Atmsudhar Ka Sadhan Pratikraman

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "आत्मसुधार का साधन - प्रतिक्रमण" (Atmsudhar ka Sadhan Pratikraman) by Mofatraj Munot:

The article, "The Means of Self-Improvement - Pratikraman" by Mofatraj Munot, published in Jinavani on November 15-17, 2006, is a guide for Jains who may not be able to perform the formal Pratikraman ritual regularly. The author emphasizes that Pratikraman is a high spiritual process for self-purification in Jainism.

Key Themes and Guidance:

• The Necessity of Self-Purification: Munot acknowledges that while formal Pratikraman is ideal, daily introspection is crucial for self-improvement. He believes that after a day's activities, before resting, one should calmly reflect on mistakes made, understand the reasons behind them, and resolve not to repeat them.

• Three Stages of Self-Correction: The author outlines three essential stages for daily self-improvement:

  1. Self-Awareness: Recognizing one's own mistakes, faults, or errors through introspection.
  2. Repentance and Purification: Feeling remorse, seeking atonement, or cultivating forgiveness for those faults.
  3. Resolution: Committing to not repeating the same mistakes, faults, or errors in the future.

• Beyond Ritual: The Essence of Pratikraman: While reciting Pratikraman texts is a form, true self-purification requires genuine self-analysis and a firm resolve to avoid past errors. Without a calm mind and a commitment to non-recurrence of faults, one cannot progress on the path of self-purification.

• Identifying and Addressing Weaknesses: It is vital for individuals to know their weaknesses to work on rectifying them and move towards self-purification. Those who avoid acknowledging their faults cannot resolve not to repeat them, hindering their spiritual progress.

• The Courage to Accept Faults: The author stresses that improvement is impossible without the courage to admit one's mistakes. Individuals must be willing to correct themselves. The inability to accept one's errors signifies a lack of potential for positive change. When faults are accepted readily and a commitment is made not to repeat them, change is inevitable.

• The Problem of Denial: Munot points out the issue of self-denial, where individuals claim not to get angry, even when they do. This refusal to acknowledge faults prevents self-improvement.

• Analyzing the Roots of Faults: For self-improvement, one must accept and analyze their faults. It's important to question why certain negative thoughts or actions (like anger, envy, ego, greed) still arise. Regular self-reflection is essential.

• The Hindrance of Stubbornness and Ego: Some people spend their lives proving they are not wrong, even when they are. Stubbornness and obstinacy prevent individuals from engaging in self-purification and Pratikraman.

• Impulsive Actions and Evening Reflection: Ego and greed can lead to anger, deceit, belittling others, rationalizing weaknesses, lying, or violence, often done impulsively during the day. However, in the calm of the evening, self-criticism is necessary to understand where one went wrong.

• The Benefit of Accepting Truth: Accepting one's mistakes is beneficial for self-purification. It's important to be open to the possibility that the other person might be right. Pride should not prevent one from accepting correct viewpoints. Thinking from the perspective of "Anekantavada" (non-one-sidedness) is encouraged to see if there's truth in another's perspective. If so, one should readily accept their own error without delay. Hiding one mistake can lead to many more.

• Ego and Stubbornness as Barriers to Improvement: Egocentric and stubborn individuals find it difficult to admit their faults, leaving no room for improvement.

• The Role of Pure Intentions and Vows: Pure intentions reduce the likelihood of committing faults, as faults often originate in thoughts before manifesting as actions. Therefore, vows of renunciation (Pratyakhyan) are also necessary to maintain pure intentions.

• Personal Commitment to Self-Correction: The author concludes by stating his personal effort to perform this type of daily introspection, identify his weaknesses, and strive to overcome them. He firmly believes that "Pratikraman is the tool for self-correction."

In essence, the article advocates for a proactive and introspective approach to spiritual growth, emphasizing the internal process of acknowledging, repenting, and resolving to correct faults as the core of Pratikraman and the path to self-improvement for Jains.