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[1] The True Nature of Pratikraman
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Settlement of All Karma with the Gnan of the Gnani Purush
Seeker: There are all kinds of karmas (acts through thoughts, speech and body) one has to do in worldly interactions, many of which are considered bad or demerit (paap) karma. (Demerit karma, sin, is that which hurts others and as a consequence brings suffering to the self. Merit karma is that which helps others and as a consequence brings pleasure to the self.) How can we be saved from these demerit karmas?(10)
Dadashri: Whatever knowledge about demerit karma one has, that much knowledge will help him. If you want to go to the railway station, and you have the directions to go there, then that knowledge will help you get there. How can you be saved from demerit karma? With whatever knowledge you have about it...but that knowledge does not lie in any books or with anyone else except a Gnani. Elsewhere, you will find worldly knowledge. Only a Gnani Purush has the nischay-gnan (knowledge of the Self). Nischay-gnan is not to be found in any book. It is hidden in the heart of a Gnani Purush. You will find a solution when you hear nischay-gnan; when you hear it live in His speech.
Books contain worldly knowledge; it, too, can give you a lot of solutions. The intellect (buddhi - knowledge through the medium of the ego) increases with worldly knowledge. Intellectbased knowledge (matignan) will increase. Matignan increases with scriptural or literate knowledge received through 'hearing' (shrutgnan), and thus comes a solution as to how to become free from demerit karma (paap). Otherwise, there is no other solution. And the other thing is one's own inner intent (bhaavna). One can be free if he does pratikraman. But what should that pratikraman be? It should be 'shoot-on-sight' pratikraman, meaning it should be instant pratikraman. If pratikraman is done the instant a wrongful act occurs through thoughts, speech or acts, then you will have the solution.
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Pratikraman
Repentance for Unjust Worldly Interactions
Seeker: When I see injustice in daily life interactions and in business, the mind becomes upset. So what should I do when that affects the way I interact with people? How should I repent if there is any injustice on my part?
Dadashri: In the repentance there should be alochana (recall and confession of mistakes), pratikraman (repentance and asking for forgiveness), and pratyakhyan (resolve never to repeat the mistake and asking for the energies for this). This should be done in the presence of whichever God you believe in. Which God do you believe in?
Seeker: Lord Shiva.
Dadashri: Yes, so Lord Shiva should be your witness when you repent. You should do alochana which is to confess or admit that you erred with such and such a person. You should repent repeatedly. If you err, you should repent. In doing so, the mistake will decrease. Injustice will occur even though you may not wish to. This is due to the faults of the non-Self complex (prakruti). This fault of the non-Self complex is from the past life, not of the current life. Today you want to improve but because of your past life mistakes (cause), these faults continue to occur in this life (effect) and they will not leave without harassing you. For this you should continuously do alochana, pratikraman and pratyakhyan.
Seeker: What is the solution when I have to tolerate a lot of things?
Dadashri: You should tolerate without complaining. Tolerate with equanimity, without cursing the other person in your mind and with the understanding that he has released you from the bondage of your previous karma, and thank him sincerely for doing so. You should feel obliged to him. No one suffers without a reason. Your suffering is the result of your own past demerit karma.
