Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed" in Indian religions and it is understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect (i.e., the cycle called samsara) originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist philosophies.

In these systems, the effects of all deeds are viewed as actively shaping past, present, and future experiences.

However, "you" as a seperate entity does not actually exist; it is just a mental construct. All is one. Therefore, is it correct to say that "you" are fooling yourself into thinking that "you" are responsible for your actions?

There are thoughts and decisions that are made, and life can be directed in a certain direction, but sooner or later karma will kick in a take you back to the natural flow of life.

Before full self-realization, the mind can move things in a certain direction, but it's actually karma (i.e., the momentum from previous actions) that is truly running the show. Therefore, the mind is deluding itself by believing there is an identity (e.g., "I" am this person; "me" in this body) that can direct the path of one's life.

It is much like a river that has a natural course -- it flows in perfect harmony. This is how life is without the mind driving anything behind it. But when the mind attempts to control and manipulate outcomes, there is no doubt that decisions can be made that will effect the flow of life. So, the mind tries to create litte streams that will redirect the flow of the whole river. It might make an impact for a little while, but soon enough the power of the whole river will kick things back into place.

So in that way you cannot say that life is totally predetermined, because that would mean that the decisions that are made have no effect. But at the same time, you can say that your life is generally going to flow in a certain direction.

Thus, everything about life is probabilities within certain parameters.

Some karma is intense and has to return (e.g., terminal illnesses that you die from), and there's nothing that can be done about it, while other karma is less intense and can be altered somewhat (e.g., some people might develop cancer but return to full health). And other karma might be even less intense and will not play out at all (e.g., if one is under the guidance of a realized master, one has created a lot of good karma to balance out the bad).

In other words, this whole transient experience of life and the universe is karma. It's all in the mind, and there is no solid, tangible, objective world out there.

You are not an individual, seperate being that consists of a body and a mind in the world. You are pure awareness -- the underlying reality of it all -- and this "world" is merely an everchanging appearance within you.

And thus this present "world" -- or appearance within you -- is a result of past intentions. Karma is created in the mind, as intentions, which may lead to speech or action, which further adds to its intensity.

It all exists only in mind, or universal and eternal conscious awareness. There is no independently existing, objective universe.

There is no world outside of awareness.