Hard work is the luckiest star.
Although Buddhists are not prohibited from believing in deities, spirits, astrology, and fortune telling, the Buddha's advice was that we should not be slaves to any of these things. A good Buddhist can overcome all his difficulties if he knows how to make use of his intelligence and will power. The above mentioned beliefs have no religious significance or value and man cannot find his real happiness through them.
The Buddha says.
"The fool may watch for lucky days
Yet luck he shall always miss
The luck itself is luck's own star
What can mere stars achieve?"
He believed that hard work is the luckiest star and one should not waste time by consulting stars and lucky numbers in order to achieve success. To do your best to help yourself is better than to rely solely on the stars.
Although some Buddhists practise fortune-telling and some forms of charms under the religious garb, the Buddha at no time encouraged anyone to practise such things. Like fortune-telling, charms also have no religious value. Yet there are many people today who, because of sickness and misfortunes, attribute the cause of their illness and ill-luck to the power of charms. They have forgotten that they are now living in the twentieth century. This is the modern age of scientific development and achievement. Our leading scientists have thrown aside all superstitious beliefs and they have even placed man on the moon.
People who cannot be cured of their sickness are advised to consult a medical specialist and obtain specialised attention. If after having gone through a medical check-up, and a person still feels in need of attention, then he may want to seek spiritual guidance from a proper religious teacher.
Buddhists are strongly advised against falling into the miserable pit of superstitious beliefs and allowing the mind to be troubled by unnecessary and unfounded fears. The feeling of having been charmed is but an attitude of the mind. Cultivate a strong will-power by refusing to believe in the influence of charms. A short meditation course may also prove very helpful to clear the mind of unwholesome thoughts. Meditation leads to the purification of the mind. A purified mind automatically leads to a purified and healthy body. The Buddha Dhamma is a soothing balm to get rid of sickness of this nature.
Taken from "What Buddhists Believe"
Written by Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda
Published by Buddhist Missionary Society