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How to do: Alochana – honestly admit the fault. - Pratikraman – repent the same day. - Pratyākhyān – take a small vow to avoid repeating.
You already have the right three steps. Here is a very simple “how‑to” for daily practice in Jain way:
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1. Ālochana – honestly admit the fault
Do this in a quiet moment (ideally during samayik or pratikraman):
- Sit calmly, recite Navkār Mantra once.
- Recall the whole day (or last few hours):
- Where did I hurt any jīv? - Where did I lie, gossip, or speak harshly? - Where was I careless, greedy, angry, proud, jealous, or lazy in dharma?
- Admit each fault clearly in your mind, without excuses:
- “I spoke harshly to my mother.” - “I wasted time in anger.”
- Feel real shame (lājjā) and disapproval of that act (garhā) inside: “This was wrong.”
This inner confession itself is ālochana.
You can read more about śrāvaka’s ālochana here
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2. Pratikraman – repent the same day
Immediately after ālochana, turn it into pratikraman:
- From the heart say (aloud or silently), for all faults of mind, speech, and body:
- “Whatever wrong I did today, knowingly or unknowingly, I sincerely repent.”
- Ask forgiveness from all jīvs:
- “Khamemi savve jīvā, savve jīvā khamantu me; mitti me savva‑bhūesu, veram majjha na keṇai.”
- If you remember specific persons you hurt, include them in your bhaav:
- “May they forgive me; may I forgive them; Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṃ.”
If possible, join the regular Jain pratikraman (Raisi morning, Devasi evening) and let these feelings flow while the sutras are recited. More on pratikraman:
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3. Pratyākhyān – take a small vow to avoid repeating
Now convert repentance into a clear, small, practical vow (pachchakkhān):
- Choose ONE or TWO specific points only.
- Make it time‑bound and doable, for example:
- “Until tomorrow’s pratikraman I will: - not raise my voice in anger, - be careful while walking so as not to crush small beings, - avoid lying, even small ‘white lies’, - not eat between meals,” etc.
- Say it clearly in your own language, with awareness:
- “From now until tomorrow morning/evening pratikraman, I firmly resolve to …”
This is pratyākhyān: stopping the future inflow of the same fault.
Short, student‑friendly pattern (can be used by anyone):
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In essence
- Ālochana: “I truly see and admit what I did wrong.”
- Pratikraman: “I deeply repent and ask forgiveness.”
- Pratyākhyān: “I now take a small vow so I don’t repeat it.”
Done daily, even for 5–10 minutes, this becomes a powerful, very Jain way of cleansing karma and slowly transforming character.
