth of self. Thank you for this video.
That's right Aron, I think there are a lot of similarities there.
This makes sense to me when you discuss these metaphors from an ordinary life perspective.
🙏😊
I really appreciate the linguistic care you put into your videos, very helpful!
My pleasure!
So "Mara" is everything that we attach ourselves to gain pleasures and it eventually gives us pain.
Yes well Mara is the guy giving you the pleasures and pains of life, trying to keep you attached. In a manner of speaking. 😊
Thanks Doug♥️
Very welcome Anthony!
Isnt Mara symbolic to being our Ego?
I Remember I had a dream about me being ego less and I cared about everyone and everything without attachment. Then some being came to me and said "Please be me...". (Which was I guess supposed to be my ego) but then I said..."why do you want me to be you? You are an illusion". The Ego looked scared and said "This is all I am and I wish to be real..I wish to be alive forever...I dont want to cease so please attach to me". I felt sort of bad because...even though its an illusion and its not real, I could understand why it want to BE real and live forever and this made me sad. I don't know what to do. I feel like...is their a way to get our EGO to be "one" with us?...even though the point of ego is "Separation"...I just...feel bad. What do I do? Should I feel bad? Is there a way? I need help :(
That's a tough one Krystalized ... Yes in a sense I think Māra can be thought of as a symbol of our "ego" or our sense of self, of clinging to this or that as "who I am". The Buddhist understanding here would be that the 'feeling bad' comes through clinging, when the object of the clinging goes away, as it inevitably will when things change. So sit with it and see what changes.
@@DougsDharma Thank you so much 🙏🏽
When siddharta became enlightened and setting under the tree through the day, mara came to him before the sunrise appears from the horizon in the morning with his army of greedfull desires. Because the morning is a time mara comes and have his way.
🙏
Great video Doug, I think this is one of your most insightful ones yet. Your explanation of the reproduction of our selves really tied together for me how clinging and the cycles of life-and-death are related.
Glad you found it helpful Pranav. 🙏
Wonderful work! Thank you!
Sadhu sadhu
My pleasure! 😊
Love from Malaysia ❤️
🙏🙂
🙏🏽
I first encountered the name "Mara" when reading the life story of Siddhartha Gautama, I had a very difficult time trying to figure who or what Mara is. I had no idea whether "Mara" is a real being or just a mental mirage. Eventually I had settled on accepting it as all the weaknesses of living beings. Then I'd found on some Buddhist websites that Mara is a powerful deva in the heavenly sector of the Kamaloka realm. It just confuses me even more. I've always thought that anyone who can reached the realms of heaven must be virtuous beings. Mara seems like a very destructive being who constantly does everything he could to drag people down. How could such a non-virtuous being get so much merit to ascend into the heavenly realm?
Good question Andrew, though Māra isn't strictly evil; he's just trying to keep people within saṁsāra.
True
If you ever do seminars let me know! ✌️😁📿🙏📿
Well I have courses over at onlinedharma.org/ ... 🙂🙏
Nice video
Thanks Samyak!
Hey Doug, where did you find the Buddha statue on the stack of books behind you? It’s v nice. Thanks
I got it through eBay of all places! 😄
Thanks again for the awesome work you do, you're a great spiritual friend.
It'd be cool to have a Meditation device that could read your brain waves and tell you which hinderences are arising.. 🧐 Many Mara mirages..
You're very welcome Tyler, yes that would be pretty funny, though I imagine we could do that ourselves with enough mindfulness! 😄
@@DougsDharma True, I sense some arisen torpor in my last comment 🤣
Very nice Sir. Can you pls help us understand what is the state of neither perception nor non-perception?
Thanks Vahibha! I discuss the formless attainments in this video: ua-cam.com/video/DhVgoMouLy8/v-deo.html
🙏
🙏🙂
Please make a video on vipassana(a form of meditation).
Thanks and Regards
Santosh
You can find it here: ua-cam.com/video/PNZRDPpszkI/v-deo.html
Thanks you have very Deep knowledge about Buddhism. Love from India🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
The great distraction?
Yes, the great distractor!
I don't know if it's related, but in Indonesian marah means anger
More like 'mara bahaya' that's related for sure
Interesting! I have no idea whether or not they're related.
@@chasestefanson8501 oh! that's true.
Is Mara meant to be a concept or an existing god as in christianity?
I mean, it can be both. Even the Christian / Abrahamic Gtod can't just be treated as just "an existing God" - though I imagine it varies depending on the various branches of Buddhism.
Yes Māra can be understood either way. I prefer to understand him as a kind of metaphor or symbol.
Its both
Absolutely can't agree with your explanation of the word Mãra. I am Latvian (Europe, Baltic) and we have the ancient pagan goddess Mãra which is no way associated with death or punishment or whatever evil. We have also the women name Mãra. I can't tell you exactly (don't want to lie guessing) but the meaning is very positive, blessing.
Mara isn’t just the “god of death” he’s already said this. Nor is Mara looked at in really a negative way. Death isn’t seen as something “negative” in Buddhism, maybe in your culture or whatever but not Buddhism
@@kendallrivera8995 I just think it is not wise to relate the meaning of words into another languages - for example shortened name of Russians "Gała" means "meat" in Latvian (absolutely the same pronunciation) and the word "né" in Greek which means "yes" in Latvian means "no". Careful with words in different languages 😉😁
@@jenetgreenfield3667 oh okay 👍
Mara the goddess comes from the same etymological root for mother. Mara from Latvian and Mara from Sanskrit are false cognates and he wasn't talking about every word Mara from every language just the ones with the same historical root meaning death.
Yes duedonthasopha has it right ... there are many false cognates of Māra, it's a pretty common name. I'd expect the Latvian goddess is from a different root word.