Peter

Peter Hunter and the Minions of Mara

"Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men, 
is he who would conquer just one — himself.” 
-The Buddha, Dhammapada, 103

Peter had enough on his plate with the normal stresses of teenage life.
How could he possibly  add “battling evil spirits” to the list?

But in the fall of his freshman year, Peter’s karate teacher told him that their town was overrun by evil spirits called asuras – the minions of the King of Death and Destruction, Mara.

Then Peter's teacher said something really crazy: he wanted Peter to become an apprentice Buddhist exorcist.

Thrilling fight scenes, sarcastic humor, charming romance, and meaningful friendships, this book has it all... plus the simple wisdom of Buddhism!

Join Peter on his adventures into the tenants of this popular world religion as he navigates the typical struggles of normal teenage life and the not-so-typical struggles of confronting horrifyingly evil spirits!





Peter Hunter and the Minions of Mara is available HERE





Preview

“Do you believe in spirits?” Sensei asked him.

Peter felt a shiver up his spine.

“Like ghosts and stuff?” he asked.

Sensei Rob nodded. “Almost every world religion has some belief in spirits – good and bad - who interfere with our lives. Even in Buddhism, there’s Mara – for all intents and purposes, the devil – and his minions, called the asuras. They tempt humans to make choices that distract them from the way of enlightenment.”

“Do you really believe that?” Peter asked.

“Judge later,” Rob reminded him. “Listen now.” Then he took a breath. “When I was younger, I took a year to study in India. While I was there, I met this guy. A Tibetan shaman or guru – like a spiritual expert. I witnessed him perform a ritual and save someone’s life. Afterwards, he told me that the spirits don’t just tempt people. Sometimes they invade. Sometimes they take over bodies.”

A fresh wave of goosebumps prickled Peter’s skin and he sincerely wished Sensei Charlie were still there.

“Are you talking like,” he gulped, “demonic possession?”

I don’t believe in all this paranormal crud, Peter reminded himself. Why am I getting freaked out here?

Rob nodded. “The guru – Yeshe was his name – said he could cast out the dark spirits, the asuras.”

“And you,” Peter paused, “believed him?”

Sensei took in a frustrated breath. “Just listen a moment, would ya? I wouldn’t have believed the guy, if I hadn’t seen it for myself. When a dark spirit takes over a person, you can tell. I mean, weird stuff happens, but it’s more than just that. You know it’s wrong. It reverberates within you, freezes you to the core. You can’t really say what it is, you just sense the darkness. I saw Yeshe expel the spirit from the person and then the man went back to normal like it had never happened.”

“So what are you…?”

Sensei Rob held up a hand to stop him. Peter shut his mouth and rumbled a frustrated sigh.

“Asuras bear ill will toward humans,” Sensei resumed. “They want to cause us pain. Yeshe said he had made a pact with a deva – a spirit of positivity and kindness. This deva would act in him and through him to help expel the bad spirits. It was really a lot to take in, as I’m sure it is for you right now. But then, the strangest thing happened.”

“Stranger than everything else?” Peter asked dryly.

Sensei Rob narrowed his eyes.

Right, Peter thought. I’m supposed to listen.

“Yeshe told me that I had been chosen to be his successor.”

Peter didn’t know why, but he felt another chill up his spine.

“He said there was a deva waiting to make contact with me,” Rob continued. “If I accepted the mission, I’d be able to save people from the asuras, too. So I let him train me to be an exorcist. And that was about fifteen years ago.”

“So are you saying—”

“Shh,” Sensei Rob said sharply. “Then when I settled in this town, I became the exorcist here. The devas position at least one of us in designated areas. So when someone’s possessed by an evil spirit and they’re ready to be free, I rush out to help them. Sometimes it’s an easy fight and sometimes I get injured.” He pointed to the bandage on his shoulder. “It’s not an easy job, but I know I’m helping people and that makes it rewarding.”

Sensei Rob paused and Peter tried to remain calm.

Truthfully, the second half of Sensei’s rambling had gone right over his head because all he could think was:

Is this a joke? A prank to get me back for the phone call?

But the seriousness in Sensei’s tone – in the air inside the dojo – prompted Peter to consider the very real probability that Sensei Rob was a lunatic.

Spirits? Possession? Exorcisms? This is ridiculous.

“So there you have it,” Sensei Rob said. “That’s why I have to leave suddenly every now and then.”

Rob didn’t say more, but he looked at Peter expectantly.

“Oh. Am I allowed to talk now?” Peter asked.

Rob chuckled. “Yes, you’re allowed, punk.”

“Okay,” Peter bluffed a calm attitude, even though his entire body just wanted to run for the door. “Assuming this is the truth, why are you telling me? Why trust me with your weird secret?”

Rob smiled, showing all his dimples. “Because you’re next.”

Another shudder seized Peter’s senses.

“Uhhh…. What now?”


Hungry for more?

Excerpt #6: Fruits of the Asuras




Check out the next one in the series:
Book 1.5: Drop by Drop




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