How do I stop caring what other people think of me?

In Mahaguru's teachings, freedom from caring about what other people think begins with seeing the nature of society clearly and shifting your attention from outside opinions to your own inner state.

Understand the nature of worldly opinions

Mahaguru points out that society is constantly occupied with prying into other people's personal choices: what someone wears, what job they do, or how they live their life. Trying to shape your life to answer these questions is a trap. Mahaguru explains that ordinary worldlings are mentally unsteady: they react impulsively, follow rumors, and constantly judge from their own confusion.

If you make your decisions or alter your happiness based on the opinions of people who are themselves confused, you adopt their madness. What people think says far more about their own mental habits than it says about you.

Recognize yourself as an independent individual

According to the teachings, you were born as an independent character with your own mind, understanding, thoughts, and perceptions:

• You do not need to step into everyone else's boat or seek their validation.
• Live your life quietly and happily, provided your actions do no harm or trouble to anyone else.
• Build confidence in your own way of being. For example, if you choose to dress a certain way or read a book at a public bus stop, have the confidence of existing as you wish. If another person chooses to make an issue out of harmless personal choices, the problem lies entirely with them, not with you.

Turn your gaze inward instead of outward

Mahaguru teaches that the greatest illness in society is looking outward at other people rather than looking inside oneself. When you spend energy worrying about how you appear in the minds of others, your attention is scattered outside.

Instead of constructing narratives about what people think, observe your own mind. Notice the thoughts that arise when someone judges you, and see them simply as passing thoughts rather than truths you must defend or explain.

Meet praise and blame with detachment

When others express their opinions, whether harsh criticism or flattering praise, Mahaguru advises resting in an inner attitude of not knowing and not caring.

This does not mean acting irresponsibly or doing wrong; it means detaching yourself from the endless cycle of praise and blame. When someone scolds you or approves of you, let the words go. Resting in that quiet space of knowing nothing about worldly judgments allows you to maintain peace, freedom, and self-respect without being swayed by society.