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[20] Awareness When Words are Flowing in Speech...
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Pratikraman
Questioner: If I do not notice the effect of our pratikraman on the other person, does that mean that I am not doing it sincerely or is it because the other person has too many veils on his Self?
Dadashri: Do not concem yourself about the state of the other person. He may even be insane, who knows? You need to be sure that you are not instrumental in hurting him.
Questioner: Therefore, should I attempt to bring about a closure for any hurt I have caused him?
Dadashri: If you hurt the person, you will surely have to amend the situation. That is indeed your responsibility. This life of ours is not meant for hurting anyone.
From now on, you will not hurt others in the future. But you will have to resolve the mistakes that have already occurred, will you not?
Questioner: Even then, if the matter is not settled to his satisfaction, how much of it is my responsibility?
Dadashri: If you can meet the person face to face and apologize with humility, you should do so. However, if he taunts you instead, you should realize that you are dealing with an ignoble person. You must still resolve it, but it need not be done face to face. If, while asking for his forgiveness in person, he throws it back in your face, understand that you have made a mistake. But because he is what he is, you should no longer bow or belittle yourself in front of him. Golden Inner Intent but Wrong in the Eyes
of the World Do people suffer because of you? Questioner: Yes, they do.
(336) Dadashri: Do you realize that immediately?
Questioner: Immediately. Dadashri: Is that so? What do you do then? Questioner: I do pratikraman.
Dadashri: If you do pratikraman after you clash with them, what is wrong in that? Your intention is good, is it not? That is all that matters.
Questioner: Yes, the intention is good, so why do I need to do pratikraman?
Dadashri: You must do pratikraman because of the hurt caused to the other person. If people say, 'Oh, just look at how this woman is scolding her husband' you have to do pratikraman for this. You must do pratikraman for everything that unfolds in front of you and is visible to the world. Your intentions may be as good as gold, but what good are they? Good intentions are not enough. Even though 'My' intentions are good, 'I still have to do pratikraman. Pratikraman has to be done for any mistake that occurs. Everyone who has attained the Self has the intent for the salvation of the world, but that is simply not enough. Pratikraman must be done first and foremost. When you stain your clothes, do you not wash them? Likewise, these too, are considered 'stains.
None of these people who are speaking in this world are really speaking! It is the "tape record' that is speaking. Afterwards, he repents also, so that proves that he did not really do the talking, does it not? Now You react in a manner that will make him repent, but instead You say, 'Why did you say that?" so instead of repenting, he will strike back, 'What am I doing wrong?' Your approach should be conducive towards his repentance.
Whenever this 'tape recording' or 'ours (Dada's) plays and there is a mistake in it, then 'we' immediately repent; it is not acceptable any other way.
