The Merit and Karma of Mara

Papiyas possesses immense merit and a lifespan measured in kalpas. His merit is exhausted due to the consumption caused by his evil deeds, and only when his lifespan ends does he descend directly into hell. Throughout the vast duration of his existence, he must possess the greatest number of descendants to satisfy his greed. Therefore, as long as sentient beings cannot escape the desire realm, including the three evil destinies, within one or several kalpas, they all belong to his descendants and retinue. After several kalpas, he loses control over them. Hence, Papiyas delights in giving and cultivating merit himself, and he also delights when sentient beings give and cultivate merit. However, he does not permit sentient beings to practice and attain liberation, he does not permit them to cultivate meditative concentration, and he does not permit them to go to other Buddha-lands. Apart from these restrictions, he does not interfere with whatever sentient beings wish to do, as long as they cannot escape the desire realm. The more sentient beings indulge in the five desires, the more Papiyas rejoices, because the five desires exist only within the desire realm. Craving the five desires naturally prevents escape from the desire realm, ensuring they forever remain his descendants and retinue.

Observe yourselves: how many of your mental inclinations are those which Papiyas delights in and approves of? How many of your habits align with the demonic mind and nature, easily receiving the empowerment of demonic power? Those who are extremely lax in their practice often find worldly affairs go smoothly for them. Yet, as soon as they courageously and diligently advance in their practice, reaching a higher stage, obstacles begin to arise, and demonic hindrances appear. Therefore, those who practice well can bring their karmic obstacles to the surface through practice, while those whose practice is still weak often experience smooth sailing without hindrances. A true Bodhisattva, the more they are interfered with by demons, the firmer their resolve for the Path becomes, the deeper their meditative concentration, and the greater their wisdom. Demonic interference is like adding fuel to a fire – the more demons interfere, the brighter the fire burns. Bodhisattvas are not afraid of demons.

The demon king Papiyas is constantly exposed to the influence of these Dharma teachings, including the Mahayana. What does he not understand? He can comprehend it all, but he cannot realize it. Because his greed and desire are fiercely intense, he has no wish to truly cultivate the Path, much less to eradicate the view of self and subdue his own afflictions. Furthermore, because Papiyas understands the principles of both the Hinayana and Mahayana teachings, he possesses more convenient conditions for destroying the Dharma. Ordinary sentient beings generally do not understand as much as he does. When he expounds the Dharma, most sentient beings inevitably revere him. Then, while teaching, he surreptitiously adds methods that bind beings to the cycle of birth and death, which no one can recognize. Those who follow his teachings will fall into the demonic path.

Papiyas frequently meets Śākyamuni Buddha and listens to his Dharma teachings. He often associates with Mahayana Bodhisattvas, hearing their instructions, and frequently interacts with Arhats, listening to their guidance. He has taken every advantage of the Buddhadharma, planting wholesome roots within it. He ought to be grateful to the Triple Gem, yet he exhausts all means to destroy the Buddha and extinguish the Dharma, leading sentient beings towards the three evil destinies – truly repaying kindness with enmity. Papiyas maintains an attitude of great disrespect and contempt even when face to face with the Buddha. He treats Arhats with even greater disdain and contempt, and treats other sentient beings with considerable discrimination and humiliation. Whoever blocks his path, he seeks to destroy them without mercy, being utterly unreasonable. Papiyas’s mind is extremely petty, exacting to the smallest detail, sparing no one. He is even displeased that the Buddha is beyond his jurisdiction. He becomes anxious and troubled whenever anyone seeks to leave the desire realm. When Papiyas’s current lifespan ends, he will descend directly into hell. After emerging from hell, it is unknown when his wholesome roots will mature, leading him to repent, reform, and truly begin to study and practice the Buddhadharma, embarking on the correct path. Once he sincerely repents, his evil karma will be eradicated, and his practice will progress swiftly, after all, the Triple Gem enabled him to plant so many wholesome roots and merit.