Buddha: His Life, his Doctrine, his Order c8.160

c8.160

Mâra, the tempter, knows that fear or lust can have no further influence over Buddha: he had vanquished all earthly thoughts and emotions under the tree of knowledge. To undo this victory is impossible, but there is one thing still left which the tempter may effect: he may induce Buddha to turn his back at this stage on earthly life and to enter into Nirvâna. Then he alone would be delivered from Mâra's power: he would not have proclaimed the doctrine of deliverance to men.