________________ Positive repentance is to realize that, "I got angry and lost my temper. It was wrong. I should have been careful. In future, I will definitely try to manage my anger." Negative repentance makes us think we tend to behave in this manner as it is not within our control. This sort of incorrect thought processes decrease the possibility for improvement and cause inferiority complex. Religion must always be evaluated positively, we must refrain from taking it in any negative aspect. Anything bad in this world, any sin, any defect must not be looked upon as negative. Rather, one must bring out the positive side of any situation. The positive side of repentance is atonement. Why has Parmatma asked us to perform Pratikraman? We perform Pratikraman so that we realize that we have sinned and want to avoid committing more sins in the future. If your resolution is firm, you will achieve your goal. But, if one thinks that wrong things just happen and they cannot be controlled, it is not in our power to manage these wrong deeds... this is negative thinking. We must introspect the quality of our repentance. The difference between negative repentance and positive repentance is the same as that between equanimity (Samta) and peace(Shanti). = 41 -