止觀輔行傳弘決 1.20

1.20

「涉六年以伏見至降魔」者，伏見為調外道，降魔為摧天魔。故六年苦行過其所行，先同後異，化道宜然，故五人中著愛行者而捨之去。過六年已食食修禪，著見行者又捨之去。後降天魔，樹王成道。降魔之相廣在諸經。且《瑞應》云「天魔與佛相難詰。佛云：『丈夫會當鬪戰死，終不身在為他降。』魔云：『比丘何求坐樹下，樂於林藪毒獸間。雲起可畏杳冥冥，天魔圍繞不以驚。』佛云：『古有真道佛所行，恬惔為最除不明。斯誠最勝法滿藏，吾於斯坐快魔王。』魔云：『汝當作王轉金輪，七寶自至典四方，所受五欲快無比，斯處無道起入宮。』佛云：『吾覩欲盛吞火同，棄國如唾無所貪，得王亦有老死憂，去此無利勿妄譚。』魔云：『何安坐林而快語，委國財位守空閑，而不見我興四兵，象馬步兵億百千。已現獼猴師子面，皆持刀劍擭戈矛，超躍哮吼滿空中（云云）。』」《大論》云「時淨居天住三面立，看佛與魔難詰鬪戰。天魔退走，乃至鐵圍猶尚不已。」《大集》、《觀佛三昧》等云：「魔王初欲來戰於佛，先令民屬、次令太子、次遣三女，皆不能壞。乃大嗔忿，便自領軍。纔至佛所，主將俱墮。」《大論》中佛以偈訶魔女云：「是身為穢藪，不淨物腐積。是實為行廁，何足以樂意。」女因自恥。又語魔言：「我三僧祇修習苦行，乃得菩提。汝但設一無遮之會，報為天主。何得與我興斯戰諍？」魔云：「以何為證？」佛以手指地云：「是知我。」當時地神告、空神傳，乃至梵世。天魔降已，得不動三昧，成無上道。

Regarding "Undergoing six years to subdue views... to subduing Māra": subduing views was to tame the non-Buddhists, and subduing Māra was to crush the heavenly demon. Therefore, his six years of austerities surpassed their practices; first conforming [with them] and then diverging, such is appropriate for the path of transformation. Hence, among the five men, those attached to craving-practices abandoned him and left. After the six years had passed, he consumed food and cultivated dhyāna, whereupon those attached to view-practices also abandoned him and left. Later, he subdued the heavenly demon and attained the Way beneath the king of trees. The aspects of subduing Māra are described at length in various sūtras. For instance, the Ruiying jing says: "The heavenly demon and the Buddha questioned and challenged each other. The Buddha said: 'A real man will surely die fighting in battle; he will never, while alive, surrender to another.' Māra said: 'Bhikṣu, what do you seek sitting beneath a tree, delighting in groves and thickets among venomous beasts? Clouds arise, fearsome and dark, yet surrounded by heavenly demons you are not alarmed.' The Buddha said: 'From ancient times there has been the true path traveled by the buddhas; serenity is supreme, dispelling all darkness. This is truly the most victorious, full treasury of Dharma; as I sit here, I cause the demon king to rejoice.' Māra said: 'You should become a king who turns the golden wheel, with the seven treasures arriving of themselves to govern the four quarters; the five desires enjoyed will be incomparable in joy. There is no Way in this place; rise and enter the palace!' The Buddha said: 'I see that thriving desires are like swallowing fire; I cast aside the kingdom like spittle, without craving. Even if one becomes a king, there is the sorrow of old age and death; leaving this place offers no benefit, do not speak falsely.' Māra said: 'Why do you sit peacefully in the forest speaking bold words, abandoning the kingdom's wealth and status to keep to empty seclusion, without seeing me mobilize the four armies—elephants, horses, and foot soldiers numbering hundreds of thousands of kotis? Already showing faces of monkeys and lions, all holding knives and swords, brandishing halberds and spears, leaping and roaring, filling the sky,' and so forth." The Dazhidulun says: "At that time, the Śuddhāvāsa devas stood on three sides, watching the questioning, challenging, and fighting between the Buddha and Māra. The heavenly demon retreated and fled, not even stopping at the Iron Enclosure Mountains." The Da ji jing, Guanfo sanmei jing, and others state: "When the demon king first wanted to come and wage war against the Buddha, he first ordered his subjects, then his prince, and next sent his three daughters, none of whom could break [the Buddha]. Thereupon he became greatly enraged and personally led the army. As soon as they reached the Buddha's place, master and generals all fell down." In the Dazhidulun, the Buddha rebuked the demon daughters with a verse: "This body is a swamp of filth, / where impure matters rot and accumulate. / This is truly a walking latrine; / how could it suffice to delight the mind?" The daughters were thereby ashamed. Furthermore, [the Buddha] said to Māra: "I cultivated austerities for three asaṃkhyeyas, only then obtaining bodhi. You merely hosted a single unrestricted assembly to receive the retribution of becoming lord of heaven. How can you raise this battle and contention with me?" Māra said: "What is your proof?" The Buddha pointed to the earth with his finger and said: "This one knows me." At that time, the earth deity announced it, and the sky deities transmitted it, up to the Brahmā world. After the heavenly demon was subdued, he attained the unshakeable samādhi and accomplished the unsurpassed Way.