CRITICS TAKE THE KARMA

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>From Sri Krisna Kathamita Bindu

8 December 2004 Issue No. 92.

 

 

 

CRITICS TAKE THE KARMA

 

Although most persons generally do not appreciate others' criticism of

them, the Vedic literatures say that tolerating and forgiving our critics

is beneficial.

 

Forgiving our critics is a course recommended in the Bible, the Koran and

other religious traditions. Yet, what happens to the critic?

 

The English writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley has described: 15.11

The effects that follow the constant and intense concentration

upon evil are always disastrous. Those who crusade, not for God in

themselves, but against the demons in others, never succeed in making the

world better....

 

No man can concentrate his attention on evil,or even the idea of evil, and

remain unaffected. To be more against the demon than for godliness is

exceedingly dangerous. Every crusader is apt

to go mad. He is haunted by the wickedness that he attributes to his

enemies; it becomes sort of a part of him. The following are some verses

describing the Vedic teachings on this point:

 

para-svabhava-karmani yah prasamsati nindati

sa asu bhrasyate svarthad asaty abhinivesatah

 

Whoever indulges in praising or criticizing the qualities and behavior

of others will quickly become deviated from his own best interest by his

entanglement in illusory dualities.

(Krishna to Uddhava. Bhag. 11.28.2)

 

sammanad brahmano nityam udvijeta visad iva

amrtasyeva cakanksed avamanasya sarvada

sukham hy avamatah sete sukham ca pratibudhyate

sukham carati loke 'sminn avamanta vinasyati

 

Throughout his life, a brahma_a 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, because of his sin, become

regretful, and his happiness in this and

the next life will be vanquished. (Manu-sa_hita

2.162-163. Quoted by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Saraswati Thakur in Brahmana and Vaisnava.)

 

akrosaparivadabhyam vihimsanty abudha budhan

vakta papam upadatte ksamamano vimucyate

 

The ignorant seek to injure the wise by malice

and back-biting; by doing so the critic takes

upon himself the load of the wise man's sins,

which he, the wise man, casts off by forgiving

the ignorant. (Vidura to Dhritarastra.

Mahabharata, udyoga parva 34.74)

 

akrusyamano nakrosen manyur eva titiksitah

akrostaram nirdahati sukrtam casya vindati

 

A person being criticized should not criticize

in retaliation, for the pain felt upon receiving

criticism, if endured, will itself consume the

critic and bring in exchange the results of his

good deeds. (Dattatreya to the Saddhyas.

Mahabharata, udyoga parva 36.5)

 

arusyan krusyamanasya sukrtam nama vindati

duskrtam catmano marsi rusyaty evapamarsiti vai

 

One who remains tolerant, not becoming

angry, certainly attains the abuser's pious

credits. Indeed his own sins are transferred

to that wrathful person.

(Bhishma to Yudhisthira. Mahabharata santi-parva 115.3)

 

pratyaksam gunavadi yah paroksam tu vinindakah

sa manavah svaval loke nastalokaparayanah

 

A person who praises someone in his presence,

but criticizes him behind his back, is no

better than a dog. His chances for elevation

to higher planets are completely spoiled in

this world.

 

(Bhishma to Yudhisthira. Mahabharata, santi parva 115.11