Pratikramana Freedom Through Apology and Repentance

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Foundation

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Pratikraman
should be that it does not matter what the other person is like, but your thoughts or behavior should not be negative. There is no accountability on your part in saying that someone is good, when he is good, but there is a tremendous accountability in saying someone is bad when he or she is not. There is also a liability in saying that someone is bad, when he is bad. Because in reality a person is never bad, it is his effect karma that makes him good or bad. He is not at fault, but it is his circumstances that make him so. So how can you blame him?
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If a group of women are passing by and the person you are with makes a comment about one of them and tells you that she is a prostitute. If you become prejudiced based on what he says, you will incur a tremendous liability. The woman has been forced in that predicament by her circumstances; she is suffering the consequences of her own effect karma. Why must you take on a liability on her account? She has not become a prostitute of her own will. No living being likes to be degraded. It is a circumstance that initially drives a person to do something, but later it becomes a habit with him or her. Nevertheless initially it was circumstances that drove them to do so.
(P.102)
Questioner: Are the people who are not Self-realized, able to see only certain kinds of faults?
Dadashri: I tell them they should learn to ask for forgiveness for their faults. Whatever faults they perceive in themselves, they should ask for forgiveness. They should never condone their fault; otherwise the fault will double. Ask for forgiveness after you do something wrong.
Questioner: How should those who are not Self-Realized do pratikraman when they see their own faults?
Pratikraman
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Dadashri: There are some people who despite not having this knowledge, are very sharp and have a keen awareness of their faults. They understand what pratikraman is and they do it. Others are not included in this, but we still need to tell them to repent. (P.104)
What happens in the process of pratikraman? It is when the Self puts pressure on the 'relative' self. Atikraman is the process whereby the 'Real' becomes suppressed. When the karma is an atikraman, and you support it, a new setback will occur. It is a fault if you do not accept something wrong, as wrong. So pratikraman is very necessary. (P.105) Questioner: What if the other person does not forgive me for my atikraman despite my pratikraman?
Dadashri: Do not be concerned about the other person forgiving you. The atikraman tendencies within you must go. You must become an opponent of atikraman. That is how it should be.
Questioner: What if the other person continues to be hurt? Dadashri: Do not be concerned about the other person. Be firm in your conviction that you are an adversary of atikraman. It is not your wish to do atikraman but if it happens, you should feel remorse and your intent should be that you do not want it to happen again. (P.106)
Pratikraman is to be done to destroy your opinions and to show that you are not endorsing atikraman. Pratikraman is to be done to show your opposition towards any aggression. Do you understand?
Questioner: If it is just a part of discharge, effect of karma, then why must one do pratikraman?