I See You Mara! From Inner Critic to Inner Freedom

When the Judgement of the Inner Critic Ceases, There is Unconditional Space to Be

Martin introduces Mara, the inner critic, as the tendency to judge, measure and limit our sense of self.

He unpacks the mechanisms by which we get caught in self doubt and deficiency.

He explores how our psychological history shaped this aspect of our psyche, and uses the story of Buddha’s struggle with Mara as a guide to our own explorations.

He shows that when judgement ceases, there is unconditional space to be. Space for the love and ease, spaciousness and responsiveness that are the natural resting places of the liberated heart.

This is a self–paced programme that you can work through as your daily life allows.

View the introduction to Module 1, to the left, for free

Module 1 – Meeting the Inner Critic

I See You Mara! From Inner Critic to Inner Freedom with Martin Aylward

In this module we explore the tyranny of ‘should’ and the rigidity of ‘always’ and ‘never’. We see how the Inner critic distorts our view of Past, Present and Future.

You will discover your own personal version of the critic and how it pulls you in.

The module ends with a contemplation to explore this for yourself.

Module 2 – Uncovering Your History

This module guides your exploration of how your own critical voice got formed.

How do you experience Mara?

What early experiences were instrumental in forming this voice?

The module explores who, where and how Mara engages you, and the tone, impact and subject he/she/it/ uses, which keep you in thrall to this structure.

Martin then offers an inquiry practice to bring this alive in your own experience.

Module 3 – The Tyranny of Comparison

In this module we investigate the different directions in which judgement operates: judging oneself, judging others and feeling judged by others.

Martin will show how we get caught in the tyranny of comparison, and points the way out by inquiring experientially into the unconscious views we hold about judgement. He introduces a practice to explore this for yourself.

Module 4 – Getting Space from Mara

Martin gives several important ways to see through inner criticism and judgement. He shows how clarity, exaggeration, humour and compassion can all be valuable tools in seeing through Mara.

Martin offers a guided visualisation meditation where we learn to clear some space from inner judgement, from the ‘attacks of Mara’.

You’ll learn a powerful way to create a sense of inner space and confidence in which to stand steady against the learned habits of self-sabotage.

Module 5 – Cultural, Familial and Personal Conditioning

This module looks at the the three formative influences on how the super-ego structure gets formed.

We explore the cultural ideals that inform us, the family messages we received growing up, and the personal habits we perpetuate that support them.

The session concludes with an exercise to explore your inner ‘should-ing’.

Module 6 – I See You Mara!

Martin offers a contemplative way of directly engaging Mara: looking right at our own inner critic as a way to understand, care for, and relax that structure within us.

Module 7 – Judging Others, Judging Ourselves

In this module we explore the suffering inherent in comparison, whether better, worse, or same as another.

Uncovering our judgements of others, this module shows how we try to bolster our self images, and invites you to pay attention to how this plays out in your life.

Module 8 – Freedom from Mara

As the course concludes, Martin uses the wisdom you have gathered along the way to point to three vital distinctions in this inner work:

Measuring your actions vs measuring your self
Seeing through Mara’s pushing and pulling, and
Discerning the imprint of the past from the reality of the present.

He then looks at the Buddhist concept of refuge as a way to find a confidence and clarity with our experience which Mara cannot undermine.

On-Demand Course Details

4 Hours of pre-recorded video teachings

Filmed in high definition with only you in mind, having an intimate and personal feel that will keep you engaged as your body, mind and heart tune in.

Experiential Exercises

Deepen your understanding and experience of the teachings with exercises that Martin provides within the modules. These can be done with a partner, or alone in journalling form.

Guided Meditations

Martin offers guided meditations throughout the course to support you in your exploration of uncovering Mara.

4 hours of recorded Q&A Sessions

Videos of 4 recorded interactive sessions from a previous live release of the course are also included.

About Martin Aylward

Martin Aylward is the founding teacher of Sangha Live. After spending his early adult years in Asian monasteries and with Himalayan hermits, Martin settled in Southern France with his wife Gail and their 2 children, co-founding the Moulin de Chaves retreat centre where he lives and teaches.

Martin teaches meditation, guides students and leads retreats internationally, emphasising the integration of the deepest wisdom teachings into the midst of the lives we live. He is also a director of the Mindfulness Training Institute. Martin’s book Awake Where You Are: The Art of Embodied Awareness (2021) is now available via Wisdom Publications. Click here to learn more about Martin Aylward.

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On-Demand Course