Mara manifests mostly as the Five Hindrances in our practice. How to raise awareness of his tricks? We have to develop mindfulness of the body first in order to try to have some space in between the thinking process, our usual thinking process, so that we're more aware of how we think, and the results of that thinking. The mental noting is very helpful, in order to be able to see the hindrances more clearly and step back from them. Then we can use our different reflections to help overcome their power as well. But unless we become aware of them objectively, we may be just using our practice as a way to get rid of the awareness of them. In order to become aware of them, we have to develop a more compassionate, non-judging mindfulness in our life. So that we don't identify so much with these hindrances as being ourselves. This is really how Mara gets us. We start to identify with all these things as ourselves. So awareness, mindfulness of the body and mindfulness of the hindrances, is a very important practice in order to become aware of Mara.
One of the biggest obstacles Mara seems to put in our way is the doubt obstacle. Because Mara doesn't want us to believe in our ability to lessen the power of our ignorance. Mindfulness, and strengthening our confidence are very helpful in becoming more aware of Mara. Because unless we strengthen our confidence, we don't feel we have the power to deal with Mara and we become overwhelmed and identify with the thoughts as ourselves. Objective awareness is very important in our practice. And as we become more aware of our tendencies and the patterns of our mind, then we can use our knowledge of what type of reflection helps to lessen those tendencies in our mind.
Another way to raise our awareness of his tricks is to have a good spiritual friend. Because Mara is very tricky. Sometimes we're not aware that we're being overwhelmed by Mara, and by having a good spiritual friend who helps us, that friend may be objective if we can't be objective, and see where Mara is overpowering us. Suitable conditions, suitable conversation. If we don't have suitable friends and suitable conversation, then usually Mara overpowers our life. Because we're not aware enough to know when we're getting lost in wrong view and wrong thinking. I think Steve talked about the suitable conditions already.