Mark Time!

In one's military training, one not only learns how to advance and retreat systematically but also to ‘ mark-time ' on occasion. This is a discipline in marching on the spot –
‘left' & ‘right' which trains one to bide one's time with patience and alertness.

In one's training for the battle with Mara, a meditator also has to learn how to ‘mark – time', without advancing towards the future or retreating into the past, he has to march
‘ on-the-spot ' seeing the ‘ rise and fall ' of sense – objects. This marking – time is called ‘ meditative attention ' which requires a high degree of mindfulness and full – awareness. If one specializes in this sort of marking – time, one can win the battle with Mara without even the bother of advancing or retreating.