Analogy · Ajahn Brahm

I know you, Māra

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The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

I know you Mara that's all just understanding and as soon as the monk the N the lay person or in this case the Buddha said that I know you Mara this guy marao he knows me and would droop his shoulders lower his head

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 22:41 (to 23:06)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

In the old texts, Mara the troublemaker is defeated not by force but by recognition: I know you, Mara. Then he hangs his head and leaves. Ajahn Brahm applies it to depression and grief: get to know the feeling instead of fighting it. It passes like any weather. Hang in there, and ask for help when you need it.

In brief (our summary)

Buddhist scriptures: Māra the mischief-maker is overcome not by fighting but by recognition — 'I know you, Māra' — whereupon he droops his shoulders, lowers his head and leaves. Applied to knowing depression rather than fighting it.

Teaching point

Naming and knowing an inner troublemaker takes its power more than battling it.

When this story may help

  • fighting depression
  • inner voices

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in Understanding suicide | Ajahn Brahm | 06-02-2015 · 2015-02-08 · ▶ watch from 22:41 to 23:06 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'marao' = Māra.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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