Four Contemplations That Turn the Mind Towards the Dharma: Third Contemplation Karma
The Indian Pandita (learned scholar) Vasubandhu says:
“From karmic actions the various states of cyclic existence arise."
Lord Buddha was very adamant about karmic responsibility. There were many heterodox views being promulgated at the time of the Buddha; but the only heterodox view the Lord Buddha singled out for continuous polemic was the view denying the law of cause and effect of one's actions. The law of karma is based on the premise of volitional action of the sentient being. Karma makes it possible for the mind to tamed, directed toward enlightened activity, and purified of its primordial ignorance. If there is no volitional activity, then Enlightenment is an impossible goal.