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According to the doctrine of predestination, every event in the life of an individual has already been determined by God – everything happens only according to God’s will. Individuals do not have any control over events. In the light of the doctrine of predestination the doctrine of karma cannot be accepted as a valid doctrine, and vice versa.
Hinduism, however, accepts both of these doctrines as valid. According to Hinduism, the doctrine of karma is valid for a person who has the sense of agency or doership. Such a person holds himself responsible for his actions, whether good or bad. But through intense spiritual practice a spiritual aspirant’s mind can be made to acquire higher and higher degrees of purity. At a certain high level of mental purity the spiritual aspirant completely loses his sense of agency. He gains the firm conviction that he is not the doer of any of his actions. He becomes convinced that God has been doing everything by using his body, mind, energy and the senses. He feels that he is only an instrument in the hands of God, and whatever God has been doing to him is for his ultimate spiritual good. At this high level of spirituality the doctrine of predestination becomes the only valid doctrine to him. To him the doctrine of karma ceases to be a valid doctrine.
Therefore, these two doctrines, even though apparently contradictory to each other, are valid for people at different stages of spiritual growth. At an intermediate level of spiritual growth, however, a spiritual aspirant may interpret some events of his life in terms of the doctrine of predestination while he may interpret other events of his life in terms of the doctrine of karma.