In the rich tapestry of Indian daily life, the concept of nazar, or the evil eye, is a familiar thread. From a sudden headache after a compliment to an unexpected setback during a prosperous phase, many attribute life's minor misfortunes to the jealous gaze of others. The traditional response is equally commonplace, involving protective amulets like black threads, lemons, chillies, and various rituals. However, spiritual teacher Sister Shivani of the Brahma Kumaris offers a profound and inward-looking alternative to this age-old belief.
The Real Source of Nazar's Power: Internal Resonance, Not External Force
In her discourses shared widely on the official Brahma Kumaris YouTube channel, Sister Shivani presents a transformative idea. She explains that nazar is not a force that descends upon a person from the outside. Instead, it operates on the principle of resonance. According to her, a stable soul, secure in its own energy, remains unaffected by external negativity. She illustrates that if ten people think negatively about you, but a hundred—including yourself—think positively, the negative thoughts cannot overpower your state of mind. The critical factor is not the thoughts of others, but your own thoughts and feelings about yourself in any given moment.
Energy Dynamics: How Fear Opens the Door to Negativity
Sister Shivani frequently uses the language of vibrations and energy to explain this phenomenon. She states that every individual emits a frequency shaped by their thoughts, emotions, and core beliefs. Emotions like jealousy, insecurity, and fear lower this vibrational frequency, while peace, self-respect, and stability raise it. For nazar to have any effect, there must be a meeting point between two energies vibrating at the same level. If someone looks at you with jealousy but you remain internally grounded, calm, and self-assured, there is no resonance, and nothing harmful can transfer.
She identifies fear as the primary gateway. The constant worry that "something bad will happen because of nazar" ironically creates the very vulnerability it seeks to avoid. This fear stems from a disempowering belief in one's own weakness and the perceived power of others' thoughts. By stepping into this fear, an individual leaves their natural state of spiritual protection.
Lasting Protection: From External Rituals to Inner Authority
Rather than advocating for external fixes, Sister Shivani emphasizes internal alignment and spiritual grounding. She encourages a consistent remembrance of and connection to the Supreme—a benevolent higher power—through meditation and awareness. Anchoring the mind in the thought "I am protected by the Supreme" dissolves fear, and without fear, nazar loses its relevance and power.
This approach is not about blind faith but about cultivating psychological and spiritual resilience. A stable inner state acts as an insulator. Sister Shivani does not outright dismiss cultural rituals if they provide temporary mental calm. However, she redirects focus toward the source of lasting protection: inner cleanliness, pure thoughts, emotional discipline, and spiritual awareness. A calm mind, she asserts, is the strongest possible shield.
She also offers a practical insight for modern life, where praise and criticism often coexist. The key to peace is not attempting to control others' opinions, which is impossible, but in consciously choosing which voices define your reality. When self-worth is derived from within, external opinions—whether flattering or critical—lose their capacity to disturb one's equilibrium.
Ultimately, Sister Shivani's message, woven into her broader talks on self-respect and consciousness, does not advocate fighting nazar. It invites individuals to outgrow it. By cultivating self-awareness and a steady connection to a higher power, fear fades. What no longer has fear to feed on slowly loses its hold. In that empowered state, nazar ceases to be a threat to guard against and simply becomes an energy that cannot reach you.
