“Mara’s voice will be there constantly when one sets a foot on the Path, is my experience at least”
Yes, Sybe, I think all of us are engaged in this struggle to one degree or another, depending on the stage we are at on the Path.
I see this Mara as one who seeks to keep beings intent on release from material existence (including fine-material existence) bound there; this is his function. For those not on the Path he is not needed; the sense-objects all around in Nature herself will be enough. Out of this very struggle, stumbling along and falling over and over again, we finally make a great determination … and, but for this struggle against Mara, we would drift hopelessly and endlessly along in sansara.
Much Metta