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[6] The Thorns Vanish and the Blossoms Remain
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within if he were to repeat the same mistake. People in general keep multiplying their faults.
Have you witnessed a real pratikraman where your fault has gone or decreased?
Questioner: Only here. Nowhere else.
Dadashri: Alochana, pratikraman and pratyakhyan, is the only tool for the path of moksha. There is no other tool in this world. The other fact is that this tool will become very effective after receiving the Gnan from the Gnani Purush. Thereafter this tool of alochana, pratikraman and pratyakhyan will be helpful.
If pratikraman is done before attaining Gnan, then the faults will become weak. But the level of pratikraman needed will not remain; one needs awareness for that.
After taking Gnan, you will be able to know that a mistake (dosh) has occurred. Only then will you be able to do pratikraman. Until then, pratikraman cannot take place. After taking this Gnan, an awakened awareness (jagruti) will prevail whereby you will be able to tell right away that atikraman has taken place; you will come to know this right away. Once you know you made a mistake, you will do pratikraman right away. This process will continue to take place systematically. Once pratikraman takes place, those mistakes get erased. Once the mistakes are erased, the other person will not feel any negativity or aversion towards you. Otherwise, when you meet the other person again, there will be a sense of separation with him. Does such a separation (bheda) not occur when that happens?
Questioner: Yes.
Dadashri: Even at your workplace, when atikraman occurs with someone and you do pratikraman for it, his mind will become one with you; otherwise it will not.
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Signs of Washing Off the Mistakes Questioner: How am I to wash away my paap (demerit karma; wrong actions) karma now?
Pratikraman
Dadashri: For each stain (demerit, paap karma) you should do pratikraman. If any stain is stubborn, then it will need to be washed over and over again.
Questioner: How can I tell whether the stain is gone or
not?
Dadashri: You will know when your mind becomes clean from within. Your face will glow. There will be a natural smile on the face. Can you not tell? How can you not? How can you not tell where the problem is? And even if the 'stain' (paap) has not gone, there is no problem. You just keep on doing pratikraman. Keep scrubbing away with the soap of pratikraman. Do you understand what paap is?
Questioner: Is it paap when one does not follow Dada's
Agnas?
Dadashri: No, it is not like that - that is not paap. Paap (demerit karma, sin) is when you hurt anyone; whether it is a tree, a human, an animal or any living being. To pluck leaves from a tree unnecessarily is a paap; the tree also feels pain.
By not following the Agnas, you will be the one to sustain a loss, whereas paap hurts others. It is a paap when you hurt others, therefore, you should not inflict even the slightest pain on others. (130) Questioner: If a man acts according to his nature, does he bind merit or demerit karma?
Dadashri: He will bind demerit karma if he hurts anyone. He is doing it based on his nature, but he should understand that he is hurting others and that is why he should ask for forgiveness; his pratikraman should be. 'I have a bad nature,
