Karma is not fatalism but a sophisticated law of cause and effect that emphasizes personal responsibility and action. The Bhagavad Gita [2.47] teaches karmanye vadhikaraste - you have the right to action but not to its fruits, encouraging active engagement while maintaining emotional balance.
The law of karma actually promotes proactive living since current actions shape future outcomes. Past karma influences but doesn't completely determine our present - we have free will to make choices. This is explained in the Yoga Vasishtha which emphasizes human effort (purushartha) alongside destiny.
Scientific parallels exist in physics' action-reaction principles and epigenetics showing how actions influence future outcomes. Rather than promoting passivity, karma encourages ethical living, personal growth, and taking responsibility for creating positive change while maintaining equanimity.
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