Streams of Life

Which stream do you choose, moment by moment?

Downstream is the default stream of false identity and its related pride, prestige, attachment, dissatisfaction, expectation, and anxiety. If someone praises me I feel elated. Here is someone who understands my greatness. If someone ridicules me I become offended, expecting to be given respect.

Upstream is the difficult path of humility, surrender, constant self-assessment, alertness, grateful for everything instead of expecting something nice, real identity, freedom from vice and fault finding, contentment. If someone criticises me, I accept it as true and look within. If someone praises me I think, they don't know my situation, they just don't understand.

Humility means, Krsna You know better than me, everyone who speaks to me speaks on behalf of Krsna or by His sanction, so they also know better than me.