How well do we handle criticism...?

Only the tree with ripe fruits gets hit.

As long as we exist in this world, we cannot avoid being criticized. More so, when we are rich, handsome, highly successful, famous etc.... Criticisms can be on whatever we are or on whatever we perform. The best way to face the comments / criticisms on us is to 'just ignore' them, whether they are positive or negative. Just be level-headed and consider both bouquets and brickbats as equal. Of course it is the most difficult thing for a normal human being like us. We should be highly seasoned to reach this level. Only great yogis / saints have this attribute. As is known to everyone, only the stone which gets beaten and tortured by chisel repeatedly, gets to become a beautiful sculpture.

When a person who wanted to humiliate Lord Buddha, came to him and hurled all sorts of abuses on him. Buddha did not react at all; he remained very calm and serene. The person who tried to insult him asked Buddha, 'I have been scolding you with all sorts of filthy words. Are you not affected by it'? Lord Buddha replied, 'As long as I do not take possession of anything that you try to give to me, it belongs to you. Why should I be worried'? The man fell at Lord Buddha's feet and apologized. On another occasion, Mother Theresa, when she approached a man for donation for her charity organization, he spit on her face. She simply wiped it off and said, 'okay, this is for me; now you give some donation for the charity'. Noble souls do not mind the ugly criticism harped on them.

Some budding artistes when they start to grow in stature and attain fame gradually, a lot of encouraging comments about his work is all over the media. He gets drunk by the glorifying praises. Once when he reaches a higher level and when he does something wrong, then he gets criticized. But now he is unable to take the criticism calmly. He gets agitated and throws tantrum and abuses the media which was once helpful in elevating him to the higher level. This is what happens in most of the cases.

Along the way, when one grows in fame, he should also attain the sense of balance in him. He should develop the trait. And he should not allow his success or fame or money go to his head. It would make him 'dizzy' and make him do all crazy and despicable things. Due to this he might fall from grace and he would not be able to handle it. So it is very important to cultivate the 'sense of balance', as one grows in fame. Accept the 'bouquets' with grace and bear the 'brickbats' with composure. Use the bouquets to beautify your home and utilize the bricks for building something new. The 'ridicules' and 'criticisms' should be used as 'stepping stones' for your success.

At the same time, one should be wary of 'fake praises', which are employed by some vested interests, in order to get some benefit from the person praised. One should know one's own real worth and he should not be carried away by 'empty accolades' showered by some cunning guys.