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[6] The Thorns Vanish and the Blossoms Remain
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Pratikraman
Dadashri: So if you doze off once, it does not mean you bind karma because of that. When do you bind karma? It is when you believe, 'I am Chandulal.' The result of dozing is that karma effect remains pending; it remains incomplete. So the effect will come later on again. The effect of dozing (lack of awakened awareness) will come. No karma should be left
complete. If you doze off, lose awareness, there will be consequences to that. It will not be the same as the effect of 'doership, but there will be the effect of a karma that is pending and it will remain so until it is settled with equanimity.
Only the Pratikraman Remains
Questioner: So, Dada, the only thing that remains is pratikraman, right?
Dadashri: Only pratikraman, and that, too, only if atikraman occurs. Really, atikraman does not occur all day long, everything runs smoothly. If there is some dispute over a certain dish on the dining table, then that is atikraman. Now this atikraman is not a mistake of today; it is from the past life. It is a charitra mohaniya (discharging illusory conduct). Today, we do not like it at all, but it occurs all the same, does it not?
Charitra moha - The conduct of the non-Self that remains after the Self has separated. It is, as Dadashri says, 'Discharge moha.' The awakened one within is free from the illusion and hence it is called charitra moha, discharge moha, as opposed to the illusion of the worldly being whose moha is called darshan moha because he believes that he is 'Chandulal' and that it is happening to him.
Atikraman and Aakraman Pratikraman must be done for both - atikraman (aggression in thoughts, speech and acts) and aakraman (attacking nature.) Aakraman must not exist in us. Aakraman means attacking nature. Aakraman means one would constantly
attack every single interaction, even every word. If attack occurs in every word, such attacking nature is called aakraman. (114)
What is the difference between atikraman and aakraman?
Questioner: Does aakraman mean direct attack?
Dadashri: Yes. That is it; attack. To assault, aakraman! And what is kraman? Simple conversations and talk in daily life where no one gets hurt is kraman. If you were to joke or make fun of someone, he may not react externally because he is weak, but if he feels the hurt inside, then it is an atikraman. I make fun of everybody, but how is it? It is harmless and innocuous and it is done to remove his weaknesses and make him stronger. There is some fun involved, but he also makes progress at the same time. This kind of joking and fun does not hurt anyone.
It is natural for atikraman to occur and to do pratikraman is our purusharth (spiritual effort).
Questioner: It has become a habit for people to do pratikraman for their atikraman. It is a kind of an opinion one develops that 'atikraman has occurred' and, therefore, he feels that atikraman occurred. But really, it may not have occurred at all, is that not possible?
Dadashri: But one will immediately recognize atikraman. Would you not know from within that you spoke harsh words? Is there not a difference between vomiting and rinsing your mouth?
Questioner: There is.
Dadashri: You will know all that. If you experience suffering (dukh) even to the slightest extent; then know that atikraman has occurred here.
Questioner: There is another word "parakram.' What is parakram?