[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [The History of Buddhist Thought](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.thomas-1933) › c19.64 # The History of Buddhist Thought c19.64 The History of Buddhist Thought c19.64 - **Language:** English ### [c19.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.thomas-1933.c19.64) There is no evidence that the Buddhists understood it in either sense. They have preserved the story of the fight for the place under the tree, but have not made it an essential part of the story. The figure of Māra was adopted, but his character was changed. He is not merely the god of death, but lord of the realm of sense. That is where the story is made to fit into the Buddhist plan of salvation. Māra says, “prince Siddhattha wants to escape from my realm.” As a personification of lust or craving he appears in the Scriptures repeatedly. The figures in his army are Lusts, Aversion, Hunger and Thirst, Craving, Sloth and Indolence, Cowardice, Doubt, Hypocrisy, and Stupidity (\*Sn.\*, 436). Here we have the personified fetters that every disciple must break in his fight with Māra, lord of the senses. They appear again as the three daughters of Māra: Craving, Aversion, and Lust. In this character Māra appears as the tempter, asking Buddha both before and after his enlightenment to attain temporal dominion or to rely on good works. There is a whole section in the \*Saṃyutta\*, where Māra appears as the tempter of Buddha and the disciples. In scholastic Buddhism he is identified with the fetters and depravities. When the \*Dhammapada\* (40) says “fight Māra with the weapon of wisdom”, the commentator explains, “repel \*kilesamāra\*,” Māra of the depravities, and repeatedly in Abhidhamma greed appears as Māra’s share, Māra’s fish-hook, Māra’s realm. The four Māras of scholasticism are (1) the khandhas, (2) the depravities, (3) the god Māra, (4) death. - [Previous: c19.63](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.thomas-1933.c19.63) - [Next: c19.65](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.thomas-1933.c19.65) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.thomas-1933.c19) ## Linked texts (2) - [Suttanipāta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.suttanipata) — Pāli - [Dhammapada](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.khuddaka.dhammapada) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.thomas-1933.c19.64](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.thomas-1933.c19.64) · Pramāṇa