How Should One Interact When Criticism Happens? - 3 Apr 2015

I remember once, maybe you and I only did this exercise where I said that if I were to say you are a terrible parent, then that would hurt. But if I were to say that you're terrible at Olympic skateboarding or something, it would not hurt. Why is it like this? Because there can be still this parent identity, or some other wife identity, some other identity which has the potential to cause suffering. And it is life's job to expose this very quickly.

We want to say, "Oh, my exam is over, all done. You know, I have scored A-plus in everything." Then life says, "No, what about this one? You haven't seen this one yet. What do you feel about this?" Then it comes. And then when these situations come, what are you to do? Just see. You see, this still has some fire. This still makes me burn. So don't close your mind. And when the burning is happening, let the burning happen. Let it burn completely, because all that can be burnt is only the false. Nothing real can be burnt in this fire.

So from this moment, from now, don't try to hide from any criticism. Don't try to run from anybody. Just become completely open, arms wide open, and saying, "Give me all that you have. I am open to face whatever life has to bring." This openness, you will find that none of this has any real power. This sense of "bring it on," then you'll find that all this will just come and go. And so you will be laughing about all of this play. You'll be laughing about it and saying, "Oh, this actually used to bother me," not from a sense of arrogance, not from something being achieved, just with a sense of wonder. You see, you wonder how some of these things would actually bother you.

You say, "I know I am not the person being criticized, but sometimes the person slips in." This is what I mean by grace. So whatever there are, millions of these identities still remain, they will be brought to the forefront, you see, so it can be exposed and it can be gone in the fire of satsang, the fire of your life. Because you truly want freedom and freedom alone. And sometimes then this also, this confusion is there. "Is this truly what I want? Ananta is saying me, I only want freedom." And then this confusion can be there: "Is this true for me or am I just faking it?"

No, I know this. This is true for all. No being wants to stay in this constricted environment of a person. Not really. But sometimes the mind will try to confuse you. And this confusion also, you can be completely open to. Let the mind speak whatever it wants and let it come and go. Only if you have fear of this voice which is saying, "You're fake," is it really true? You know why I know it is true? Because you've been here for more than one satsang. The first satsang, I can give you the benefit of the doubt and say, "Yes, maybe a friend forced you to come, maybe somebody said it's very nice," and you came. But after the first time... because in the first satsang itself you realize that for the mind there is nothing here. For the person there is nothing here. And it's pure boredom, pure misery for the mind to come to satsang. But if you can come for the second one, then I know that in your heart there is a resonance and you're tired of this game and you want to be free. You've been here for tens of satsangs, so it's completely clear.

Thank you, Father. It's my... I think it just dissolves so quickly because I think it is grace. You know, as it comes up, it feels very much in my response to the criticisms have been, "Thank you. Thank you for shining the light on what's left here." You know, because it's clear that this is what's happening, you know, as it should.

Very good, very good. And I feel that this video of Mooji Ji, which is the best one, "Run Baby Run," that video is the best video. If it is only that one satsang you would ever see, then that would be the best. It is to say thank you to anything that comes. He says there that it seems like life is kicking you in the face and still you say thank you. It might not appear externally like this, but in your heart you are still grateful to life for exposing this sense of personhood which still remains. With this gratitude and this thank you, it all dissolves. Very good.

I agree. Thank you so much.

Very well. Good to see you.

Good to see you too. Oh, thank you.