Page 104 - Courage Redifined

income made by him and promises to pay you Rs.5000 for
doing this work what will you do ? Run to do his work.
On the other hand, if Acharya Bhagwant calls you not at
4:00 a.m. but at 5 a.m. to do Pratikraman, then will you be
equally enthusiastic for it ? You will argue, “We get tired after
toiling hard throughout the day and need a sound sleep. After
sleeping at 11:00 p.m. how can I get up so early at 4 during
such a chilly weather ?” In the former case the income of
Rs.5000 was right in front of your eyes but you do not see
any benefit from the activity of Pratikraman and hence do not
consider waking up early to be worthwhile.

Do you have any idea about the advantages of
pratikraman ?

In day- to-day routine life, one exercises many sins :

1) Due to the non-restrained nature of sins and because of
the fact that Pachakkhana (vow) for forsaking / giving up
these sins is not taken, all the sins happening around the
world will harm our soul.

2) Due to negative thoughts, words and actions.
3) Due to anger, pride, ego, attraction and other vices that
take a toll on us.

4) Due to the hatred and attraction towards the innumerable
material objects present around us.

Just 1 day or night can result in the accumulation of abundant
sins which cannot be washed away even by donating tons of
gold. But these can surely be eliminated by doing the holy
act of Pratikraman.

Charity can lead to increase in religion and accumulation of
Punya but it cannot erase your sins. Only Pratikraman and
prayashchitta have the power to erase your sins.

94 Courage Redefined