Over the weekend, I was intrigued to see this story in the New York Post: "The ultimate star perk is forbidding eye contact." According to the Smoking Gun, singer Katy Perry's contract covering her driver provides that the driver isn't supposed to "stair" (sic) at her in the rear-view mirror.
The piece notes that there have been many similar rumors over the years - that people were prohibited from making eye contact with Luke Perry, Tori Spelling, Sylvester Stallone, and others.
When I read this story, I had a huge rush of intellectual pleasure. Because I think I've figured this out! Darshan.
Years ago, when I was doing the research for my first book, Power Money Fame Sex: A User's Guide, I was struck by how often celebrities made rules about eye contact. Why would they do that? Then I learned about darshan, the Sanskrit term meaning "sight" or "auspicious viewing." Darshan is the beneficial glow that comes from being in the presence of a great spiritual leader (or holy
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