Pratikramana Freedom Through Apology and Repentance

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

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Pratikraman
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take him three or four lifetimes to attain liberation. (P.232)
15. On The Path Of Cause Ahimsa Questioner: On the path of liberation, does pratikraman free one from all previous accounts?
Dadashri: Hmm... Yes.
Questioner: But what words do we to say when doing pratikraman?
Dadashri: Say, 'Every living beings that I have hurt in any way, please forgive me.'
Questioner: Each and every living being? Dadashri: Yes to each and every living being
Questioner: Does it include microorganisms like the ones present in air (vayukaya), water (jalkaya) and fire (tejokaya)?
Dadashri: It includes everything.
Questioner: What should we do if we kill something unknowingly?
Dadashri: Even when it is done in ignorance, once you become aware of your deed, you should feel remorse immediately. You should repent for it and do pratyakhyan. Beware that it does not happen again. This should be your goal. God had told us to be firm and resolute in our determination not to kill any living thing. Every morning when you begin your day, you must repeat this five times: "I do not wish to hurt a single living being through my mind, my speech or my body." You will lighten the burden of your responsibility because in reality you only have control over your intent. To hurt or not to hurt any living being is not in your hands as far as result is concerned.
(P.236)
Questioner: Do we still commit a sin if we hurt someone by accident?
Dadashri: What happens when you put your hand in the fire by accident?
Questioner: My hand would burn. Dadashri: Will a child not burn himself too? Questioner: Yes he would.
Dadashri: Even a child? You will not escape, whether you do something knowingly or unknowingly. (P.237)
Questioner: What happens to a person if he continues to kill mosquitoes, even after he has received Gnan?
Dadashri: You can say that such a person has spoilt his intent. That is not considered awareness of Gnan.
Questioner: Is that considered an intent of violence?
Dadashri: Not only that, but in doing so, he has reverted back to what he was before Gnan. If however, he were to do pratikraman, his bad karma would be erased.
Questioner: What if he keeps doing it repeatedly?
Dadashri: Even if he were to do it a hundred times over, by doing pratikraman, his bad karma would be erased.(P.237)
You should not have a single thought about killing. If you cannot tolerate the insects, take them outside. The Tirthankaras eliminated even the word 'kill' from common usage, because it is laden with risk. The thought kill' is laden with a lot of violent subatomic particles. Each an every atom of your body must be