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[20] Awareness When Words are Flowing in Speech...
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Pratikraman
to moksha. Those who do not have the knowledge of the Self, if they want to keep the worldly life interaction (vyavahar) as the worldly life, then if someone says anything negative to them, they should look at it as being correct. But if one wants to go to moksha, then he has to do pratikraman, otherwise vengeance will be bound.
Pratikraman in Hurtful Speech Effects
Questioner: Because of our Gnan, it does not affect me when people are rude or spiteful towards me. The problem is that sometimes I do end up speaking harshly during such times. At such times, if I take into account what you have said about speech being part of unfolding worldly interactions, is that not misusing the Gnan? Does this not support my own rude behavior towards others?
Dadashri: When such speech (vani) happens to come out, it wounds the other person; then suffering/pain (dukh) begins within him. How can you like that which hurts the other person?
Questioner: Does that bind karma?
Dadashri: Is it not against the law of nature to hurt anyone? And by doing so, have you not violated this law? When you follow my Agnas, you are practicing dharma (following my instruction), so then why not do pratikraman? What is wrong in doing it? Ask for forgiveness and make a firm resolution not to make the same mistake again. Is there even a need for you to look for justice? If a person understands that the relative life interaction (vyarvahar) is exact as it is, then he would understand the natural justice. It is because of your own past accounts that your neighbor insults you. In the same token, it is because of the other person's past account that you speak harshly with him, but because you want liberation, you have to do pratikraman.
Questioner: But what about the 'bullet' that has already been fired?
Dadashri: That is dependant on the worldly interaction (vyavahar).
Questioner: Will this kind of approach not increase a revenge and vengeance cycle?
Dadashri: No, that is why we do pratikraman. Pratikraman is not just to take us to moksha, but it is also the direct phone call to God to block vengeance (veyr). Vengeance is created if one does not do pratikraman. Immediately do pratikraman when you realize that you have made a mistake; then you will not bind any vengeance, even when the other person wants to bind it, because pratikraman is the phone call' directly to his Atma (the Self). There is no remedy for the worldly life interaction. You do pratikraman if you want to go
Dadashri: You must not use this as an excuse. Under such circumstances, you must do pratikraman. If you say something hurtful to someone, you must do pratikraman. (332)
No matter how rude the other person's speech may be, if You know that it is of the non-Self and dependent on other factors, then you will not feel hurt at all.
Now, when you say something hurtful, then you should do pratikraman for it; that way you will not feel bad about what you said. Hence, this is how everything gets resolved. You are the Knower-Seer of what is being said, but for the hurt it causes others, You have to make the one ("Chandulal') who spoke the hurtful words do pratikraman. It Happens Even When You Do Not Wish It
Questioner: Even when I wish not to talk to someone, or I do not want to argue with him or fight with him, something happens and I end up saying things; I end up arguing and quarreling with him. What should I do to stop that?