Nindak: Receiving Criticism as Spiritual Practice

Mirabai faced relentless criticism—from family, from society, from religious authorities who deemed her behavior scandalous. Rather than defensive, her response was paradoxical wisdom: she saw in her critics' very hostility a kind of mirror and gift. In one famous couplet, she suggests that those who criticize are actually helping her remain focused on the divine. Nindak—criticism and contempt—becomes, in her hands, a spiritual practice. Buddhist equanimity (upekkha) challenges us to remain balanced in the face of blame and praise alike. Yet equanimity can become cold, a kind of spiritual indifference. Mirabai's approach to criticism reveals a warmer practice: meeting hostility with gratitude for the opportunity it provides. In relationships, this teaching transforms conflict. When someone criticizes us, rather than defending or withdrawing, we can ask: What is this person showing me about my attachments, my ego, my need for approval? Nindak practice develops the capacity to remain heart-open while hearing hard truths. It deepens compassion for those whose fear manifests as criticism, while simultaneously strengthening our own equanimity. This transforms relationship conflict from threat to opportunity for liberation.