Mara, if you don't know, is within us. It's the personification of our ignorance. When you are thinking, "Maybe I'll just have one beer, maybe I'll just have two beers..." That's Mara. When you start hating somebody and think, "That goofball is wearing that stupid shirt again today." That's Mara. When you have been walking very mindfully on the walking track and you get to one end and you go, "Wow, I am doing so good, I think I can have a break now!" That's Mara. Ok, Mara is tricky, Mara is evil, Mara is vicious, and Mara is a seducer. Mara can play with you in every tricky way possible. That is your own ignorant part of your mind. You also have the wisdom part of your mind. If you remember, in the regular retreat, I talked about wisdom and ignorance being like a see-saw, and there is often this battle going on within. That's wisdom fighting Mara.
Now is Mara male or female? This is a very cute question because I have actually asked quite a few of the older students, you know, is Mara male of female? And I got a fellow telling me it's a male and I got a fellow telling me it's a female, and I got a woman telling me it's a male, and I got a woman telling me it's a female. There is no rhyme or reason to it. So whatever gender Mara is for you, if want to consider what Mara's sex is, fine, you can go ahead, but it really does not change Mara.