If someone speaks harshly to you, do not just hear the sound of anger but look at the meaning of the words to see if the criticism makes sense. If it doesn't make any sense, then of course there is no need to listen. Some people, out of love and respect, want you to be hard-working, so they scold you from their loving-kindness, as a mother does her child. But if it does make sense, investigate further to see if what they said is true. Look at yourself to see whether you have made a mistake. If you did, admit it and accept the criticism as a teaching, and change your inveterate propensities. There is no need to react to every sound you hear. Look carefully before you respond.

-- Khenchen Konchok Gyaltsen Rinpoche