Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentance (Abr.) (In English) Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentence | Page 30

Pratikraman 17 Questioner: Yes I do indeed. Dadashri: Everything is false. Because people lack understanding, they proclaim that they are telling the truth. If it were indeed the truth, it would not offend anyone. The instant I utter a word, I am simultaneously doing pratikraman with fervor. Questioner: But when you tell the truth about something, then why is it necessary to do pratikraman? Dadashri: No, I still have to do pratikraman. Why did I see someone’s fault? Why did I see his fault even though he is faultless? Why did I criticize him despite this? Any truth that hurts others is not considered truth and must not be uttered. If uttered, this truth becomes a fault. It represents violence. The way to liberation is through alochana, pratikraman, and pratyakhyan. What do our mahatmas (people who are Self-Realized) do? They do alochana, pratikraman, and pratyakhyan throughout the entire day. If you were to ask them to do rituals and practice austerities such as fasting and penance, they will tell you that they have no need for such austerities because they have no worries and are content. They remain constantly at peace with themselves and free from all woes and anxieties, undeterred by the external world. So why would they want to complicate their lives by introducing chaos in the form of fasting, etc? People who are confused do all these complicated penances and other rituals. People, who do rituals, enjoy doing them and need to do them. That is why I say that penance is for those who derive pleasure from it. Those who have a passion for the worldly life should do penance. Questioner: People believe that in doing penance, karmas are being dispelled.