Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentance (Abr.) (In English) Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentence | Page 75

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Pratikraman
Dadashri: Do your pratikraman later. When you attempt
to extinguish a fire that was ignited by a firecracker, and in the
process another firecracker is suddenly set off, you would have
to jump aside and wait before making another attempt to put
out the fire. These fireworks of life will keep exploding. Such
is the worldly life.
If someone were to insult me and do wrong by me, I
would still help him and give him protection. A man once
challenged me, so I told everyone around me that they should
not have a single negative thought towards him and if they did,
they should do pratikraman, because in actuality, he was a good
man being controlled by his internal enemies (kashaya). If he
were under the control of the Self, he would never have spoken
the way he did. A person, who succumbs to his internal enemies,
must be forgiven, for he does not have the support of the Self.
When someone becomes the victim of the internal enemies and
becomes angry, you must remain calm or else everything will be
ruined.
To be controlled by internal enemies is to be swayed by
the effects of the karma of your past life. Everything unfolds
according to the effects of past karma.
17. Removal of the Root Cause of Opinions
It is you who must know how to respond to the person
who comes to you, whatever his inner intent; be it good or bad.
Do not bother with him if his prakruti (innate nature) is awkward
and difficult, just let him be. If you know that it is his nature to
steal, and you have been watching him steal for the last ten
years, should you trust him if he begs for your forgiveness? You
can tell him that you do not have any bad feelings towards him
and that he has your forgiveness, but that is as far as you can
go with such a person. You cannot afford to place trust in him
or become involved with him. On the other hand, if you were