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Chapter 20
RITUALS
AJAY noticed that during the holy days of Paryushan quite a few people were going to big halls and community centres to do Pratikraman. One day Ajay asked his teacher about the meaning of Pratikraman.
The teacher told Ajay, "Pratikraman is like removing all the bad things out of the house. We have to remove all the bad thoughts out of our minds. We have to review our past deeds and ask for forgiveness for anything harmful we might have done. During a Pratikraman one sits for long periods reviewing, confessing and repenting past and present sinful actions and thoughts."
"People say, "Michchhami Dukkadam" to each other after the annual Pratikraman. This way they ask for forgiveness for any faults or misdeeds."
Ajay also noticed that his grandmother was sitting in a room and doing some religious activity. Karunaben said, "It is called Samayika. During a Samayika one sits for 48 minutes in a quiet place, meditates and reads holy books."
Ajay's Grandmother doing Samayika
In Samayika, one gains a feeling of equanimity towards everybody.
Attachment, anger, worry and all kinds of fear are driven out. The mind is purified and the one who performs Samayika becomes more humble and friendly.
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