Becoming 5: Keeping Māra at Bay
Channel: Dev Jacobsen
Date: 07/02/2016

This is the explanation of the third verse:
"When phenomena manifest themselves 
To the ardently meditating Brahmin 
Dispelling hosts of Māra he stands 
Like the sun illumining the firmament." — Udāna, Bodhivagga 3

The hosts of Māra are explained elsewhere:

"Your squadron’s first is Sense-desires
your second’s Sexual Discontent,
Hunger and Thirst compose the third,
and Craving is the fourth in rank,

the fifth is Sloth and Accidy,
while Fear is called the sixth in line,
Skeptical doubt is seventh, the eighth
is Sliminess, Hardheartedness;

Gain with Honor, Praise besides,
and ill-won Notoriety,
Self-praise and Denigrating others—

These are your squadrons, Namucī,
the Black One’s fighting troops." — Sutta-nipāta 3.2

So when one knows Dependent Origination, the process of becoming, literally forward and backward, he can protect himself against all the hosts of Māra (Death). He also becomes skillful at controlling the process of becoming so he can become anything he wishes.