"Man is free to determine his own action": This
part suggests the idea of human free will, the capacity of individuals to make
choices and decisions independent of external constraints. It implies that
humans have the ability to choose their actions based on their own thoughts,
desires, and values.
"But he is powerless to control the reaction resulting
from it": This part introduces the concept of determinism, the idea that
events, including human actions and their consequences, are determined by
preceding causes and conditions. It suggests that while individuals have agency
in choosing their actions, they do not have control over the outcomes or
reactions that arise from those actions.
"Because that is governed not by the individual, but by
the cosmic will": Here, the phrase "cosmic will" implies a force
or power beyond individual human control that governs the outcomes or reactions
to human actions. This idea suggests a larger, universal order or set of laws
that dictate the consequences of human actions, regardless of individual
intentions or desires.
Overall, this statement reflects a complex interplay between
human agency, determinism, and the broader forces or laws that shape the
outcomes of human actions. It raises questions about the extent of human
freedom, the nature of causality, and the relationship between individuals and
the larger universe.
Additional inputs
In Hinduism, this concept is central to the philosophy of Karma. It suggests that while humans possess the faculty of free will to make choices, those choices are governed by an immutable cosmic law of cause and effect.
1. Purushartha (Free Will and Effort)
Hinduism teaches that as a human, you have Free Will (Purushartha). This is the power to choose your path, your intentions, and your immediate actions. You are considered the "architect of your own fortune" in the present moment. Unlike inanimate objects, you have the conscious agency to decide how to act.
2. The Law of Karma (The Reaction)
The moment an action is performed, it enters the domain of Karma. This is where your power ends. Every action (Karma) produces a corresponding fruit or result (Phala).
The Reaction is Automatic: Just as gravity acts on an object once it is dropped, the moral and spiritual reaction to an action is governed by Rta (universal order).
The "Phala" (Fruit): You may choose to plant a seed, but you cannot command the seed to produce a different kind of fruit, nor can you stop the growth process once the seed has taken root.
3. Nishkama Karma (The Solution)
Because we cannot control the "reaction" or the "fruit," the Bhagavad Gita offers a practical psychological and spiritual solution:
"Your right is to the work alone, never to its fruits." (Karmanyevadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana)
By focusing entirely on the Action (which you control) and surrendering your anxiety over the Reaction (which you do not control), you achieve a state of mental peace and spiritual liberation.