On Hinduism

Karma in Sanskrit means ‘Action’. It is the universal law of cause and effect that dictates that your life is your own making. Goodness reaps goodness and conversely, evil reaps evil. Karma is not just physical actions; in-fact the thoughts we create and the words we speak are Karma too.
In Yogic Science, Karma is considered a glue between the soul and the body. As long as humans have desires and thus associated karma with those desires, they will continue to go through reincarnations (the cycles of life and death) until they have dissolved all their Karmas.
In the endless Karma cycle, at birth, humans are allotted a certain quantity of (Prarabdha) Karma from a repository of (Sanchita) Karma (accumulated Karmas from the soul’s past lives) to be resolved in the current life, however in the process, new (Agami) Karma is accumulated that is added to your total Karma and this endless cycle continues. Perform selfless Karmas that are not binding and hence have the possibility to liberate themselves (achieve Nirvana).

Other reading material: Short answers to real questions about Hinduism

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhilanand Hinduism Q & A: What is Karma?, Hinduism Q & A: What is Good Action, Vikas Gupta, Swami Tadatmananda on Karma,

Contributor: Vikas Gupta

Location of this post (10b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-karma/

Our actions are not predetermined but our habits and karma push us to act or react in a certain way. This can be changed by cultivating new habits. We have the free will to act anyway we want to. 

You have a hundred percent free will to think, say and do what you want to. We cannot say “Oh, I hit you because I was destined to hit you, so don’t blame me.” We’re in control of our actions.

.Other reading material:

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand Hinduism Q&A – Does God Control Our Actions? , Why I become Hindu, 

Contributor: Geetha Ravula

Location of this post (10d): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/are-our-actions-predetermined/

Good or bad things we experience now are the accumulation of our past actions from not only this lifetime but many lifetimes. This is karma.

Humans are bound to reap the results of their past actions, either in this lifetime, or the next. We cannot attribute good or bad things happening to people based on just this lifetime’s actions. 

A person’s actions can be of 3 types, good actions (Satvik Karma), bad actions (Tamasik Karma) and mixed good and bad actions (Rajasik Karma).

For example, a person does lots of good karma and gets fruits for it and then utilizes those fruits for bad work. Before experiencing the results of his bad karma, he leaves his body. Another person does lots of bad karma and gets fruits for it and then utilizes those fruits for good work. Before experiencing the fruits of his good work, he too leaves his body. Now, these pending results of past actions that are to be experienced are extended to their next birth. Whether they become good or bad natured in their next life, they are bound to reap the results of their past actions. So bottom line, we cannot judge good things happening to bad people based on this lifetime’s actions. The bad person might have accumulated many good karmas in the past and might be experiencing their good prarabdha (a collection of past karmas) in this lifetime whereas a good person might be going through his bad prarabdha in this lifetime.

.Other reading material:

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhilanand Hinduism Q & A: Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People

Contributor: Geetha Ravula

Location of this post (10f): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people/

GOD doesn’t control our actions. One must control one’s actions and will.  

Many external things that happen in our life, some of them are considered to be controlled by our destiny. However, not everything is controlled by destiny so the most important thing you have to understand is that your thoughts, your words and your actions are never controlled by destiny. You have a hundred percent free will to think, say and do what you want to. However, our choices for our action in this life are limited by our past and present karmas. We cannot say “Oh I hit you because I was destined to hit you, so don’t blame me.” We’re in control of our actions but some of the things that happen to us that we would consider good luck or bad luck according to Hindu philosophy, there’s no such thing as luck but it’s the outcome of your past life’s actions.

Source: Swami Nikhilanand, 

Other reading material:

Relevant videos:

Contributor: Geetha Ravula

Location of this post (10g): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/does-god-control-our-actions/