22
Anger
Dadashri : You need not ask for forgiveness in that way,
otherwise the other person might misuse it. He may think that
he has put you in your place. Just ask for forgiveness internally,
by recalling the Soul within that person. There are only a handful
of people who would forgive you before you even ask for their
forgiveness. Such nobility is rare these days.
SINCERE PRATIKRAMAN YIELDS IMMEDIATE
RESULTS
Questioner : Sometimes I become so angry that I will
say something and then keep quiet, but I am in turmoil from
within and this lingers on. Does this call for more than one
pratikraman?
Dadashri : If you do pratikraman two or three times
wholeheartedly and with resolve never to repeat the mistake,
then everything is over with. Pray to the Soul within that person
and confess that you became very angry and hurt him and that
you are now asking for forgiveness for your actions.
FAULTS END ULTIMATELY
Questioner : The excitement stirred up through
atikraman (aggression involving anger, pride, attachment,
greed) is calmed down with pratikraman.
Dadashri : Yes, it does indeed calm down. With ‘sticky
files’ (Dadashri’s term for those with whom you have great
attachment or abhorrence due to past life karma) you have to
do more than five thousand pratikramans or so before things
are squared away. Although you may not vent your anger when
you become frustrated, if you do not do pratikraman, the ‘stain’
will not be erased. With pratikraman, everything is cleared up.
If you do atikraman, then you must do pratikraman.
Questioner : What if you get angry with someone and
you immediately ask for forgiveness on the spot ?