Do 'entering the stream and relinquishing objects' and listening, reflecting, and practicing mean ignoring all criticism?

No. Listen and judge first, then decide what to learn or release. If someone merely insults you falsely, repeatedly dwelling on it and seeking confirmation lets the words live in your heart. I use 'entering the stream and relinquishing objects' to explain letting meaningless attacks pass like water, rather than remain to torment you.

Guanyin's listening, reflecting, and practicing also involves hearing, thinking, and correcting. If someone genuinely identifies an oversight and helps growth, accept it humbly. I first consider whether I did something poorly. Acknowledging room for improvement permits learning; no need to pretend already perfect.

In service work, YOYO thanks people and adjusts when correction makes sense. For purely emotional attacks, she responds briefly without entering an argument. Dao Xuan first leaves a tense setting and, when needed, asks a colleague capable of coordination to help. Both distinguish circumstances. Do not retain only 'taking it seriously means losing' and discard helpful reminders too.

Understanding once does not mean immediate mastery. Remembering while angry requires repeated practice until it becomes habitual. Personalities differ: some readily accept advice, others take things to heart. Begin from your own condition without demanding identical first attempts.

Dao Xuan's workplace experience also illustrates a boundary. People who do not get along need not force friendship; they can remain colleagues and do the work. For cross-department coordination, ask someone better able to communicate. If upset, step away, calm down, breathe deeply, and return. That is Dao Xuan's method for such situations; work still needs handling.

Settling emotions under criticism does not make everything said correct. After a practitioner suggested calming down and understanding the other person, I added that content must still be assessed. Accept and correct what is reasonable. Do not keep revolving around baseless attacks. Judgment develops through repeated encounters.

Unreasonable words need not remain to torment you, but can still offer reminders. Bad words and behavior remind us not to repeat them; useful aspects can adjust our conduct. Listening, reflecting, and practicing extends beyond dividing all comments into those we like and dislike.

Praise is similar. I imagined someone calling me handsome: hearing it need not mean dwelling on it all day and becoming prouder. Do not retain harsh words for anger or pleasant words for conceit. Return to what needs doing rather than let one evaluation take over your mood.

My brother Andy said clients sometimes grumble, but he does not keep taking it to heart afterward. He practices too, though unlike regular students he does not often hear these teachings from me. Hearing him learn reframing at work moved me. I added that good advice should be kept for learning; deliberate, unfounded difficulties are what we practice releasing. Such discernment in life is cultivating the heart.