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[6] The Thorns Vanish and the Blossoms Remain
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144
Pratikraman
Pratikraman for Mistakes of Past Lives
Questioner: Does atikraman occur when there is some pending karmic account from the past life?
Dadashri: Yes, that is when it occurs.
Questioner: So when we do pratikraman, does that pratikraman wash away the demerit karma from all my past lives?
Dadashri: We are breaking that karmic account. That is why our people do shoot-on-sight' pratikraman. That is why our faults are uprooted immediately.
Pratikraman of Bigger Faults
Questioner: If I see a major mistake in myself, how should I do pratikraman for it?
Dadashri: The process of pratikraman is mainly in words, but in the end it is all cumbersome wording. Instead, if you do not know how, then you should say, 'Dear Dada Bhagwan (or the Lord you believe in), I have made this mistake, I became excessively upset with this gentleman and so I am asking for forgiveness. I repent doing that and I will not do it again.' Even if you say this much, it will be more than enough.
Otherwise, there is a hassle of verbiage. They use big words, it takes long to recite them, so how is anyone to make any headway? Instead, you can say this; it is short. The intent of the pratikraman is more important than the words.
Effective Pratikraman
Dadashri: That is a kind of a beginning. It does not wash off the mistake. You should do pratikraman in such a way that the other person will come and talk to you. For the time being, start it in My presence.
Whenever inner conflict (gooncha) is likely to occur, you will inevitably remember Dada and there will be no more internal conflict. 'We are telling you not to create a new conflict, but in the event it does occur, then do pratikraman for it. Now you know right away what to do should conflict occur. Elsewhere, people are tired of listening to the same old preaching of, "Be truthful, be kind, do not steal,' etc.
Do not sleep on your conflict. If you have any conflict within, you should clear it before falling asleep. If you cannot clear this conflict, you should simply do pratikraman. You should ask for forgiveness because you are the one feeling disturbed. In this way, you will succeed in finding a solution: otherwise, these mistakes will continue to occur. Forgiveness is the greatest scripture.
Bestial Ego and Humane Ego When you scold someone, do you have the awareness (khyal) of how you would feel if someone scolded you? You should keep this in mind before you scold anyone. (134)
To think about the other person and to put yourself in his shoes, and then do the work, is the mark of a human ego. To think of only yourself and to be inconsiderate when interacting with others and to push people around - what is that called?
Questioner: That is a bestial ego.
Even when the other person is at fault, you should ask for
forgiveness.
Dadashri: Have you done that before? Ever?
Questioner: What should we do if such circumstances arise after attaining Gnan?
Dadashri: After becoming a gnani, Gnan remains separate.
Questioner: What if everyone were to ask for forgiveness for their mistakes, in front of everyone, in the presence of Dada?
