Avoid Clashes

This Jain text, "Avoid Clashes" by Dada Bhagwan, is a guide to achieving peace and liberation by fundamentally refraining from conflict in all aspects of life. The core message, as articulated by Gnani Purush "Dadashri" (Ambalal Muljibhai Patel), is that avoiding conflict is the direct path to self-realization and ultimate liberation.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the key teachings presented in the book:

The Central Principle: Avoid Clashes

• The Direct Path to Liberation: The book emphasizes that if individuals could absorb and live by the single principle of avoiding clashes, their lives would be filled with peace and harmony, and they would attain liberation without obstacles.
• Analogy of the Wall/Bull: To illustrate this principle, Dadashri uses analogies. If you walk into a wall in the dark, you don't fight the wall; you find a way around it. Similarly, a king might step aside for a charging bull. These examples highlight that engaging in conflict with obstacles or difficult individuals is counterproductive and leads to harm. The wise approach is to "get out of the way."
• Inner Resolution: The book stresses the importance of a firm inner resolution to avoid confrontation at all costs. This intention, Dadashri says, naturally generates spontaneous and intuitive behavior that leads to liberation.

Understanding the Nature of Conflict

• Conflict is a Sign of Ignorance: Dadashri explains that engaging in conflict is a direct indication of one's own ignorance and weakness. The people involved in conflict are often "blind," unable to see the solution or the underlying reality.
• "Vyavasthit" and Karma: Conflicts are often attributed to "Vyavasthit" (a scientific circumstantial evidence) and past karmic accounts. However, Dadashri warns against using Vyavasthit as an excuse to initiate conflict. It's a principle to understand after a conflict has occurred, not a justification for engaging in one.
• The "Wall" Analogy for People: Dadashri likens people with whom one clashes to walls. Whether it's a physical wall or a person, the principle remains the same: do not engage in confrontation. Recognize that the other person is also a "wall" and find a way around them.
• Subtle vs. Dense Conflicts: The book distinguishes between dense conflicts (overt arguments, physical altercations) and subtle conflicts (mental disagreements, unspoken resentments, seeing faults in others). The path to liberation involves resolving these increasingly subtle forms of conflict.

Practical Guidance and Solutions

• Don't Get Stuck: When your pants get caught on barbed wire as the train of liberation is leaving the station, don't wait for them to untangle. Let them tear and board the train. This means not getting bogged down by earthly attachments or situations that prevent spiritual progress.
• Resolve with Equanimity: If conflict arises, resolve it with balance and withdraw without creating further hostility.
• The Importance of "Pratikraman": Dadashri introduces "pratikraman" (repentance or seeking forgiveness) as the ultimate antidote to conflict. When you realize you've made a mistake or caused conflict, sincerely ask for forgiveness. This purifies errors and dissolves karmic accounts.
• Accept Your Own Fault: Dadashri repeatedly emphasizes that in any conflict, the fault lies with oneself. By accepting your own error, you find the solution and are freed. Blaming others perpetuates the problem.
• Don't Tolerate, Solve: Avoiding conflict is not about suppressing your feelings or "tolerating" something indefinitely, which is like compressing a spring that will eventually snap back with more force. Instead, learn to find solutions.
• The Power of Understanding: The key is to develop the correct understanding. Recognize that the other person is an instrument for settling your past karmic accounts. This understanding eliminates the need for tolerance and fosters compassion.
• The Ocean Analogy: Just as the ocean accommodates all the sewage of Bombay, one should be able to contain all difficulties within oneself, becoming noble and graceful to those around.

The Nature of Reality and Spiritual Progress

• Akram Vignan: The teachings are presented within the framework of Akram Vignan, a direct and step-less path to self-realization.
• The Role of "Gnani Purush": Dadashri, as a Gnani Purush (an enlightened being), has attained the Self and transmits this knowledge through a scientific process called "Gnan Vidhi." The book highlights that this knowledge of the Self can only be acquired from a living Gnani.
• Conflict as a "Vitamin": While conflicts are to be avoided, they can also serve as "vitamins" for the soul, keeping one alert and preventing spiritual "slippage." The key is to remain aware and not become alienated from others during conflict.
• Sexual Interaction and Conflict: Dadashri points out that sexual interaction is often a root cause of conflicts. Those who conquer their sexual instincts conquer everything.
• The Importance of Good Sense: Good sense, defined as "Applicable Everywhere," arises from not entering into conflict. It allows for immediate understanding of situations and the avoidance of harm.

Consequences of Conflict and the Promise of Liberation

• Draining Spiritual Energy: Conflicts completely drain spiritual energy and can affect the mind, intellect, and the entire internal mechanism.
• Consequences Across Lives: Causing conflict not only ruins the current life but also future lives. Conversely, a life free of conflict leads to future lives also being free of problems.
• Guaranteed Liberation: Dadashri guarantees liberation in three lives for those who consistently avoid conflict.

In essence, "Avoid Clashes" is a profound spiritual treatise that offers practical guidance for navigating life's interactions with peace and wisdom. By understanding the nature of conflict and diligently applying the principles of non-confrontation and self-awareness, individuals can move towards inner peace, spiritual growth, and ultimately, liberation.