________________
[7] Business Transactions Become Pure
161
162
Pratikraman
Dadashri: Because atikraman has been done. When do you consider charging interest an atikraman? When the interest is such that it hurts the other person, it is considered arikraman.
(150)
the return of it or not. The important thing here is to not allow attachment or abhorrence (raag-dwesh) to occur. The debt may continue.
Pratikraman for Black Marketeering
Questioner: In the scriptures, it says not to charge interest, what kind of calculation is that?
Questioner: These days there are so many taxes that there is no choice but to steal.' Otherwise, we cannot balance everything out financially in big businesses. When everyone asks for bribes, we have to 'steal' for that money, do we not?
Dadashri: They have said 'no' to charging interest because in doing so, a human being becomes like a butcher. That is why they have said no to interest. It is harmful, that is why. There is no problem if one can remain noble and charitable while doing
Ideal worldly interaction (vyavahar) is one that makes sure no one gets hurt by you. And if someone does get hurt, then do pratikraman immediately. We cannot interact with people in the way they interact with us. This give and take of money in the world is a normal custom; that is not what we are referring to as "vyavahar.' You have to make sure that you do not hurt anyone, and do pratikraman if you do. That is call ideal vyavahar (worldly interaction).
Do Pratikraman of the Debt Collector
Dadashri: You steal, but do you or do you not repent doing so? It will become lighter if you repent.
Questioner: Then what should one do in such circumstances?
Dadashri: When you know you are doing wrong, then repent heartily and sincerely. One should feel a sense of burning from within (khed); only then can he be free. Today, if you have bought goods on the black market, then you have to sell them on the black market. So then tell 'Chandubhai' to do pratikraman. Yes, before (Gnan) you did not do any pratikraman, and that is why you filled ponds and ponds of karma. Now when you do pratikraman, you will be able to clean it. Who is instrumental (nimit) in greed? That one has to do pratikraman. If you sell iron on the black market, tell 'Chandulal,' 'There is no problem in selling this way, it is under the control of vyavasthit, but now do pratikraman for it and make sure that you do not do it again.'
If you have loaned someone money and he is not returning it, your pratikraman will affect him positively and he will be inspired to return your money. Generally, people create havoc and curse their creditors who demand payment from them. Would this not create a negative effect? On the contrary, people make matters worse. The entire world is effective and that is why you have to do pratikraman.
Questioner: If we do pratikraman for the one who has loaned us money, will he not continue to demand it back from us?
Dadashri: It is not a question of whether he will demand
Questioner: There are many places where people are starving and, on the other hand, I am making money on the 'black'. How can that be settled with equanimity?
Dadashri: Whatever he is doing, it is correct. Whatever the prakruti (non-Self complex) does, it verily is an effect of (past life) causes. But we can know and understand that whatever