1.
The Discourse on Māra
160.
At Sāvatthī.
Then the Venerable Rādha approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Rādha said this to the Blessed One -
"'Māra, Māra', venerable sir, is said. In what way, venerable sir, is there Māra?" "When matter exists, Rādha, there would be Māra or a killer or one who dies. Therefore, Rādha, see matter as Māra, see it as a killer, see it as one who dies, see it as disease, see it as a boil, see it as a dart, see it as misery, see it as a source of misery. Those who see it thus, they see rightly. When feeling exists... when perception exists... when activities exist... when consciousness exists, there would be Māra or a killer or one who dies. Therefore, Rādha, see consciousness as Māra, see it as a killer, see it as one who dies, see it as disease, see it as a boil, see it as a dart, see it as misery, see it as a source of misery. Those who see it thus, they see rightly."
"But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of right vision?" "Right vision, Rādha, is for the purpose of disenchantment." "But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of disenchantment?" "Disenchantment, Rādha, is for the purpose of dispassion." "But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of dispassion?" "Dispassion, Rādha, is for the purpose of liberation." "But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of liberation?" "Liberation, Rādha, is for the purpose of Nibbāna." "But, venerable sir, what is the purpose of Nibbāna?" "You have gone beyond the question, Rādha, you were not able to grasp the limit of the question. For, Rādha, the holy life is grounded upon Nibbāna, has Nibbāna as its ultimate goal, has Nibbāna as its final goal." The first.