Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentance (Abr.) (In English) Pratikraman: Freedom Through Apology & Repentence | Page 72

Pratikraman
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as long as he did pratikraman, his bad karma would be erased.
You should not have a single thought about killing. If you
cannot tolerate the insects, take them outside. The Tirthankars
eliminated the word ‘kill’ from common usage, because it is
laden with risk. Thoughts about killing are laden with violent
subatomic particles. Each and every atom of your body must be
completely ahimsak.
Questioner: Do cause violence (dravaya himsa) and effect
violence (bhaav himsa) have the same consequences?
Dadashri: Cause violence cannot be seen because it is
subtle. Only effect violence is visible. It can be perceived through
the mind, speech, and body. If you have reverence for life, and
you believe that no harm should come to any living being, then
you are not held accountable for anything that happens to them,
even if you kill something accidentally. Your compassion is the
only requirement. You must nevertheless repent and do
pratikraman to eliminate any responsibility on your part.
Questioner: I have read in your books that, “Through
this mind, speech, and body, let me not hurt, even in the slightest
degree, any living entity.” I am a farmer and I grow tobacco.
While the plants are growing, I must constantly pinch tender,
new leaves off their stalks. Would that not hurt the plant? Is that
not a sinful act? We do this to thousands of our plants! How
can we put an end to this sinful act?
Dadashri: You should feel remorse for the act. You should
regret and feel “Why has this painful task fallen upon me?” That
is all. You can continue with your work then. Internally you are
repenting that it is not your wish to undertake such a disagreeable
occupation.
Questioner: Yes, but are we still committing a sin?