Critic is my friend

[Guest guest]

> Many times we have heard Srila Bhaktisiddhanta accredited as saying

> something like, "My critic is my best friend."

>

> Does anyone know of a reference for this?

>

 

The following quote may be helpful.

 

 

The Manava-dharma sastra (2.162-163) says:

 

Sammanad brahmano nityam/ uddhijet visad iva

Amrtasyeva cakanksed/ avamanasya sarvada

Sukham hy avamantah sete/ sukham ca pratibudhyate

Sukham carati loke 'sminn/ avamanta vinasyati

 

"Throughout his life a brahmana should consider material prestige to be like

poison and dishonor to be like nectar. After all, if one learns to tolerate

dishonor, then his agitation will subside and he will happily sleep, happily

wake, and happily move about. The person who insults him will as a result of

his sin becomes embarrassed, and his happiness in this and the next life

will be vanquished."

 

>From Brahmana and Vaisnava, pp. 27-28, by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

Thakura.

[Guest guest]

He said the same thing in a slightly different way in the essay Search for Truth

in relation to the sadhu: "The real sadhu makes us speak out what we keep

concealed in our hearts. He then applies the knife. The very word 'sadhu' has

no other meaning than this. He stands in front of the block with the uplifted

sacrificial knife in his hand. The sensuous desires of men are like the goats.

The sadhu stands there to kill those desires by the merciful stroke of the keen

edge of the sacrificial knife in the form of unpleasant language. If the sadhu

turns into my flatterer then he does me harm, he becomes my enemy. If he gives

us flattery, then we are led to the road that brings enjoyment but no real

well-being."

 

 

> something like, "My critic is my best friend.">> Does anyone know of a

reference for this?>