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, holds a fatalistic view of karma, asserting that individuals have no control over their karma. According to him, neither virtuous actions nor penance can alter one's karma, which is determined and unchangeable. He believes that pleasure and pain are set within the cycle of samsara (transmigration), and that human beings cannot influence their fates. His view suggests that everything is predestined and humans cannot affect the outcomes of their actions, indicating a belief in the inevitability of one's karmic journey.