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ZOLTÁN CSER As we have mentioned above the inner maras can be eliminated by the practice of meditation. One of the most popular meditation texts in the Pali Canon is the Mahdasatipatthdna sutta,? in which four levels or four bases of presence (sati) is differentiated. Reading about them makes it obvious that four kinds of obscuration exist that can be connected to the four bases: the body (kaya), sensation (vedanda), mind (citta) and all phenomena (dhamma). These obscurations are called avarana or nivarana (Tib. sgrib pa), namely — ripened karmic obscurations (Tib. las kyi sgrib pa) passion as obscuration (Tib nyon mongs pa’i sgrib pa) cognitive obscuration (Tib. shes bya’i sgrib pa) — residual or habitual imprints (Tib. bag chags kyi sgrib pa). A quite detailed explanation of the above mentioned four obscurations is available in the book of Thinley Norbu. In short, — karmic obscuration comes from committing countless unvirtuous deeds — obscuration by the countless passions or emotions can be condensed into the obscuration of the five passions — obscuration of not knowing is the “threefold sphere,” which is the three concomitants of object, subject, and action — obscuration of habit, according to Sutra, is a very subtle form of the obscuration of not knowing. According to Tantra, it is the basis of habit inherent in the three phenomena of body, speech, and mind." The Uttaratantrashastra includes: “Hostility towards the Dharma, the view that there is a self-entity, fear of samsara’s sufferings and disregard for benefitting beings are the four sorts of obscuration.”!! ° Mahaäsatipatthäna Sutta: The Great Frames of Reference. Pali Canon: Digha Nikaya, sutta 22. Tr. from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikhu (BCBS Edition). Thinley Norbu: The Small Golden Key to the Treasure of the Various Essential Necessities of General and Extraordinary Buddhist Dharma. Tr. by Lisa Anderson. Shambala, Boston — London 2012, p. 104. Fourth Vajrapoint 32. verse: English translation: Arya Maitreya — Acarya Asanga: The Changeless Nature, Mahayana Uttara Tantra Sastra. Tr. from the Tibetan by Ken and Katia Holmes Karma Drubgyud Darjay Ling (Karma Kagyu Trust). Second Edition. Kagyu Samye Ling, Tibetan Center, Scotland 1985, p. 33. 386
