Dharma talk Weapons to subdue mara preaching by Nun Thich Nu Nhu Lan in the 103rd Seven-day Retreat

On the 6th day in the 103rd Retreat of Aug. 30th, 2024, Nun Thich Nu Nhu Lan, Member of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Director Board, Abbot of Hung Thien pagoda, Dong Thap preached a Dharma talk named Weapons to subdue mara in the Wheel Dharma Building's Main Hall.

There are countless obstacles and hardships on the path we take, whether it is the path of life or the path of religion, there will be many obstacles and difficulties. The Buddha taught that with willpower, determination and perseverance, we can overcome obstacles and defeat the devil. Like warriors, we must be determined to strive to attain liberation in this life, ending the cycle of birth and death in the three realms and six paths.

After a long time of striving to practice under the Bodhi tree, Buddha defeated the devil army, opening a bright path for humanity, which is Buddhism. With enough blessings to walk on the path of enlightenment, each practitioner should equip himself with the necessary weapons to defeat the devil army, and go straight on the path of deliverance.

Devil is the implication of obstacles on the path of practice, the upward direction, the direction of goodness. There are 4 types of devils:

1. The demon of afflictions: Afflictions are likened to an extremely scary type of demon. In daily life, we are confused, restless, and miserable due to greed, anger, ignorance, and afflictions, so they are called the demon of afflictions.

2. The demon of five aggregates: This is a demonic obstacle based on five aggregates, such as form (10 demons), feeling (10 demons), perception (10 demons), action (10 demons), and consciousness (10 demons).

3. The demon of death. Normally, there is birth and there is death, no one can avoid this rule, so we must courageously recognize and understand the truth. The important thing is what we do to benefit life while living, or where we come after death.

 4.The Heavenly Demon is the Mara of sixth-level heaven. Thanks to cultivating blessings, he was born in this heaven to enjoy all the pleasures...but because of his wrong views, attachments, he does not want anyone to control him. When the cultivating reaches a certain level, the practitioner threatens the palace of Mara. Therefore, cultivators are harassed by the Heavenly Demon and its subordinates to destroy the practitioner's wisdom and life.

The nun shared necessary weapons to defeat the demon army in the Nikaya scriptures.

+ The iron armor is to comply with precepts to protect practitioners. There are five precepts for Buddhists: don’t kill but release creatures, don’t steal but give alms, don’t commit adultery, don’t lie but always speak the truth, don’t drink alcohol but regularly go to the temple to listen to the Dharma. 

+ The precious sword is wisdom cuts off of afflictions, leaves greed, and destroys the samsara; Wisdom is a large boat, taking us out of the reincarnation; Wisdom is a bright lamp dispels the ignorance, leading us out of three realms and six paths since beginningless time.

 + The strength of a warrior is constantly diligent to master oneself, and to go straight on the path of liberation.

+ Mindfulness and concentration are not to be careless, always recite the Buddha's name.

The nun reminded the mass to diligently practice precepts-concentration-wisdom to keep the mind pure in four postures, and reside in the six words of Holy Name to subdue obstacles on the path to the Pure Land.

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