Pratikramana Full Version

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 45

[2] Every Religion Supports Pratikraman
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Pratikraman
the 'heat' of it. Can one feel bad from the coolness of a situation? This "heat' itself is the feeling bad about it.' Feeling bad is more than enough. But do you say that you will not do it again?
Questioner: Yes, I do.
Dadashri: Make a list of things that you repent and bring it to me so I will know at which station' the 'car is stuck'; then we can send a car there. When repentance occurs, then realize that you are starting to turn back from arikraman or aggression.
If a person repents any of his actions, that person will one day become pure (shuddha); that is certain. Beginning from Repenting to Pratikraman
Generally, when people make apologies, that is not considered pratikraman. It is comparable to ordinarily saying 'sorry' and 'thank-you. There is nothing significant in that. The importance is of alochana, pratikraman and pratyakhyan. Alochana, pratikraman and pratyakhyan are necessary in the worldly life and on the path to moksha.
Questioner: If I go to the temple on Sundays and confess all my wrongdoings, then will I be forgiven for the demerit karma (deeds) that I have done?
(26) Dadashri: If demerit karma can be washed away like that, then there would be no such thing as health and illness. Then there would be no pain or misery, would there? But there exists endless misery. The reason for asking for forgiveness is that when you do so, you destroy the root of your demerit karma (paap) so that it will not sprout again, but you still have to suffer its fruit, regardless, do you not?
Questioner: There are some roots which sprout again.
Dadashri: If the root has not been destroyed properly, it will sprout again. No matter how much of the root has been destroyed, the fruit has to be suffered. Even Lord Krishna was
struck by an arrow. There is no way out. I too have to suffer!
In every religion - Christian, Muslim, Hindu - there is the principle of asking for forgiveness, but it varies with each religion. In every religion, it begins with repentance, whereas here we have pratikraman.
The whole world runs on the basis of ego, 'I am Chandulal' (vikalp). It is proper that the Muslims cover their ears and loudly recite their prayers, and what do the Christians do? Have you ever been in a church? Why, what objection do you have? When you dress appropriately and go, no one will question you, will they? On Sunday, they will ask for forgiveness for all their wrongdoings of the past six days. They keep repenting.
It is only our people who do not repent. And those that do, do so once every twelve months! On that day, they go out and buy new clothes to wear!
Questioner: Is mental repenting the same thing as pratikraman?
Dadashri: Do it the way you have been told to do it. If the other person is hurt if you gave him a slap, then do pratikraman by admitting your mistake, repenting for it and making a decision not to slap him again. Do it that way. Or else if you have scolded him, then admit to hurting him by scolding him, and that you will not scold him again.
That is Dharmadhyan Seeker: Can you please explain this pratikraman, this repentance of demerit karma (paap)?
Dadashri: What is pratikraman? It is when a mistake occurs, you 'shoot it on sight'; that is called pratikraman. You do that once a year, don't you?
Seeker: I do not really know how to do pratikraman.