Karma and Freewill: A Comparative Study of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism

Arvind Sharma explores how Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism reconcile the law of karma with human free will. He begins by acknowledging the popular criticism that karma determinism leaves no room for freedom. In response he distinguishes between the direct fruits of an action and the secondary circumstances it creates; while karmic seeds ripen, individuals still choose how to act within given conditions. In Hindu thought this reconciliation is articulated through the doctrine of *sañcita*, *prārabdha* and *āgāmī* karmas: accumulated karmas shape one’s birth, a portion ripens in the present life, and current actions sow new seeds. An archer analogy illustrates that the arrow already shot (prārabdha) must hit its target, but the archer still controls other arrows. Buddhism, Sharma argues, treats karma as part of a causal network rather than fatalism; each momentary mental event conditions the next and present mindfulness can break unhealthy chains. Jainism emphasises the agency of the soul in binding and shedding karmic particles through disciplined conduct. The article concludes that all three traditions maintain meaningful moral responsibility despite acknowledging that past actions influence present circumstances.

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