God's omniscient plan precedes and fulfills all human desires; what fools call chance is divine superintendence.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Room Conversation "Definition of Chance" — May 5, 1972, Kyoto, Japan 720505R1-KYOTO [46:07 Minutes] Conv_720505R1-KYOTO Pradyumna: [reading from dictionary] "Chance." It's a noun and adjective. "1. The way things fall out. Fortune, undesigned occurrence, opportunity, possibility, probability.
Especially in plural, as 'the chances are against him.' Absence of design or discoverable cause. Course of events regarded as a power, fate. 'By chance': as it falls or fell out; without design. 'On the chance': in view of the possibility. 'Take one's chance': let things go as they may; consent to take what comes." Prabhupāda: So it can be adjusted with the meanings of chance and necessity. I want something; that is my necessity. And it will come by chance?
Or I have to endeavor for it, and then I get it? Shall I depend on chance? I have a necessity for something. So should I wait for the chance? Śyāmasundara: We've always been taught, "No.
You must work very hard toward..." Prabhupāda: So where is the waiting for chance? There is plan. If I have to work to get the thing, then it is plan. Pradyumna: If they follow their philosophy to the conclusion... They would have to be completely dependent, if they followed the philosophy to the conclusion. Prabhupāda: If the chance comes as soon as the necessity is there, then we have to admit immediately God. Śyāmasundara: [laughs] Yes.
Hmm. Prabhupāda: Because in the Bhagavad-gītā we hear, mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanam [Bg. 15.15], God is in everyone's heart, as Supersoul. Now, I am thinking of getting something. So God knows immediately that "He wants to have this," so He gives me the necessary thing, which appear to me as chance without knowing God. The things are supplied by God because He is giving me all facilities to enjoy this material world to my heart's content by supplying all the ingredients.
That is the material condition. So these foolish persons are taking as chance, but it is not chance. God is omnipotent. As soon as He understands that I want this, He gives me some facility so that I get it. So it is not chance.
It is by arrangement of superior authority. But because they are atheist, they have no sense of God consciousness, they are taking as chance, that necessity creates that chance; automatically it is coming. Not automatically. Chance does not mean automatically. I cannot see something, but all of a sudden falls...