Pratikramana Freedom Through Apology and Repentance

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

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Pratikraman
Pratikraman
heals with pratikraman, which is why you have been given this weapon.
(P.247) Questioner: When we do pratikraman, we get rid of our bitter feelings of vengeance, but what about the other person? What if he still feels animosity towards us?
Dadashri: What did it matter to Lord Mahavir when those around him felt so much attachment towards him? Some even hated him. Nothing affects the Vitarag. A Vitarag goes around without putting oil on his body. Nothing of the world will stick to them. Others spread oil over their body before going outside. They will undoubtedly become covered with the dirt and dust of the world.
Questioner: There is animosity between myself and another person. There has been a lot of attachment and consequent abhorrence between us. While I have managed to get rid of my animosity, the other person still continues to harbor deep vengeance. Does this mean that in my next life, he will come to settle the account? After all, he is the one perpetuating the abhorrence.
wait before making another attempt to put out the fire. These fireworks of life will keep exploding. Such is the worldly life.(P.251)
If someone were to insult me and do me wrong, I would still help him and continue to give him protection. A man once came to challenge me, I told everyone around me that they should not have a single negative thought towards him and if they did, they should do pratikraman, because after all he is a good man but he was under the control of his internal enemies (kashaya). If he were under the control of the Self, he would never have spoken the way he did. A person, who succumbs to his internal enemies, has to be forgiven, for he does not have the support of the Self. When someone becomes the victim of the internal enemies and becomes angry, you must remain calm or else everything will be ruined.
To be controlled by internal enemies means to be swayed by the effects of the karma of your past life. Everything unfolds according to the effects of past karma.
(P.255) 17. Removal Of The Root Cause Of Opinions
It is you who must know how to respond to the person who comes to you, whatever his inner intent; be it good or bad. Do not bother with him if his prakruti (innate nature) is awkward and difficult. Just let him be. If you know that it is his nature to steal, and you have been watching him steal for the last ten years, should you trust him if he begs for your forgiveness? You can tell him that you do not have any bad feelings towards him and that he has your forgiveness. But that is as far as you can go with such a person. You cannot afford to place trust in him or become involved with him. On the other hand, if you were to become his friend, then it would be wrong not to trust him, or become suspicious about him based on your previous opinions. Frankly you should
Dadashri: With pratikraman, his animosity towards you will lessen. With each pratikraman, a layer of karma is shed. Karma come in layers, just like the numerous layers of an onion. You will have to do as many pratikramans as the number of layers you have caused. Do you understand?
(P.249) Questioner: What should we do when, while doing pratikraman, atikraman occurs simultaneously?
Dadashri: Do your pratikraman later. When you attempt to extinguish a fire ignited by a firework, and in the process another firecracker is suddenly set off, you would have to jump aside and