Then why do people sometimes practice
such
things and believe in them?
Because of greed, fear and ignorance.
As soon as
people understand the Buddha�s teachings, they realize that
a pure heart can protect them much better than bits of paper,
bits of metal and a few chanted words and they no longer
rely on such things.
In the teachings of the Buddha,
it is honesty, kindness, understanding, patience, forgiveness,
generosity, loyalty and other good qualities that truly protect
you and give you true prosperity.
But some lucky charms do work, don�t they?
I know a person who makes a living selling lucky
charms.
He claims that his charms can give good luck,
prosperity and he guarantees that you will be able to pick
three numbers.
But if what he says is true then why isn�t he
himself a multi-millionaire?
If his lucky charms really work,
then why doesn�t he win the lottery week after week?
The only luck he has is that there are people silly enough
to buy his magic charms.
Then is there such a thing as luck?
The dictionary defines luck as �believing that
whatever happens, either good or bad, to a person in the
course of events is due to chance, fate or fortune.�
The
Buddha denied this belief completely.
Everything that happens
has a specific cause or causes and there must be some
relationships between the cause and the effect.
Becoming
sick, for example, has specific causes.
One must come into
contact with germs and one�s body must be weak enough for
the germs to establish themselves.
There is a definite
relationship between the cause (germs and a weakened body)
and the effect (sickness) because we know that germs attack
the organisms and give rise to sickness.
But no relationship
can be found wearing a piece of paper with words written on
it and being rich or passing examinations.
Buddhism teaches
that whatever happens does so because of a cause or causes
and not due to luck, chance or fate.
People who are interested in luck are always trying to get something � usually more money and wealth. The Buddha teaches us that it is far more important to develop our hearts and minds. He says:
Being deeply learned and skilled.
Being well-trained and using
well-spoken words; this is the best good luck.
To support
mother and father, to cherish wife and child and to have a
simple livelihood; this is the best good luck.
Being generous,
just, helping one�s relatives and being blameless in one�s
actions; this is the best good luck.
To refrain from evil and
from strong drink, and to be always steadfast in virtue; this is
the best good luck.
Reverence, humility, contentment,
gratitude and hearing the good Dhamma; this is the best
good luck.