I’ve never been a particularly superstitious person. If a black cat crosses my path or I accidentally step on a crack, I’m not overly concerned about my own bad luck or the state of my mom’s cervical spine. On the other hand, I don’t purposely walk under ladders. I try not to break mirrors. I do blow out my birthday candles every year, in one big breath. And if I happen to stumble upon a four-leaf clover, chances are I’ll pick it up and exclaim, “Woo-hoo. I’m in luck!”
In other words, there’s nothing wrong with hedging one’s bets, right? If I see a falling star, why not make a wish? What’s the harm in partaking in activities of superstition, as long as they don’t become too obsessive?
Such is my thinking as I approach the “Godairiki” section of beautiful Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine in southern Osaka. Surrounded by a tall, rock fence consisting of evenly-spaced slats, the Godairiki area is essentially a gathering place for small, flat, gray stones, piled densely in a large trough. A sign nearby indicates that your task is to find three stones, each with a particular kanji (Chinese character): “Go” — 五, “Rai” – 大, and “Iki” – 力. Together they mean “5 great powers.” In other words, if you can find the three-required stones, you’ll earn for yourself 5 great powers, whatever that means!
Are we talking mental and spiritual qualities like strength, resilience and fortitude, or Marvel super powers like flying telepathy or invisibility? Personally, I wouldn’t mind some Hulk-like “clobbering time,” but that’s just me. For my fellow searchers (of whom there are MANY), I suspect it means something more mundane, like “May I be granted the power to pass my tests” or “May I have the ability to get a date with my classmate, the fetching Miyoko-san.”
Whatever the reason, my fellow good-luck seekers and I ardently sift through the stones in search of the required Chinese pictograms. Yes, I’ve got my 大. Okay, there’s my 五. All I need is my 力. Where is my “power” stone? Ah, there it is! Now what?
My three rocks in hand, I proceed to the souvenir stand at the front gate and present them to the nearest clerk.
“What now?”
“You need an amulet (omamori 御守) to hold them in.
“Show me.”
I’m directed to a bin full of tiny pouches, each covered in kanji and selling for about 1,000 yen (~$7). Is it worth it, I wonder, to spend essentially the cost of two coffees at Starbucks for a chance at FIVE GREAT POWERS! Heck yes! I’m not saying it worked, but I bought my amulet (a lovely blue one) and still carry it around to this day.
Like I said, when it comes to luck, how can it hurt to hedge your bets? That’s not superstition; that’s just good sense!
(Bruce Lee once wrote: “You have to create your own luck. You have to be aware of the opportunities around you and take advantage of them.” — Bruce Lee. I love the active quality of this quote. You can’t just wait for good things to happen in your life; you have to go out and make them happen.
On the flip side, Buddhist teachings suggest that all phenomena are impermanent. Said Thich Nhat Hanh: “We continually resist what’s happening, trying desperately to change things, to control things that are so often out of our control.” In the Buddhist tradition, external circumstances are ever-changing and uncontrollable. Better to focus on the inner peace and wisdom we can govern.
“Instead of forcing life to bend your way, train your mind to flow with it. The real solution isn’t somewhere outside… The real solution is within us.” —Anonymous
So what’s the proper path: Praying for luck? Making your own good fortune? Or letting life happen as it may while perfecting your attitude to external events? I’d pay two coffees and a few stones for the answer to that question!)