Question

Analyse the views of Makkhali Gosala on karma.

Hint:

Makkhali’s fatalistic philosophy offers a stark contrast to beliefs that emphasize human agency and the ability to influence one’s destiny through actions.

Answer 1

Makkhali Gosala, a philosopher and teacher, espoused a deterministic philosophy regarding karma, positing that individuals lack agency over their karmic destiny. He argued that neither good deeds nor ascetic practices can modify one's karma, which he considered fixed and immutable. Gosala posited that experiences of pleasure and pain are predetermined within the cycle of samsara (rebirth), and that human intervention is powerless to alter these destinies. His perspective implies a belief in absolute predestination, where human actions have no capacity to influence the predetermined course of their karmic existence.