Insults and Criticisms

In His "Bliss Divine", Swami Sivananda Maharaj of Rishikesh, says the following of "insults" and "criticisms": "If you practice Ahimsa, you should put up with insults, rebukes, criticisms and assaults also. You should never retaliate nor wish to offend anybody even under extreme provocation. You should not entertain any evil thought against anybody. You should not harbour anger. You should not curse. You should be prepared to lose joyfully even your life in the cause of Truth. The Ultimate Truth can be attained only through Ahimsa."  

He reiterates the same advice in His Autobiography, where He exhorts spiritual aspirants to "bear injury and insults" and "...to bear insult and injury... is spiritual strength. That is the balance. To be moved by trifles, to worry for months and to waste energy in a useless direction is not wisdom." In His little poem (in the same text), Swamiji Mahara includes one's fortitude against revilement, insolence, humiliation, jibe, slight, snub and barb as one of the most important signs of spiritual progress: 
 
"...Even to those who despise and insult
Strength of mind to bear insult and injury
To meet dangers and calamities
Are some of the preliminary spiritual experiences.
These indicate that one advances
In the spiritual path."

Also read: 
https://antaryamin.wordpress.com/category/insult/