In the Buddhist worldview, Mara is a controversial figure. He is both the greatest demon king in the celestial realm and is also considered as one of the former incarnations of Buddha. Behind this seemingly contradictory identity lies profound religious philosophical significance.

First, let's explore Mara's identity as the demon king of the celestial realm. In Buddhist scriptures, Mara is described as the ruler of the celestial realm, possessing immense demonic power and many demons under his command. He often tries to interfere with Buddha's practice, becoming the greatest obstacle on the path of Buddhist practitioners. Therefore, Mara is seen as a representative of evil and is an object that people should be wary of and resist.

However, the Buddhist worldview is not a simple dualism of good and evil. In this vast cosmology, all sentient beings have the potential to become Buddhas. Although Mara is the demon king of the celestial realm, he is also one of the sentient beings and has the possibility of becoming a Buddha. This view embodies the inclusiveness and equality of Buddhism, even for evil demon kings like Mara, there is an opportunity for repentance, self-improvement, and practice to become a Buddha.

According to Buddhist scriptures, Mara was once a practitioner in a past life. During his practice, he accumulated many virtues but also had a strong ego and arrogance. This led him to lose his way on the path to becoming a Buddha and degenerate into the demon king of the celestial realm. This story tells us that even if one has been a practitioner before, if there are delusions in the heart, one can still fall into the path of evil.

However, Buddhism believes that although Mara is now a demon king, his Buddha nature has not disappeared. In some future life, he may awaken, return to the path of practice, and ultimately become a Buddha. This view emphasizes the compassion of Buddhism and the purpose of saving all sentient beings. Even demon kings like Mara have the opportunity to be redeemed and achieve Nirvana.

In summary, Mara's dual identity as both the demon king of the celestial realm and a former incarnation of Buddha reveals the profound religious philosophical implications of Buddhism. On the one hand, Mara as the demon king represents evil and obstacles; on the other hand, as one of Buddha's former incarnations, he demonstrates the inclusiveness and equality of Buddhism. This story reminds us that on the path of practice, we must always be vigilant against delusions in our hearts to avoid repeating Mara's mistakes. At the same time, we should also hold a compassionate heart towards others, believing that everyone has the potential to become a Buddha.

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