Buddhists: Who or what is "Mara" to you?

Jury is out with me on whether or not there are actually any supernatural beings of any kind - angels, devils, devas, yakshas, rakshasas, asuras, gods, titans, or whatever you want to call them. I have yet to see or experience anything genuinely supernatural in my life aside from some odd coincidences, serendipities, and synchrnocities, and other such things. But the meaning and efficacy of Buddhist teachings and practice do not depend on believing in supernatural beings (though they are in the sutras and their existence is affirmed and not denied as you mention). So as far as I am concerned, until some Joss Whedonesque beastie shows up at my front door, for me, Mara is a metaphor for my own fears, delusions, weaknesses, and anything else that hinders my practice or keeps me locked into a negative or complacent state of mind.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,

Ryuei

Although I am a Buddhist, this is my personal understanding rather than any 'official' Buddhist thought.

I believe that the temptations which The Buddha experienced were effectively the same as the temptations of Christ. The Devil, the Tempter, Mara, these are not some entity 'out there', but the projections of our own conditioned egos. If we ordinary folk know the power of these temptations, how much greater would be the temptations arising from those on the point of realising complete enlightenment, God consciousness, call it what you will? Their dying egos would put up a tremendous fight before finally expiring, and they would KNOW that those temptations could be fulfilled because of the power their spiritual greatness gave them.

So, for me, Mara is a projection of our own selfish ego desires.

I additionally observed that the THUMBS DOWN has been given to given to all the solutions on Buddhism. those are acts by utilising NON BUDDHISTS. This of course depicts the meaningless religions that they are following. they're only finding down upon others with out understanding what's in keep for them whilst they die. they're only pathetic lives.

Mara in sanaskrit and pali means evil or danger

Oh my gosh! My neigbors named ther daughter Mara...I better warn them./

Mara (demon). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_(demon)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fl91GQlET4&feature...

Lucifer son of the morning, I'm gonna chase you out of urt!

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase satan out of urt

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of urt

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

Satan is an evilous man,

But him can't chocks it on I-man

So when I check him my lassing hand

And if him slip, I gaan with him hand

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase satan out of urt

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of urt

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

Him haffi drop him fork and run

Him can't stand up to Jah Jah son

Him haffi lef' ya with him gun

Dig off with him bomb

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase satan out of urt

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of urt

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

Satan is a evilous man,

But him can't chocks it on I-man

So when I check him my lassing hand

And if him slip, I gaan with him hand

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase satan out of urt

I'm gonna put on a iron shirt, and chase the devil out of urt

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

I'm gonna send him to outa space, to find another race

Move ya with your gun

Mi sey fe lef' ya with your bomb

Move ya with your gun

Mi sey fe lef' ya with your bomb...