Avoid Clashes

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Avoid Clashes" by Dada Bhagwan:

Core Message: The Path to Liberation is Through Avoiding Conflict

The central tenet of "Avoid Clashes" is that the avoidance of conflict is the most direct and effective path to inner peace, harmony, and ultimately, liberation (Moksha). The book emphasizes that engaging in arguments, disputes, or any form of clash leads to suffering, a drain of spiritual energy, and perpetuates the cycle of rebirth.

Key Concepts and Teachings:

• The Nature of Conflict: Conflicts arise from ignorance, ego, and the misunderstanding of the laws of life. They are like colliding with a wall – the impact and injury are ultimately the responsibility of the person who initiates the collision. The book uses analogies of walls, bulls, and serpents to illustrate that wisely stepping aside is the most sensible approach.
• Personal Responsibility: The primary message is that every conflict is ultimately due to one's own errors, not the fault of others. Even if others provoke you, the internal decision to not engage is crucial. Blaming others perpetuates the problem, while accepting one's own role in the conflict is the first step toward resolution.
• "Avoid Conflict" as a Guiding Principle: The book repeatedly stresses that simply adhering to the principle of avoiding conflict can lead to liberation. This requires a firm inner resolution and a willingness to disengage from confrontations, even if the other party is intent on it.
• Distinction Between Tolerance and Avoidance: Avoiding conflict is not the same as tolerating or suppressing feelings. Tolerance has limits, like a compressed spring that will eventually release. True avoidance means actively seeking solutions and disengaging from the situation without creating friction.
• Understanding Underlying Causes: The book encourages understanding that people involved in conflicts are often instruments for settling past karmic accounts. By recognizing the other person as a Pure Soul whose "prakruti" (personality) is manifesting to settle a debt, one can remain unaffected.
• The Power of Pratikraman: When conflicts are unavoidable or have already occurred, the practice of pratikraman (sincere repentance and resolution to not repeat the mistake) is presented as the ultimate remedy. This process, often done with Dada Bhagwan as a witness, helps clear karmic accounts and heal the inner scars of conflict.
• The Dangers of Intellect in Spirituality: While the intellect is useful in worldly interactions, it can be detrimental on the spiritual path. The intellect can misinterpret situations, doubt a Gnani Purush (Self-Realized Soul), and thus hinder spiritual progress.
• Subtle vs. Gross Conflicts: The book differentiates between gross conflicts (physical fights, verbal abuse) and subtle conflicts (mental disagreements, seeing faults in others, internal mental turmoil). The advice is to address gross conflicts first, then move towards resolving the more subtle ones.
• The Role of Sex and Pudgal: The book suggests that sexual interaction is a primary cause of friction and conflict. Conquering sexuality can lead to greater peace and a reduction in conflicts. Pudgal (the combination of thoughts, speech, and action) is identified as the mechanism that causes friction, especially when past karmic accounts are involved.
• Common Sense and the Soul: True common sense, defined as "applicable everywhere," arises from the Soul. It allows one to understand situations without getting entangled in conflicts. This common sense grows when one actively avoids friction.
• Spiritual Progress Through Conflict Avoidance: While friction can sometimes bring awareness, true spiritual progress comes from consistently avoiding conflicts and the resulting negative energies. This builds spiritual energy and leads to liberation.
• The Guarantee of Liberation: Dada Bhagwan guarantees that those who strive to avoid all clashes and consistently practice pratikraman will achieve liberation within a limited number of lifetimes (three more is mentioned).

Introduction to Dada Bhagwan and Akram Vignan:

The book also provides context about Dada Bhagwan (Ambalal M. Patel), who experienced spontaneous Self-Realization in 1958. He taught the path of Akram Vignan (the "shortcut" or "elevator" path to Self-Realization), which allows for rapid spiritual awakening. Dada Bhagwan's teachings are designed to help individuals achieve liberation while continuing their worldly lives. The tradition is now carried forward by his successors, who impart this knowledge through spiritual discourses (satsangs) and the Gnan Vidhi (a process for receiving Self-Realization).

In essence, "Avoid Clashes" offers a practical and profound guide to navigating life with inner peace and achieving spiritual liberation by meticulously avoiding all forms of conflict, understanding the true nature of self and others, and embracing the science of pratikraman.