Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (65)

Arising attachment and delight toward the eye faculty is the realm of Māra

The self-nature of the eye is apart from all dharmas and does not cling to any dharma; it has neither a male form nor a female form, so we need not give rise to attachment and craving toward the eye faculty. The eye faculty itself has no form—no male form and no female form. If one gives rise to attachment and delight toward the eye faculty, that is the realm of Māra; attaching to sense objects, one becomes possessed by Māra. To develop feelings of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness toward anything is the realm of Māra; with such feelings, one remains forever under Māra's control. The King of Māras is called Pāpīyas; he dwells in the highest, the sixth heaven of the desire realm. Because of his great merit, he controls the entire six heavens of the desire realm, including the human world. If a sentient being has no craving for the dharmas of the desire realm, he escapes from the palm of Māra's hand, and then the King of Māra will try every means to make him give rise anew to craving for the desire realm. As long as one has craving, one cannot escape from the desire realm; one is a disciple of the King of Māra, a son of Māra.