In Favour: Everything Is Predetermined/Done by God, No Free Will
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Krishna as Supreme Source (7.7): “There is nothing higher than Me; all is strung on Me like pearls.”
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Key Teaching: Krishna is the ultimate source of all existence, suggesting all actions and events flow from His divine will, implying predetermination.
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Theme: Krishna’s Divine Nature.
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Argument: If Krishna controls all creation, human actions may be predetermined by His will, leaving no room for free will.
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Three Gunas Drive Actions (3.27): “Actions are performed by the gunas of nature; the deluded think ‘I am the doer.’”
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Key Teaching: The modes of nature (sattva, rajas, tamas) govern actions, suggesting humans are conditioned by divine forces beyond their control.
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Theme: Three Gunas.
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Argument: Human actions are driven by gunas, indicating predetermination by divine natural forces, negating free will.
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Krishna as Time (11.32): “I am mighty Time, destroyer of worlds.”
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Key Teaching: Krishna, as Time, orchestrates cosmic events, implying all outcomes, including human actions, are part of a predetermined universal plan.
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Theme: Krishna’s Divine Nature.
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Argument: The cosmic inevitability of Time suggests all events are fixed, with humans merely playing roles set by God.
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Against: Humans Have Free Will, Not Everything Is Predetermined
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Free Will Affirmed (18.63): “I have given you this knowledge; deliberate and act as you wish.”
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Key Teaching: Krishna grants Arjuna the freedom to choose, explicitly affirming human free will within the divine framework.
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Theme: Karma Yoga, Liberation.
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Argument: Human agency is central, as individuals can choose actions, countering absolute predetermination.
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Karma and Individual Agency (5.14–15): “The Lord does not create agency or actions; beings act per their nature… The Lord accepts neither good nor evil deeds.”
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Key Teaching: Krishna does not directly control actions; humans act based on their nature and karma, bearing responsibility.
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Theme: Karma Yoga.
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Argument: Individuals initiate actions, and God does not dictate them, supporting free will over divine control.
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Supersoul’s Guidance (15.15): “I am seated in the hearts of all; from Me come memory, knowledge, and their loss.”
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Key Teaching: Krishna guides as the Supersoul but does not enforce actions, allowing humans to exercise free will.
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Theme: Krishna’s Divine Nature, Jnana Yoga.
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Argument: Guidance without control implies humans have the freedom to act, not a predetermined script.
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Surrender as a Choice (18.66): “Abandon all duties, surrender to Me; I will free you from sins.”
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Key Teaching: Surrender to Krishna is a voluntary act of free will, aligning actions with divine will without negating human choice.
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Theme: Bhakti Yoga, Liberation.
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Argument: The choice to surrender underscores human agency, as it’s not mandated but freely chosen.
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Final Conclusion
The Bhagavad Gita does not support the view that everything is predetermined or done by God, nor does it negate human free will. Krishna is the ultimate source (7.7) and overseer as Time (11.32), with gunas influencing behavior (3.27), suggesting a divine framework that shapes circumstances. However, humans exercise free will (18.63, 18.66), guided by the Supersoul (15.15), and bear responsibility for actions shaped by karma (5.14–15). The Gita harmonizes divine will with human agency, teaching that while God sets the cosmic stage, individuals shape their destinies through free choices within that framework.