Oldal 387 [387]
OCR
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOUR DEMONS In the tantric commentary Notes on the Supreme Mandala of Glorious Kalacakra, Source of All Good Qualities (Tib. dPal dus kyi ‘khor lo’i dkyil chog yon tan kun ‘byung gi zin bris), Butôn (Bu ston rin chen grub, 1290-1364) explains that the four Maras in Kälacakra have the following significances:® — the demon of aggregates relates to the obscuration of body and the awaking state — the demon of emotional disturbances relates to the obscuration of speech and dream — the demon of the Lord of Death relates to obscuration of mind and dreamless sleep — the demon of the godly son relates to unawareness and the orgasmic state. If we examine the view of Dzogchen, we can find some descriptions of the Four Demons. For example, in the book The Dzogchen Primer we can read a quotation about them written by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, a contemporary master:’ “The first of the four demons is the demon of the Lord of Death, which cuts our life short. Second is the demon of the physical aggregates, which prevents the attainment of the rainbow body. Third is the demon of the disturbing emotions, the three poisons which prevent liberation from samsara. Finally there is the demon of the son of the gods, which is distraction in the meditation state and the tendency to postpone practice. Procrastination is the Mara of the son of the gods, which creates obstacles for samadhi. The real demon is our conceptual thinking. Falling into conceptualization is the demon. By recognizing our mind essence, all demons are defeated; the four Maras are vanquished and all obstacles are done away with. The main point is to train in that.” Four Obscurations in Meditation Tumhehi kiccamatappamakkhataro tathagata Patipanna pamokkhanti jhayino marabandhana (Dhammapada 276.) “You yourselves should make the effort; the Tathagatas (Buddhas) can only show the way. Those who practice the path of Meditation are freed from the bond of Mara.” 6 Berzin, A.: The Four Maras... 7 $mith, Marcia Binder: The Dzogchen Primer: An Anthology of Writings by Masters of the Great Perfection. Shambhala, Boston, Massachusetts 2002, Glossary, p. 289. 8 The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Tr. by Daw Mya Tin, M. A. Ed. by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association. Rangoon 1986. https://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=273. 385
