How to deal with insult?

Questioner: So then what is pratikraman?

Dadashri: 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 must understand that the person who insults you is not at fault, not even in the slightest degree. He is merely a nimit (instrument), and it is because of your own karma, which is unfolding, that you both are brought together. The fault is your own and you must do pratikraman if you harbor any negative feelings towards him. You do not have to do pratikraman if you have no ill feelings towards him or if you feel a sense of obligation to him for being instrumental in the discharge of your karma.

When a person is unpleasant or abusive towards you, you should look upon the incident as being your own account, and see him as 'instrument'. Even a pickpocket would be an instrument to settle your karmic account. All disputes arise because people blame the instrument. Atikraman is to walk on the wrong path and pratikraman is to retrace your footsteps.

Where there is discord, there is no pratikraman and where there is pratikraman, there is no discord.

You have no right to physically punish your child; you only have the right to explain things to him. If you spank your child and fail to do pratikraman, you will bind negative karma. Pratikraman is necessary here.

It is atikraman even to say, "I am Chandubhai." But for the sake of the worldly and social interactions, it is ok. If you do not hurt anyone it is not called atikraman. If during the course of your day you hurt someone, it would be atikraman for which you must do pratikraman.

This is the science of the Vitarag. Atikraman takes you to a birth in the lower life forms, namely the animal kingdom, while pratikraman transports you to a higher life form. Only pratikraman will help you until you attain final liberation.

Who does not need to do pratikraman? The one who has not done atikraman.

Chandubhai* =  Whenever Dadashri uses the name 'Chandubhai' or the name of the person Dadashri is addressing, the reader should insert his or her name for exact understanding.