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Karma and Luck – Parts 1&2

Karma and Luck: is LUCK all in the MIND?

Karma and Luck – is LUCK all in the MIND?

The following document about karma and luck is eye-opening and in another sense, mind-blowing. Taken to heart, it destroys the ancient concept (in the Western world) of good and bad luck. It came about when I decided to have a long book review written of a certain well-known book explaining Luck.

I thought the book had merit and was the best of about a couple of dozen books I’d read about luck. I was shocked at the response from my writer when she indicated she totally disagreed with the author of the book, who had said “there are principles and sub-principles to follow for being lucky.” To her there was only karma and luck really didn’t enter the picture.

Devanāgari Aum or Om
Under normal circumstances such an opinion wouldn’t sway me, but she reaps of academia, has multiple university degrees, and is a long-time accomplished writer. More-over, this is just the tip of the iceberg of her accomplishments.

She indicated “Luck is not mathematics that it will have principles, sub-principles, theories, and the likes.” So to refute that book (and a dozen more on the topic of luck) the following write-up is her response on Karma vs. Luck.

You need to read the entire document and may or may not agree with her take on karma and Luck. Good reading. You may leave any relevant comments about her article. Comment moderation is in place to help prevent spam.

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The Demise of Luck, Good or Bad – and the Rise of Karma Parts 1&2

By Sangeeta

There is nothing as such called ‘being lucky’ or ‘being unlucky’ – IT IS ALL IN THE MIND

Yes, it is true that there are many people who get in life or out of life what they want or wish for with a single snap of their fingers. Vice versa, there are people who want or wish for many things in life but they don’t somehow end up getting them – no matter how many times they snap their fingers; they keep trying and trying their level best wondering what is wrong with them or their luck.

What’s the reason behind this? A very simple one – KARMA – effects of good karma committed in the previous birth and/or effects of bad karma committed in the previous birth. OR shall I say, DESTINY? – the people who are so called ‘lucky’, get everything even if they don’t work hard or they don’t work for it at all – no doubt, it is the influence of good karma from their previous birth. Whereas, the people who are so called ‘unlucky’, get nothing or get to do nothing fruitful in life even if they slog or work hard till they fall – no doubt, it is the influence of bad karma from their previous birth.

Let’s take a small example:

Look at Farmer A in the field. He has learnt farming from his father and is expected to become a farmer. Education was not possible for this Farmer A because of the family financial situation. So, this Farmer A grows up as a farmer in his childhood and teenage years, when finally, he takes hold of the rein from his father in farming. Day in day out, he slogs to grow crops in the field. The saddest part, the field also does not belong to him; it is of some landlord in the village for whom he is literally working as farmer labor. Every year, for six months he works hard to make the crops grow and once it is done, 50% of it goes to the landlord while the other 50% is sold in the market, from which whatever cash he gets, he has to give 25% to 30% to the landlord, and he keeps the balance amount with which it becomes very difficult for him to make two ends meet. Now, while selling the 50% crops, he gets an amount that is very less than what he has expected, or anticipated, or desired. Every year, the same story is repeated. The crops are fine, they are of high quality – then what goes wrong? Why does Farmer A not get the cash he desires or deserves?

Farmer B of the same village has same fate as Farmer A but with one exception. When he goes to sell the 50% in the market, he gets cash more than what he has expected, or anticipated, or desired. So, after giving 25% to 30% to the landlord, he has enough cash in his hand to make his two ends meet.

Why so? Two people, from the same background, with the same financial problems, with the same work, with the same option to earn, lead two separate lives – one with the downs and one with the ups.

(1) Is it because Farmer A has made enemy of the buyer in the market who perhaps takes some kind of revenge on Farmer A by giving him less money?

(2) Is the buyer in the market a friend of Farmer B and pays him more?

(3) Why can’t Farmer A question the buyer the reason why he is given less money?

(4) Why can’t Farmer B help farmer A by talking the buyer and telling him on his face why he is partial towards Farmer A? Both of them have produced the same crops, the same quality, and the same quantity – then why Farmer A gets less?

Well, many people will say that Farmer A is ‘unlucky’ or ‘luck does not favor him’ whereas, Farmer B is ‘lucky’ or ‘luck favors him’.

Is it really luck? No, I would say it is ‘destiny’. Farmer A is destined to get less money than his expectations in spite of his hard labor; whereas, Farmer B is destined to get more money than what he has expected.

Well, now some people will say that Farmer B is ‘lucky’ or he is reaping the fruits of ‘good destiny’.

Why is it so? Luck is nothing but your destiny, your karma.

Let’s study three cases:

Case I

People who live in past, you will find that they are always in the habit of cribbing and crying throughout life why this did not happen? Why that did not happen? – Their mind is full of why, where, when, what, who, whose. They are destined to do so.

Case II

People who live in future or for future, have they actually seen or can they actually anticipate what future is? What future has in store for them? No… still they hold on to their future. Why? Because they are destined to do so.

Case III

People who live in the present or for the present are the ones who have taken lessons from the past but have not allowed the past to affect their present. They don’t know about their future and are not worried about it. Why? Because they are destined to do so.

So, what are these three cases leading to? Nowhere except for one straight path – KARMA. Considering karma and luck, luck is now out of the picture.

(1) People belonging to Case I have done something wrong in their previous birth – some bad karma – because of which they are not able to let go or come out of their past in this birth.

Living in the past

These people have very frustrating and depressing life – they actually belong to the present but their back is towards the present – they continually face the past. These people cringe from the problems of the present; they don’t have the courage to face the present as they are cocooned in their past. THEY LIVE FOR YESTERDAY, making the life of everyone around him, miserable. Finally, these people die thinking of their past and mind you, because they have not done anything fruitful in this life (because they have spent all this life thinking of their past), in their next life also, they will be destined to ‘live for the past’.

(2) People belonging to Case II have done something wrong in their previous birth – some bad karma – because of which they are not able to come out their future in this birth and face the present.

Living in the future

In this case, these people are not interested about their present, knowing very well that they actually don’t know what future has in store for them. They are only busy in accumulating, saving, investing, and as a result, the life of other people around them goes in jeopardy. Present problems and coping with them hold no interest to these people. They put their present on hold by only thinking of the future. They have their back to the present and face the future. THEY LIVE FOR TOMORROW, a tomorrow which they don’t know or have no idea, in reality.

(3) People belonging to Case III have done something good in their previous birth – some good karma – because of which they belong to the present in this life and enjoy both ups and downs in life, meaning these people take everything in their stride.

Living in the present

They face their gains and losses on equal footing, and do not waste a moment cribbing for why, why and why. They have their back to the past, live for the present and keeps open mind for the future. These people are strong, can face the present boldly and try to solve every problematic situation fearlessly. THEY LIVE FOR TODAY and they know exactly how to go about it. These people, even in adverse situation, know how to enjoy life to the fullest.

What would you call these cases of karma and luck? >Luck or Karma?