Simple & Effective Science For Self Realization Simple & Effective Science For Self Realization | Page 71
repenting and asking for forgiveness with the avowal to not
repeat the act of aggression through thoughts, speech or
action. If a person insults you, you should understand who the
real culprit is behind the insult. Is it the one who insults or is
it the one who feels insulted? This should be determined first.
You should understand that the person who insults you is not
at fault at all. He is merely instrumental in the process (nimit)
and it is due to the unfolding of your very own karma that the
two of you are brought together. The fault is your own and
you should do pratikraman if any negative feelings arise
towards him. If you feel that he is worthless or deceitful, you
have to do pratikraman. If anyone insults you, it is due to
your very own karmic account and you should see the other
person as an instrument in the process. Even when your
pocket gets picked, the pickpocket is an evidentiary instrument
(nimit) who is settling your own karmic account. Generally,
people blame the evidentiary instrument (nimit) and that is the
cause of all conflicts.
In your daily worldly interactions when you do something,
you will know that you did something wrong against such and
such a person, won’t you? The worldly interactions you carry
out are kraman. Kraman means worldly interactions
(vyavahar). Now if you have a misunderstanding with
someone, you will realize that you used harsh words towards
the other person or that you behaved wrongly towards him.
Will you not know that? All that is called atikraman.
Atikraman is to walk in the wrong direction, and to walk
back the same distance in the right direction is pratikraman.
Correct and Precise Procedure of Pratikraman
Questioner: What does one do in pratikraman?
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