Sirs,
Reading Buddha's life, there is mention of a demon called Mara. Who tempts Buddha from reaching his final stage.
Mara is part of heavenly realms, and are the most powerful in the sensuous realm:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html
| (11) Devas Wielding Power over the Creation of Others (paranimmita-vasavatti deva) |
These devas enjoy sense pleasures created by others for them. Mara, the personification of delusion and desire, lives here.
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do what i know , there are a few that became Buddha's disciples after hearing this teaching. "demon" is only oneself torturing oneself in the form of illusions. there's no beings that is not equal in attaining Buddhahood. all beings are equally able to attained Buddhahood, even mara beings.
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I read that mogollana, one of Buddha's chief disciple is a Mara in his past life.
No being can grant you anything beyond what your karma permits.
Unseen beings help you even if you do not know its presence. I know they exist because of certain experience with Dharma protectors (and this experience happened the same way to my friend who is an experienced practitioner)... but.. I digress.
Below link is a nice essay on the subject of Buddha’s Encounter with Mara. The conclusion drawn is that, the temptations of Mara are allegorical representations of an inner conflict and crisis, doubts, anxieties, and longings which arise in the mind of the Buddha or a disciple before their enlightenment. It is not representative of any historical event.
www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/guruge/wheel419.html
There is a past interesting thread here on Mara.
Use the search function.