When you devote your life to achieving your goal, you will not be bothered by shallow criticism. In fact nothing important can be accomplished if you allow yourself to be swayed by some trifling matter, always looking over your shoulder and wondering what others are saying or thinking. The key to achievement is to move forward resolutely along your chosen path.
Daisaku Ikeda
I can't really think of a great deal to add to the above really. It pretty much says what it does on the tin, so to speak. I suppose the only thing I would comment on is Sensei's use of the word 'shallow' .. if we changed that to simply 'criticism' then that would alter the whole context. Naturally we should listen to criticism, especially constructive criticism. Sometimes when we head down a path, determined to achieve something, we may actually be on the wrong path misguided by greed, anger or stupidity.
So to take criticism on board and maybe question through our daimoku sounds ok to me, but I think what Sensei is saying here is 'shallow criticism' which is often in effect a compliment and very often comes from jealousy. It is important therefore that we build a strong life state through our daimoku to recognise which type of criticism it is and to act accordingly.
