the four maras; the four kinds of demons that trouble sentient beings
Buddhist term referring to four types of obstacles or evil influences: 煩悩魔 (bonnō-ma, the mara of defilements), 陰魔 (on-ma, the mara of the five skandhas), 死魔 (shi-ma, the mara of death), and 天魔 (ten-ma, the celestial mara). Used in doctrinal contexts.
In Buddhism, it is considered important to overcome the four maras that hinder practice.
One of the four maras; the celestial mara, often identified with the demon king Māra who tempted the Buddha.
From 四 (shi, 'four') + 魔 (ma, 'mara, demon, obstacle'). The term is a direct translation of the Buddhist concept of the four māras (Sanskrit: catvāro mārāḥ).