[INDOLOGY] by chance, accidentally

[Howard Resnick]

Interesting question. In the Maha-bharata, for example, human effort — purusha-kAra — is contrasted with daiva — providence/divine intervention or will. In Bhagavad-gita 9.10, we find the statement that “Prakrti begets…by my supervision/oversight (adhy-aksha)." In the Gita 13.21, and elsewhere, we find a two part concept of causality that matches the twin ontology of body and soul. Not to speak of the philosophical implications of karma.

These are well known approaches to causality.

I am also curious to know to what extent Indian tradition has considered pure chance, sometimes called yadRcchA, or adverbially akasmAt, to be a legitimate cause of events or conditions in this world.

Howard


> On May 16, 2016, at 11:32 AM, Artur Karp <karp at uw.edu.pl> wrote:
> 
> Dear Colleagues. 
> 
> one more question. 
> 
> Do you know of something, some event, that happened accidentally, by pure chance - but, finally, had the power to  influence the development of the Indian Civilization (in the spheres of thought, religion, social relations, etc.)?
> 
> Status of "(pure, sheer) chance" in Indian thought?
> 
> Artur Karp
> 
> Poland
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