You guys really PI$$ ME OFF

[Sikher]

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jap man satnaam sada satnaam ||

we all face criticism in our lives, how we deal with it effects our

spiritual progress.

Someone criticises you, most people react in the following ways

a) get offended and start criticising them back, shouting, even

fighting

get offended and try and defend yourself by denying what they say

get offended, say nothing but feel the anger brewing up inside

d) become devastated, as you believe what they are saying is true

e) become devastated as even though what they say isnt true, but your

upset they think badly about you

What I have leanrt from the satsangat is that when someone criticises

you :

a) in your mind keep saying thankyou to them for pointing out your

weaknesses. Listen carefully for any truth they maybe telling in between

the lies.

stay silent and keep washing their feet in your mind, or even touch

their feet

c) dont see them as your enemy, only your own ego and anger are the

enemies.

d) keep listening to their words and if there words prick you, then

that means you still have ego that gets offended. And if it makes your

blood boil, that means anger is still strong in you.

e) listen to them as a service. Be like a counsellor letting them

unwind all their stress and anger onto you. Keep thanking God by saying

Satnaam, that this body was of use to someone so they could calm down.

f) if you do find yourself getting offended and angry, then right away

shutup, apologise to the other person, touch their feet and go for a

walk to cool down. In your mind apologise to God for being so full of

anger and ego. Bhai Randheer Singh ji and his Sikhs used to discuss many

topics. But they had a rule that no matter how good you were at arguing

your point, if you got angry then YOU LOST. And would have to shutup

and apologise right away. Becuase in bani winning and losing arguments is

no big deal, but losing to EGO and ANGER and the other three thieves is

VERY VERY SERIOUS.

Infact recently, when close people have been severley criticising me,

it fills me with joy, even makes me laugh, like a father watching a

child being silly. Keep asking them for more things to criticise, "what

else do you not like?" Help them empty themselves out of all their

criticism.

You can only react like that though when you are totally secure inside

yourself. When you know what you are and that you are at peace with God

and Guru. When you know that no matter what they say will not let bring

your mind spiralling downwards.

So become secure inside yourself. Return love and compassion for the

hate and anger of others.

There's a really good meditation, that I do instantly when I step

outside and breathe the cool fresh air :

Breathe in and say "Satnaam ji, let me breathe in all the negativity of

the world."

Breathe out and say, "Satnaam ji, and let me return love and compassion

to everyone."

dust of your feet