My Demons for Tea, or Mara
Drawing colored in Photoshop, July 2016
The night before the Buddha was enlightened, the demon god Mara really laid into him with all sorts of emotional mines: lust, greed, anger, doubt, despair. The Buddha did not falter and was enlightened. While Mara was flummoxed at his defeat, he was undeterred, and kept springing visits on Buddha. Buddha, in turn, would always invite him in to have tea, acknowledging his presence instead of resisting it.
This is my favorite story about Buddha to keep in mind, as someone quick to abandon myself and discredit all my progress when my proverbial demons show up. Just as we wouldn’t turn away a friend exhibiting self-doubt, or anger, or sadness, we must remember to extend the same acceptance, compassion, and holding of space to ourselves, accepting our shadow as part of ourselves. Easier said than done, but it is key if we are to look our demons in the eye and grow resilient and kind from the experience.