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[24] Gnan Rescues Those Drowning in the River of ...
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Pratikraman
Do Pratikraman This Way
Before Gnan, I had a very strong ego. I used to criticize people and was very disrespectful and scornful to them, but at the same time, I used to be full of praise for some people. I would scorn one and praise another. After 1958, when Gnan manifested, I told A. M. Patel, Wash away all the contempt you had towards others. Put soap of pratikraman on it and wash it off!' After that, I recalled each and every person I had treated with contempt, including neighbors, uncles, aunts and inlaws. I had treated many people with contempt so I washed it off.
Questioner: Did you do pratikraman in your mind or did you personally ask for their forgiveness?
(396) Dadashri: I told Ambalal that, 'I can see all the wrong you have done. Now wash off all of those wrongdoings.' So what did he start to do? How would he wash them off? Then I gave him the understanding that, 'Remember and recall that you have hurt the other person and have abused him verbally and scorned him.' I would show him the whole thing. I would tell him to first describe the mistake in this manner, in detail (alochana), and then say,
Dear Shuddhatma Bhagwan! You are completely separate from the union (yoga) of mind, speech and body of "Chandubhai' and his bhaavkarma, dravyakarma and nokarma. Dear Shuddhatma Bhagwan, I am asking for Your forgiveness for all these errors committed towards 'Chandubhai (insert name of the person hurt). I am asking this in the presence of Dada Bhagwan. I will never repeat such mistakes again.'
Dadashri: It can be done, but only if the other person is noble and reasonable. Otherwise, he will say, "Now she has become wise! She did not believe me when I told her, and now she has shaped up. The fool! He took it the wrong way! Then he will scold the poor woman. So do not do that. These people (nowadays) lack understanding, they are unwise and immature. There are only a few that are noble and who will calm down. but others will make comments like, 'So, you realize it now? I have been telling you for a long time but you would not listen!' I even know what he will say and I also know how you will feel. This life is all a drama! A play! So this is how we do pratikraman.
The World of Intellect and Interference
"We did so much cleaning and only then did the 'book' (of the karmic account) become clean. 'We' have been cleaning in this way from countless past lives and that is why 'we' became free from the account book of karma. I have shown you the way so you can free yourself quickly. 'We had to do the washing over many lifetimes.
You should do pratikraman so that you can become free from the liability of these mistakes. In the beginning after Gnan, people used to attack me and question my integrity, but later, they got tired of doing this because I never retaliated. If we become belligerent and attack, then they will never get tired of counterattacking. This world, with the interfering intellect, will not let anyone attain liberation. So you should be careful and conduct yourself with awareness, avoiding all conflicts. The one who becomes aware and moves carefully by withdrawing, thus avoiding all conflicts, will attain liberation.
At least try doing pratikraman, and then see the changes in the people in your household. There will be magical changes and effects.
It is better to remain stuck here in this satsang, even if
Do pratikraman in this manner and you will notice a change on the other person's face. You do the pratikraman here and the changes will be taking place over there within him.
Questioner: Can pratikraman be done directly by being in front of the other person?