Can I change my Luck?

 

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते |
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति || 4||

na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣhkarmyaṁ puruṣho ’śhnute
na cha sannyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigachchhati

Just finished the Chapter 3 part 2 of Gita and landed upon this gem..

We are all aware of the story of Govardhan Parvat, how Krishn sent out a message that we should not thank some supreme force. Instead we should thank and honor everyone around us who are helping us, which enraged Indr and to punish them, he sends terrible rain clouds to flood the land of Vrindavan.

To protect villagers from this calamity, Krishn lifts Mount Govardhan on his little finger and had the entire village come under the hill to take shelter from the storm. For seven days and seven nights, he held up Mount Govardhan, providing a giant umbrella to shelter the inhabitants of Vrindavan from the torrential rain.

Notice the drawings of that event. The scriptures describe everyone using their sticks to hold up the mountain to help Krishn. Clearly, it wasn't required. Why would that particular scene be shown then?

 

As an observant person.. I realize that there are 2 aspects to our success:

1. My own efforts
2. Environment in which I'm putting my efforts

A hard working farmer (effort) can't do anything if there's no rain (suitable environment or luck).

Something other than me is participating in my success.
These are the ones I don't have any control over.

Example:

    I want to go to work. I can do so because there are good roads(which someone else built), better traffic control (which someone else is managing), a car (which someone else invented), and so on.

I am standing on the shoulders of others.

This outside phenomenon, is commonly referred to as Luck.

If there's a common good in mind, someone trying to do good for others instead of just themselves, then you can challenge or change this luck.
This is where the govardhan story fit in. 

 

When Indr got mad at everyone and Krishna picked up the mountain, everyone can be seen to use their sticks to support it stand up.
This is of great significance because no matter how small your effort feels, making your effort is necessary part of success.

We often don't take action saying "What can I do alone to change this?" 

But when you create a community of people who -

• do just a little 
• but all of their effort for common good, 
• all the effort directed towards a common goal
  
• that's when the destiny or luck can be changed. 

 

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