釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 3.66

3.66

Answer: There are also those produced by Māra. If one wishes to distinguish them: "Māra" simply means "killer." If, when these signs arise, they can cause the practitioner's mental consciousness to become agitated and confused, or further increase various defilements, oppressing, obstructing, and causing numerous impediments unfavorable to the concentrated mind, they are all produced by Māra. As for the arising of wholesome roots: practitioners perceive for themselves that after seeing these signs, although they have not yet realized dhyāna-concentration, their bodies and minds are clear and bright, their sense faculties pure, their bodies possess physical strength, what they do is auspicious, and wholesome thoughts unfold; from this time onward, they feel their minds are easy to collect, their bodies and minds are secure and tranquil, and free from various faults. One should know that these are the signs of wholesome roots arising. Furthermore, in such matters, if wholesome roots arise, the signs of retributive causes manifest temporarily and then subside, while the wholesome mind of habitual causes continues unbroken. If they are signs produced by Māra, they do not disappear for a long time; even though they subside, they return again to oppress and disturb the practitioner, while the wholesome mind only arises temporarily and then vanishes, or at times turns into unwholesome thoughts; one should know that this is demonic. Furthermore, demonic and correct signs are extremely difficult to fathom; unless one stays close to an enlightened master, one must not rashly accept them.