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 RW DGM' s MESSAGE FOR febrUARY 2008

LUCK AND LIFE

            It’s said that when a General was recommended to Napoleon for command of an Army as being a capable soldier his response was “But is he Lucky? “

            Over these many score years I have observed this phenomenon of Luck playing a significant role in the successes and failures of men, whatever might be the names under which it masquerades.  For Luck we could also substitute the name of God, although ultimately both signify the inexplicable nature of the happening or event, regardless if its effects – positive or negative.

            There have been many discourses about pre-destination or fate called Determinism on the one hand and Free Will on the other the latter denoting a human’s supposed capacity to influence his or her own life.  While Philosophers and Scientists can argue the two contrary propositions, practical observations seem to favour an element of chance in all our Lives.  God does not play Dice, it has been said but who really knows that Divine Player’s mind?

            The biographies of Great Men almost invariably touch upon this aspect of their success, ascribing almost always a feeling amongst those great men that they were chosen by Divine providence to play these great roles on the World stage.  Indeed Alexander the Great ascribed to himself Divine attributes, as did many of his followers.  He is still worshipped in many parts of India – as Sikander or Skanda.  John D. Rockefeller attributed his rise to being the World’s richest businessman at the turn of the 20^th Century to his devout Baptist origins and practices and therefore to Divine provenance.  Hence also his compulsion to give away much of his fortune – which endures in the Foundation which bears his name-down to this day.

            How does a J. Krishnamurthi, the renowned seer and philosopher, get selected as a gifted boy by no less a personage than Annie Besant, in his pre-teens, on being espied while walking on a beach in Madras ?

            How does Napoleon himself become a General of the French Army in his late twenties, and an Emperor a few years later without even being a Frenchman of the mainland – being a Corsican ?

            Many such puzzles leave considerable doubt on the ability of human beings to achieve success solely by their own efforts – Life appears therefore to be a 50/50 proposition at best, with equal parts of human effort and divine chance.  Make the effort, however, do not leave everything to Chance !