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[25] Understanding the Principles of Pratikraman
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Pratikraman
return with the same weight. All these are discharge karma and through repeated pratikramans, they will become progressively lighter and then end.
Questioner: You say that atikraman is 'neutral' (does not create new karma for mahatmas) so why is there a need to do pratikraman?
Dadashri: Atikraman is indeed 'neutral,' but a seed is planted (for the one who is not separated as the Self) when one becomes one with it (tanmayakar). If he does not become tanmayakar during atikraman, then a new cause is not created. Atikraman in itself does not do anything. And pratikraman is occurring even when you do not become one with it. You are the Knower of, "Chandubhai - the ego' has become one with the non-Self, and also when he is not.' You (the Self) never become tanmayakar. It is the mind, the intellect, the chit and the ego that become engrossed and You are the Knower and the Seer of these.
Questioner: If Chandubhai' becomes tanmayakar, then I have to tell 'Chandubhai' to do pratikraman, right? Dadashri: Yes, 'Chandubhai' has to do pratikraman
Pratikraman and Dreams Questioner: Is it possible to do pratikraman in a dream?
Questioner: If I have committed a sin, a hurtful act, in a dream, can I do pratikraman for it upon awakening?
Dadashri: Of course you can. Whenever it arises in your awareness (laksha), you can do pratikraman for it because you were the one in the dream.
Questioner: Does it then become cleansed? (442)
Dadashri: Yes, the guilty one may confess at any time. The laws in the worldly courts are different, but here you can confess anytime.
Questioner: Karma occurs in a dream. When should I do pratikraman for that? Am I to do them after awakening?
Dadashri: Yes. If you remember when you wake up, then do it. In the dream, if you hit someone, there is a violent intent (himsak bhaav) behind it; that is for certain, isn't it? And whether it hurt the other person or not, is a different matter. So you have to do prarikraman. You can get irritated even in your dream. You see your uncle and you get irritated.
Questioner: Many a times, pratikraman for a mistake made in a dream occurs in the same dream.
Dadashri: Yes, that can occur.
Questioner: But, Dada, sometimes pratikraman does not occur in the dream, and then I realize that I did not do pratikraman for it when I woke up in the morning. So should I go ahead and do the pratikraman in the morning?
Dadashri: Yes, do that. You can do pratikraman anytime. When you fight with your husband and then you ask for forgiveness with pure Soul (Shuddhatma) as a witness, then that is acceptable too. When you get upset with him, it is acceptable to just say, 'I am asking for forgiveness in the presence of Shuddhatma.' These are technical words, but simple words will do also. The 'cloth' has to be washed, one way or another
Dadashri: Yes, very good pratikraman can occur in a dream. The pratikraman that occurs in a dream is better than the one that occurs in the awakened state. Right now you do them quickly, but whatever work gets done during the state of dreaming is very methodical. It is also very good when you 'see' Dada in your dream. You can see' Dada better in a dream than you can in your wakeful state. This is because a dream is a natural and spontaneous state (sahaj) and here, this awake state is unnatural (asahaj).
