358 Pratikraman
‘ we’ are not making fun of him, it is considered a kashay of laughing.‘ That poor man is naïve, is that why you are poking fun at him?’ But‘ we’ do pratikraman.
Even‘ we’ have a little fun in that. When‘ we’‘ poke fun’ at them, there is a little enjoyment in it, but at the same time‘ we’ have a little fun with the knowledge that‘ he is going to come out strong from this, so let things be. Everything will work out.’
Questioner: But the laughter you got at his expense: what kind of pratikraman does it call for?
Dadashri: Yes, it is pratikraman of compassion; it is for his progress. Other people will come and tell‘ us,’‘ Why don’ t you say something like that to me?’ I tell them,“ We’ cannot tell you.’ They do not need help to progress; they will do it on their own. They are capable of grasping everything through their wisdom. But‘ we’ have to do pratikraman. Is that not a wonder?
There is Grave Danger in Making Fun of People
I too used to make fun of all sorts of people, from the ordinary to the very prominent and successful ones, from all walks of life. Egoistic intellect-laden people have a tendency to make fun of others. Is such an ego not futile? Is that not misuse of one’ s intellect? It is a sign of misguided intellect to make fun of others.
Questioner: Even now I feel like making fun of people.
Dadashri: There is grave danger in making fun at the expense of other people. One always has the capability of making fun through his intellect( buddhi), but it also carries a grave danger along with it.‘ We’ took on a grave liability‘ our’ entire life in this regard.
Questioner: What are the consequences of making fun of others?
Dadashri: It is better to slap someone than to make fun