7.
The Discourse on the Six Sense Bases of Contact
153.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Pinnacled Hall.
Now at that time the Blessed One, with reference to the six sense bases of contact, was instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching.
And those monks, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listen to the Teaching with ears inclined.
Then this occurred to Māra the Evil One: "This ascetic Gotama, with reference to the six sense bases of contact, is instructing, encouraging, inspiring, and gladdening the monks with a talk on the Teaching. And those monks, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listen to the Teaching with ears inclined. What if I were to approach the ascetic Gotama for the purpose of blinding their vision." Then Māra the Evil One approached the Blessed One; having approached, not far from the Blessed One, he made a great fearful and terrifying sound, so much so that the earth, methinks, was splitting open. Then a certain monk said this to another monk: "Monk, monk, this earth, methinks, is splitting open." When this was said, the Blessed One said this to that monk: "This is not, monk, the earth splitting open. This is Māra the Evil One, come for the purpose of blinding your vision." Then the Blessed One, having understood "this is Māra the Evil One", addressed Māra the Evil One in verse -
This is the terrible worldly gain, here the world is infatuated.
Having passed beyond the realm of Māra, shines like the sun."
Then Māra the Evil One, etc. disappeared right there.