Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentance (Abr.) (In English) Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentence | Page 43
30
Pratikraman
When you scold someone, do you ever stop to think
about how you would feel if someone scolded you? You should
consider this before you scold anyone. To think about the other
person and to put yourself in his shoes is the mark of a human
ego, whereas being inconsiderate and getting into a disagreement
with him and thinking only about yourself when you interact with
him, is a bestial ego.
If someone points out your mistakes, you should tell
Chandulal (your relative self) that he (Chandulal) must indeed
have made a mistake, and that is why it is being pointed out to
him. Why else would someone bring it to his attention? People
in general would not say anything without reason, so naturally
he must have done something wrong. Tell Chandubhai to do
pratikraman when he hurts anyone. If you want liberation, you
can no longer afford to do as you please.
You have no right to see faults in others. If you do, you
must do pratikraman. Chandulal is adept at seeing faults of
others. It is nothing new. This habit is not easy to break, but
through pratikraman it will eventually cease. When you see faults
in others, you must immediately do pratikraman, ‘shoot-on-
sight’ pratikraman.
Questioner: I am not yet able to do the kind of
pratikraman that is called for.
Dadashri: You must make the firm resolution of what
you really want to accomplish.
Questioner: Would that not involve the ego of ‘doership’?
What is meant by this firm resolution?
Dadashri: This is merely the use of words. The resolution
is internal.
Questioner: Many of the mahatmas are under the