There it is explained the Supreme Lord is disguised as a brahmana.
The brāhmaṇa said - "My dear friend, even though you cannot immediately recognize Me, can't you remember that in the past you had a very intimate friend? Unfortunately, you gave up My company and accepted a position as enjoyer of this material world." (SB 4th Canto Ch 28 text 53)
The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) sometimes fall down into the material creation from Vaikuntha, they do not originate from the Impersonal Brahman (Brahmajyoti) or the Body of Maha-Visnu.
Srila Prabhupada - "Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. When fall takes place it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness - Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana." (Letter to: Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)
The following Conversation took place in Melbourne, Australia June 25, 1974 between Srila Prabhupada and his disciples-
Devotee – "When we are in the spiritual sky and serving Krsna, we have a perfect relationship with Krsna, what causes us to fall down in the material world, because we’re already serving Krsna?"
Srila Prabhupada – "Because you desire to fall down. Here it is explained that “Don’t fall down."
Devotee – "Srila Prabhupada, I can’t understand why we should have an impure desire when we are already serving…"
Srila Prabhupada – "Because you have got little freedom. Why one is not coming here and going to the liquor shop? It is his desire."
Devotee – "In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come, why are we here?"
Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, you forced Krsna to allow you to come. Just like sometimes a child forces his father. Father says, "My dear son, do not do this. Do not go there." But he insists, "Oh, I must go. I must go. All right, you go at your risk and suffer. What can be done?" So because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, therefore you have acquired the quality of your father, so God does not interfere with your independence. If you persist that “I must go and enjoy independently,” so God says, "All right, you can go." This is the position. You have to take sanction. That is a fact. But when you persist, God sanctions. And you come and enjoy." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)
The spiritual planets of Visnu/ Narayana known as Vaikuntha, and the central abode of Krsna known as Goloka-Vrindavana, are not dictatorial impersonal abodes one enters by renouncing their ability of free expression (free will) and being able to voluntarily contribute to the relationship with Krsna in their own unique personal way based on reciprocation and loving exchanges.
In this way the jiva-souls relationship with Krsna is never a one-way street, it is always a two-sided relationship based on mutual respect, voluntary service and loving exchanges between Krsna and His devotees (the jiva-souls)
Although Krsna's pure devotees, never take Krsna for granted, many in Vrindavana do not know who He really is, but see Him as an amazing very special little boy who will always protect His friends.
To visiting sages like Narada Muni, they know Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes who lifted Govardhana hill to protect the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana at 7 years of age.
Having free will also includes rejecting Krsna if one chooses, otherwise there is no meaning to free will Prabhupada has explained.
Free will means (and allows) continuous voluntarily loving exchanges, cooperation and reciprocation between Krsna, Visnu and their devotees.
This measns surrendering to Krsna and His pure devotee is not impersonal, it does not mean giving up your intelligence, free will, individuality and the ability to express yourself in your own unique way by voluntarily contributing to one's relationship with Krsna.
Question - Is there a place in the spiritual world from where the jiva-souls can never fall down from?
Answer - No, because their is always "free will" and independence. One's relationship with Krsna and Visnu is based on free will which allows loving exchanges to always occur and grow on a "two-way" platform.
There is always choice in one's voluntary relationship with Krsna. If Krsna forced the jiva-souls to love Him, then how can that forced so called surrender to Krsna be genuine love?
Loving relationships with Krsna can only exist in a "two-way exchange" based on reciprocation and cooperation, and never in a "one-sided" dominating manipulative relationship.
The Kingdoms of God (The abodes of Krsna and Visnu) are never a one-sided domineering dictatorship because such a "one-sided" dominating affair will only destroy one's independent ability of self expression, unique individuality, free will and and genuine loving exchanges.
Only in a "two-way" relationship can there be the unique sense of individuality of having a personality separate from Krsna's Personality.
Srila Prabhupada - "Love means two, there must be two, the lover and the beloved." (Lecture on BG Ch 9 text 2-5, NY City, Nov 23, 1966)
Srila Prabhupada - "We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be "one" or love cannot be experienced by on one, there must be two, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
Genuine love is voluntary and can never exist in a "one-way or one-sided" domineering way where personal contributions are denied, ignored, controlled and never appreciated.
That kind of impersonal association only extinguishes the jiva-soul's individuality, free-will, and their ability to voluntarily contribute their own unique offerings.
Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force, no, Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!" (Washington DC July 8, 1976)
Srila Prabhupada - "In the spiritual world service is voluntary. Some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there if they want to be a flower and lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, then he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change from flower to human body also. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB Canto 6 Ch 1 text 1-4, Melb, May 20, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is NOT love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Lecture on BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, Nov 23, 1966)
Such freedoms explained above MUST be there if genuine love and service is to truly exist.
Remaining in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana eternally is based on choice. The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) always have, as part of their constitutional make up, the right to make their own choices without any force from Krsna or Visnu.
This means being able to freely choose for themselves in Goloka Vrindavana and Vaikuntha
what to offer the Lord.
This allows them to voluntary offer the very best from their unique personality, contributing with love to the Lord while associating with Him as the perpetual individual servant they are eternally.
No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality, bodily form and character when engaging in loving devotional exchanges of service to Krsna.
Srila Prabhupāda - ''Love means "two persons," then there is exchange. Giving something, taking something, feeding something and to eat something, and speaking everything, no secrecy, and to know everything of the other person. When these things are transacted, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Evening Darsana, Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
The jiva-souls never lose their bodily identity or free will in Krsna's Kingdom, which is their own individual ability of self expression when choosing to offer personal contributions of service to the relationship with Krsna.
Each jiva-soul (marginal living entity) has their own eternal bodily qualities unique to them, which is part and parcel of the perpetual make up or constitution of each marginal living entity or jiva-soul eternally.
In this way, each jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, identity, character, bodily form and personality that is separate from Krsna's Personality and bodily Form, being one of a kind in the Spiritual Sky different from all other jiva-souls as said above.
Each jiva-soul is independent or separate from Krsna with their own unique personality, likes and dislikes in the spiritual worlds.
In the material world there is almost no free will, there is only the demands from the material senses, eating, sleeping, mating and defending, and the results from one's past good and bad deeds.
Free will in its full potential ONLY exists on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.
This eternally existing spiritual code is based on the "free will" so the jiva-souls can uniquely serve Krsna, allows the jiva-souls to voluntarily make their own independence personal contributions and offerings.
The jiva-soul's firm sense of individual self of being an eternal person in bodily form with their own character and personality unique to each individual jiva-soul.
The full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) is a two arm bodily form like Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada - "The human form is the full manifestation of the jiva-soul." (Melb, May 20, 1975)
Srila Prabhupada - "The spirit soul is NOT formless; it has got form, the spirit soul always has form and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. But with our material eyes at the present, our gross eyes, we cannot see these facts; therefore we foolishly believe the jiva-souls have no form." (Lecture on BG 2.14 - Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)
Devotee – "Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?"
Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, human form. God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."
Hari-sauri – "How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?"
Srila Prabhupada – "[describing material form first]: Yes. They are more covered. Just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."
Hari-sauri - "They are covered in the spiritual world?"
Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world. There that is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Krsna as flower; they become flower there. If I want to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB Canto 6 Ch 1 text 1-4 - Melb, May 20, 1975)
Girl - "I want to know exactly what is the form of the spiritual body, if the spirit soul (jiva-soul) is non-material, what is the form?"
Srila Prabhupāda - "There is form. Just like this body is compared with the dress. Now, just like in your present material form you have got hand; therefore your coat has got hand, you have got leg; therefore your pant has got leg. Therefore, it is to be assumed that the spirit soul has got form, and it has developed into hands, legs, heads, everything. It is not formless; it has got form. But with our material eyes at the present, gross eyes, we cannot find it; therefore we say it has no form." (Lecture on BG, Ch 2 text 14 - Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)
Devotee - "Śrīla Prabhupāda, you state that spirit soul has form."
Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes."
Devotee - "Otherwise, how is the material body grown to accommodate the spirit soul? Just like a shirt has no form, but when it's put on the body, it takes the shapes of the body. Does that mean that the spirit soul has the shape of the body that is accommodating it?"
Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, you have got body, a shape, very minute shape that we cannot see, we cannot measure. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, "anumeyam," what is that word used? Aprameyam, you cannot measure but it has a form. What is the length and breadth of that form? That is not in your power, but it is not material. If you have spiritual power then you can measure it. And that measurement is also given in the śāstra. What is that?
One ten-thousandth part of the tip of the hair. Hair is a very small point. And divide it into ten thousand parts. That one part is the measure, magnitude of the soul.
Everything is there. But you have no eyes to see, how to see one ten-thousandth portion of the top of the hair? You cannot see even the original top of the hair. Everything is there. We must have the proper eyes." (Lecture on SB Canto 1 Ch 16 text 24 - Hawaii, Jan 20, 1974)
Such spiritual bodily qualities of the jiva-souls are without any beginning or end.
Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 12, and text 20 (1983 corrected edition) confirms this-
"Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be." (BG Ch 2 text 12)
"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (BG Ch 2 text 20, "1983 corrected edition")
There are no new jiva-souls being created because all jiva-souls are eternal, and had no beginning point.
Srila Prabhupada - "There is no new souls, new and old are due to this material body, but the jiva-soul is NEVER born and NEVER dies, so if there is no birth, so how there can be a new soul?'' (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 7/9/1970)
Maha-Visnu also does not create any jiva-souls as some big sannyasis and gurus foolishly believe and teach their followers.
What happens is the jiva-souls go to Maha-Visnu after falling down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana, to then acquire a material bodily vessel so they can enter the material creation.
No jiva-souls originates from Maha-Visnu as some wrongly teach.
Srila Prabhupada – "Regarding your questions where are the spirit souls coming from? These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha, but in these material worlds they are taking various grades of bodies according to their material activities. There is no new soul. New and old are due to this material body, but the soul is NEVER born and NEVER dies, so if there is no birth, so how there can be new soul?'' (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 7/9/1970)
Therefore, all jiva-souls are beginningless and endless, they were NEVER created not even by Krsna.
Krsna and the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) have always exist together like the Sun-disc and the sun-rays always exist together.
Krsna is like the Sun-disc who maintains all the surrounding sun-rays (jiva-souls)
The jiva-souls are Krsna's part and parcel which is the marginal living entities eternal constitution.
Nothing can happen without Krsna's sanction including free will, not a blade of grass can move without the will of the Lord.
Free will allows the jiva-souls to personally be aware they are a unique individual, independent "person" who can voluntarily choose to serve Krsna in a way they choose.
Free will means, it is the jiva-soul's choice of how to they want surrender and serve Krsna in Goloka-Vrindavana, or Visnu on the Vaikuntha planets, or even not surrender to Krsna and Visnu if they choose.
Although in the spiritual sky that is rare, more than 90% of jiva-souls never choose to foolishly reject Krsna, only less than 10% choose to reject Krsna and enter the material creation Prabhupada has explained.
If the jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana reject Visnu or Krsna, then they obviously cannot stay there.
The only place available for them is the temporary material creation meant for those who choose to leave the spiritual worlds.
It is also their choice of what they want to offer or contribute to the Lord, which is their very best from their personal abilities that they voluntary choose to selflessly offer to Krsna.
Each jiva-soul in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana knows when they please Krsna the best most by humbly and selflessly serving the servants of the servants of the servants of Krsna in Goloka-Vrindavan or Visnu on the Vaikuntha planets.
This selflessness of serving Krsna's devotees is the highest realization of love of God.
The fact is, for one not fall from God's personal Kingdom, is also up to the jiva-soul's personal choices too, they are fully responsibility and aware of their independent choices, and Krsna will never interfere with that choice even if they do reject Him.
This "free will" allows them to choose, and nobody else including Krsna will interfere with that choice because Krsna never forces the jiva-souls to love Him.
Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling, then there is love. Not by force! Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, "You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!" (Washington DC July 8, 1976)
Srila Prabhupada - ''Because you are Son of God you have got independence, so God does not interfere with your little independence. If you persist that "I must go and enjoy independently," God says, "All right, you can go and enjoy." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)
Srila Prabhupada explains in "Nectar of Devotion", that just like the Sun-disc cannot be separated from the sun-rays, similarly the living entities have no meaning without Krsna, and Kṛṣṇa has no meaning without the living entities.
In Krsna Book Prabhupada explains-
"As the Sun-disc and the sunshine cannot be separated, similarly Kṛṣṇa and His bodily rays, the brahmajyoti, cannot be separated." (Krsna Book, 89)
As explained above, the relationship between Krsna and His jiva-soul individual expansions (marginal living entities) is never one-sided, never forced and never impersonal, it is always a personal relationship of reciprocation, nurturing, voluntary service, in a two-way mood of loving exchanges, only then can there be real loving exchanges in a relationship.
Srila Prabhupada explained to us many years ago-
“If you love me, then I will love you”
Srila Prabhupada is giving us the example that there must always be a "voluntary two-way exchange" of loving cooperation and kindness so genuine reciprocation exists on a two-way street.
In other words, love can never exist with just one, there must always be loving exchanges and cooperation between two.
The fact is, over 90% of all living entities (jiva-tattva souls or marginal living entities) choose to never fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana, because that is THEIR choice.
That expression of freedom or free will in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana is always eternally part and parcel of the marginal living entities natural constitution.
The jiva-souls or marginal living entities, have 78.125% of Krsna's quantities, which is having 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities.
As explained above, this puts marginal living entities (jiva-souls) in the realm of having their own "separate" independence, identity, individuality, unique character and personality separate from Krsna's Personality, allowing them to voluntarily make their own choices.
This means the jiva-souls have the ability to agree or not agree with Krsna in both the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.
This sense of individuality and independence allows the jiva-souls the right to choose Krsna or choose to be separate from Krsna and enter the material creation if they want.
Remember, maya and the material energy does not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, so MAYA is unknown to the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) there.
However, having free will and independently experiencing a unique sense of individual self with the ability of self expression, is eternally the constitutional makeup of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.
The jiva-souls are minor a expansion of the Lord with their own personality separate from Krsna's Personality.
Unlike the direct Visnu-tattva expansions who all have 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities (93.75%) who are different personalities of Krsna playing different roles in His own pastimes.
If free will is taken away from the jiva-souls, then they lose the ability to voluntarily give and accept love. The jiva-souls would be no better than dead stone or mindless drones.
For love to truly exist, the jiva-souls must have their free will (ability to choose) that is part and parcel of their marginal constitution, so they can choose for themselves how to serve Krsna by voluntary serving Him.
This is the the real meaning of surrendering to Krsna's will in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana at all times.
Part of Krsna's will is the jiva-soul's free will.
As said above, sadly a small minority of jiva-souls do choose to leave Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavan (less than 10%), regardless of those who foolishly claim once in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, one will never again falls down.
Not true, they CAN again fall if they choose even if Krsna promises they will never again fall to the material creation.
The reason why is the jiva-soul's have their free will and therefore can reject Krsna's promise of protecting them. Without this "free will" the jiva-souls are just mindless drones no better of than dead stone.
Many devotees including some gurus and sannyasis, do not understand the meaning of free will includes the above.
To say those in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana will never fall down is true, but only for those who "choose" not to fall down.
In other words, it is not only up to Krsna, if the jiva-souls want to leave the spiritual worlds, it is is their choice, otherwise there is no meaning to having free will.
To make the comment that "not even the leaves fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana" is nonsense and does not take into consideration the "free will" of the jiva-souls.
However, we should remember what Prabhupada has said, that over 90% of jiva-souls never enter the material creation in a fallen condition because they choose not to fall down and forget Krsna.
To leave Vaikuntha and end up in the material creation is ultimately the jiva-soul's individual right of choice, and the fact is, Krsna does not interfere with that, even though Krsna has promised there is no return to the material creation, the fact is, there IS return if the jiva-souls want to return as Prabhupada explains here-
Acyutananda – "But in the Bhagavad Gita it says, Once coming to the spiritual world, he never returns to the material world, He can return?"
Srila Prabhupada – "If he likes he can return."
Guru-kripa – "How is it that one can become envious of Krsna?"
Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence, you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God. God has got full independence, but you have got independence too, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, so if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown." (Conversation, Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)
Returning home back to Godhead is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains as follows, that choice to stay or go is also the jiva souls choice too, it is not just a one way decision that Krsna makes, no, real loving exchanges can never exist without free will.
For loving devotion to truly exist with the marginal living entity, the jiva-soul must have the right to choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana at anytime if they want, therefore returning there is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains here.
Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, therefore if he likes he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We CAN misuse that." (Conversation, Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)
Syamasundara - "But can we predict returning back home back to Godhead will be permanent? Can we predict that? Just like many prisoners leave the prison, however some do come back?"
Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is no permanent effect because we have got little independence. There is nothing permanent because you can misuse your independence at any time."
Syamasundara - "And some come back?"
Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, otherwise there is no meaning of independence. Independence means you can do this, you can do that. "All right. Whatever you like."
Devotee - "Then he is so many times falling down, again and again, so will he eventually permanently come back?"
Srila Prabhupada - "He has got independence, therefore there is always the possibility he can misuse his independence, he can fall down. That's why when a man is released from the prison house, that does not mean permanently because he can come back again, the general law is not to come back, but if he likes, he can come back, otherwise what is the meaning of independence? Just like one becomes free from the prison house, naturally he should not go there again." (Discussions with Syamasundara, Henri Bergson 1976)
For those who believe no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana have not understood these clear points explained by Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada - "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly or one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot fall down, that is not independence, that is force. Therefore Krsna says, yathecchasi tathä kuru. "Now you do whatever you like." (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)
Many also do not understand the "variety of living entities" in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.
And one category, the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) can choose to leave if they want to because they are "separated" living entities with their own unique personality.
Srila Prabhupada - "We (jiva-souls) are marginal energy. Marginal means sometimes internal, sometimes external. When we are under the internal energy, that is our normal life, and when we are under the external energy, that is our abnormal life. Therefore, we are called marginal energy; we can be either this way or that way. But being qualitatively one with the purusa, our tendency is to remain in the internal energy. Being in the external energy is our artificial attempt." (Letter to Lilavati, Allston, Mass 25 April, 1969)
Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-souls are marginal which means the jiva-souls may be under the control of the spiritual energy, or they may be under the control of material energy. But when the jiva-souls are under the control of the material energy, that is their precarious condition, struggle for existence. And when they are under spiritual energy, that is their original position and life of freedom." (Los Angeles, Nov 23, 1968)
Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-souls are Krsna's marginal energy. Marginal energy means we can live either in this external energy or in the internal energy, in between. So at the present moment we are living in the external energy. But this external energy is also Kṛṣṇa's energies, God's energy. It is not different from Him. But the external energy means we are captivated by the external energy. But the external energy is not permanent. The internal energy is permanent. The spiritual world is permanent, and the jiva-souls are also permanent as Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 20 (1983 edition) reveals." (Lecture on BG 9.4 -Melb, April 23, 1976)
Srila Prabhupada - "The "immediate" expansions of the Lord are called svāṁśa or personal direct expansions (Visnu-tattva who are Krsna playing another role in His own pastimes). The "separated" expansions of the Lord are called vibhinnāṁśa - (jiva-tattva or independent jiva-souls) like us." (BG 10.37, Purport)
The majority of jiva-souls (over 90%) do not choose to leave, and all other categories of living entities, Krsna's more direct Visnu-tattva expansions, never fall down because they are Krsna playing another roll in His pastimes.
There are many different inhabitants of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana who are not jiva-souls and therefore never fall down by choice because they are direct expansions of Krsna, such as the Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas living entities like Radharani and the many Gopis (cow herd girls) and Gopas (cow herd boys) [not all are expansions of Krsna but most are] who are Krsna Himself just playing another role in His own pastimes.
They are simultaneously His eternal associates and Krsna Himself experiencing Himself in unlimited different ways.
So for the Visnu-tattvas and the Visnu "sakti"- tattvas, are expansions of Krsna and do what Krsna plans for them in a particular pastimes.
As said above, all of Krsna's energy is His sakti but there there are different categories of sakti-tattva, from matter to the different varieties of living entities (Visnu-tattva and jiva-tattva)
Therefore, when the word sakti tattva has Visnu in front if it, it means this aspect of sakti-tattva are expansions of Visnu-tattva that includes Srimati Radharani.
They even sometimes play the part of a demon in one of Krsna's plays, but ONLY in the material creation because there are no demons in the Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana in the spiritual worlds.
Out of the Pancha-tattva devotees, only one out the the five is a jiva-soul, all the rest are different direct expansions of Krsna's Personality mixed with other personalities like Siva.
Devotee - "I believe you once said that once a conditioned soul becomes perfected and gets out of the material world and he goes to Krsnaloka, there’s no possibility of falling back?"
Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is possibility, but he does not come IF he is intelligent. Just like after putting your hand in the fire you never put it again. So those who are going back to Godhead, they must become intelligent."
(Discussions with Syamasundara Dasa).
As said above, Prabhupada has explained there will always be a very small minority of jiva-souls, less than 10%, who can misuse their free will leave if they want.
Free will for the jiva-souls is eternal in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, and without this freedom of being able to choose to either forget or remember Krsna, then the jiva-souls would have no independent personality and no ability to give or receive love, the jiva-souls would simply be mindless ''yes men and woman'' like puppets in the hands of the puppeteer.
Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will. But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life." (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
Srila Prabhupada - ''As soon as we try, "Oh, this material world is very nice," "Yes," Kṛṣṇa says, "yes, you can go." Otherwise what is the meaning of free will? Every living entity has got a little free will. And Kṛṣṇa is so kind, He gives him opportunity, "All right, you enjoy like this." It is free will." (Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course, May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)
In Bhagavad Gita As It Is Krsna promises the jiva-souls they will never fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana once there to the material creation, and yes, Krsna will always keeps His promise.
However, Krsna's promise of never falling down to the material creation once there, is from Krsna's point of view, so does the jiva-soul also have to accept His promise as final, Do they have a choice?
In other words, does this mean the jiva-souls have no choice and can never leave Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana even if they want to leave?
Krsna's promise that once reaching Vaikuntha, the jiva-souls will never again fall down to the material world, is true for most jiva-souls, but not all of them simply because of free will.
Those who quote Krsna's promise from Bhagavad Gita are right for the majority of jiva-souls, which is over 90% who never fall down with the 10% that do, or leave to enter the material creation, but this does not mean all jiva-souls.
The fact is, any jiva-soul can eventually fall down in this regards, nothing is permanent even in the spiritual world because of free will.
Each jiva-soul has their own free will and independent thinking, this means it is their choice if they stay or leave and not just Krsnas.
In other words, Krsna's promise is not binding or an absolute law with all living entities because the jiva-souls have their free will, making it their choice too.
Srila Prabhupada explains Krsna's promise and gives the proper explanation in full saying a small minority of jiva-souls do choose Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana and puts that figure at less than 10%.
So why do some jiva-souls (marginal living entities) fall down?
To understand this one must realize that ultimately loving exchanges are not just a one-way street or dictatorship, it is based on reciprocation and loving exchanges between two, not just one.
This means even Krsna had to divide Himself into two just to experience loving exchanges and those two are Radharani and Krsna.
Therefore we must not forget the jiva-soul's right of expression too, the jiva-souls also have their choices and say too expressed from their point of view.
This is because love is always based on reciprocation, a two-way street between two.
Only impersonalists preach that surrender means giving up your free will, individuality and your unique personality.
It is a fact Krsna can do anything He wants to do however, if Krsna forced His will and complete dominance on the jiva-souls, then they would be no better than dead stone Prabhupada tells us.
Such absolute one way control by this kind of God will only totally destroy the jiva-soul's independent expression of individuality and there natural eternal constitution right of self expression and free will (freedom)
And if Krsna did force His will on the jiva-souls to love Him, then how can that be real genuine love as Prabhupada explains above?
By promising He will never let the jiva-souls fall by forcing the jiva-souls to comply, can be seen as interfering with the free will and individuality of the jiva-soul's ability to make their own choices.
This is because, they too are entitled to their choice of serving or even not serving Krsna if they choose.
The fact is Krsna will never make that decision for the jiva-souls, otherwise one's free will is violated, and there can be no question of love if the jiva-souls have no right to choose for themselves.
Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada, why did Krsna give us free will if He knew we would miss use it?"
Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are like dead stone. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will! But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life." (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
Free will or freedom of choice, is something never acquired, nor ever given up or surrendered in the spiritual world as ignorant fools believe.
Free will is eternally part and parcel of the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) natural constitution and therefore always exists without beginning or end in the spiritual planets.
However, free will in its full potential, is only fully experienced in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan, which is the jiva-souls original perpetual home.
Ultimately in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, because of free will, it is also the jiva's choice of how to serve and not just Krsna's dictates to the jiva-souls.
This is because Krsna only wants loving servants who voluntary choose to be with Him through their own free will and personal offerings of service.
To serve Krsna and love Him voluntarily is never forced by Krsna, it is always voluntary.
To serve Krsna and believe, once you are in Goloka-Vrindavana, never again will you leave or fall down, is true for those who choose that way but not every jiva-souls think that way.
No, that is not Krsna's complete call because it is not only His choice, each jiva-soul has their choice too.
A loving relationship can only exist when there are two consenting personalities, meaning it is also the jiva-soul's choice to remain there as servant of the servant, or leave Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana if they want.
The jiva-soul's independent nature actually allows them to make their own choices, including leaving the spiritual world if they choose.
The relationship between servant and Master is never one-way or a one-sided affair, never impersonal like that, it is a perpetual caring relationship based on reciprocation and loving exchanges between two.
The promise by Krsna that the jiva-soul will never again fall down into the material world, is from His point of view as explained above.
Ultimately, it is Krsna's will that is ALWAYS in complete control of everything however, Krsna generally allows a joint decision between the jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa because He allows free will.
The spiritual worlds are not dictatorships where one is a yes man or women denying their personal contributions and offerings.
And yes, over 90% of jiva-soul's do choose to accept Krsna's promise and never leave the spiritual worlds.
This means less than 10% do choose to leave, and that is their right otherwise what is the point of having free will?
The fact is each jiva-soul is an independent unique individual with 78.125% of Krsna's qualities and attributes with their own personality, sense of self and unique identity.
Devotee – "In Srimad Bhagavatam it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come, why are we here? Why doesn’t He save me from thinking like that?"
Srila Prabhupada - "That means you lose your independence. That is force, in Bengali it is said, ‘If you catch one girl or boy, ‘You love me, you love me, you love me.’ ” Is it love? “You love me, otherwise I will kill you!’ Is that love? So Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, on the point of revolver. ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!’ That is not love; that is threatening. Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force; that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape?" (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C).
The jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana are forever expanding their expression of individuality with personal voluntary offerings based on free will and selfless loving reciprocation with Krsna, it is never a "one-sided impersonal affair" of only obeying and being told what to do.
Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force, no, Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!" (Washington DC July 8, 1976)
Real love or bhakti is reciprocal, as said above, it is never a "one way street" where surrender to Krsna takes away one's sense of self, individual expression and personal contributions.
This is important to understand because each individual jiva-soul has their own independent personality, sense of self and unique personality and characteristics that they only have, that is part and parcel of each individual marginal living entities make up as the independent unique person they are eternally.
Srila Prabhupada - "Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. "So God does not interfere with your independence." (Conversation Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)
Surrender to Krishna NEVER extinguishes one's personal sense of self as an independent person with free will and individual identity.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, the "highest sense of independent thinking" is "CHOOSING" to be fully dependent on Krishna.
This is because real love or service is ALWAYS reciprocal, it is NEVER a one sided "one way street" where surrender to Krishna takes away one's individuality, sense of self and free will making one no better than a dead stone.
No, Krishna does not want mindless servants like that, who are denied their natural individuality of being an independent person who can ALWAYS choose for themselves.
This quality of free will and the right to choose in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan is part and parcel of all individual jiva tattva souls.
Surrender to Krishna NEVER takes away one's identity as an independent person, sense of self, individuality and free will.
Those who think it does are Mayavadi impersonalists.
Goloka Vrindavana, or the Kingdom of God is where the jiva tattva's natural independent identity and personal individual abilities are at their full potential of self expression.
All jiva tattva's have individuality and a unique personal sense of self as part and parcel of their eternal constitution.
These are the qualities of each jiva tattva soul that enable them to serve Krishna in their own unique personal way exclusive to them.
The Kingdom of God is NOT ''all one'' where everyone thinks the same like a mindless drone in a collective of ''yes men and women'' (of course unless one chooses to be)
All jiva tattva's have as part of their individual make up, their own personal sense of self that enables them to make THEIR ''personal choices'' of what to offer Lord Krishna in the spirit of cooperation and reciprocation in loving service.
In this way the "highest sense of independent thinking" is "CHOOSING" to be fully dependent on Krishna.
The Spiritual World is full of unlimited variety therefore Krishna only wants those in His circle who "choose" to be there and gives the best of who they are as an independent thinking individual person, who has their own unique abilities and talents they can offer to Krishna.
The freedom to EVEN stay in Vaikuntha MUST be the jivas choice in reciprocation with Krishna because without free will there can be no real love.
The fact is God is more inclined to help those who FIRST do everything they can to help themselves. Only then will Krishna help you when He sees you trying your best to help yourself to remember Krishna.
This is because each jiva has their own independent individual personality and sense of self that allows them to ''choose'' to help themselves first, otherwise if Krishna does everything for you, how can there be genuine love?
Real love is ALWAYS reciprocal, it is NEVER a one way street where surrender to Krishna takes away one's sense of self and individuality that only makes one a mindless drone.
The "highest independence" is therefore using your free will to "CHOOSE" to be fully dependent on Krishna. However, this also means the freedom to EVEN stay in Vaikuntha MUST be the jivas choice too in reciprocation with Krishna because without the jiva's free will to also choose, there can be no real love.
Srila Prabhupada has said not even Krishna can force you to love Him, LOVE or service is based on free will and then reciprocation.
Srila Prabhupada told his disciples, if you love me then naturally I will love you.
Our ONLY education should be being trained up from a very young age to go "back home back to Godhead"
The meaning of love and how it's expression is eternally tired to free will.
ReplyDeleteWithout "free will" there can NEVER be love.
No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality, character and free will when engaging in loving devotional service and offering there very best to Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will. But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life". (August 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
Srila Prabhupāda - ''Unless there are two persons, where is the question of love? (August 9, 1976, Tehran)
Srila Prabhupāda - ''Love means two persons, there is exchange. Giving something, taking something, feeding something and to eat something, and speaking everything, no secrecy, and to know everything of the other person. When these things are transacted, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there". (Evening Darsana, August 9, 1976, Tehran)
Loving relationships and expressions of love are always a two way street based on reciprocation and loving exchanges, it is never a slave domineering master relationship that only destroys one's free will and sense of individual self.
Srila Prabhupada - ''Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is NOT love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation. (Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 text 2-5, New York, November 23, 1966)
Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be done or love cannot be executed only one, personally. There must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love''. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 2 text 6, Delhi, November 12, 1973)
Love means two.
ReplyDeleteSrila Prabhupada - ''Their (impersonalist) philosophy is oneness. So how there can be love, one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience? Love means one? No. Love means two. There must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He's so lover of you that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant..." (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 1 text 3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974)
The jiva-soul in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, NEVER lose their free will, which means their own individual ability of self expression when choosing to offer their own personal contributions that is unique to each of the individual jiva-soul or jiva-tattva.
Each jiva-soul in their full natural ''svarupa'' potential in the Spiritual Worlds of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, has this eternal marginal quality of free will, which is part and parcel of there perpetual constitutional makeup.
In this way, each of jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, character, personality, likes and dislikes by being one of kind in the Spiritual Sky unlike any other jiva-soul. No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality and character.
This eternally existing makeup of each jiva soul, is without any beginning or ending point, and is part and parcel of every marginal living entities (jiva-tattva souls).
This allows the jiva-soul to "personally" always be aware of their own individuality and independent nature while serving Krishna in THEIR very best way, that is different from all other living entities in the Spiritual Sky.`
This is a very important point to understand as we progress and mature in our Krishna Consciousness.
The relationship between Krishna and the jiva-tattva (soul) is NEVER one-sided, never forced, never impersonal, it is ALWAYS reciprocal, nurturing, personal and voluntary, in a mood of good exchanges and feelings, ONLY then can there be REAL love.
Srila Prabhupada - "So, unless there is a possibility of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom.” (Dialectical Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes)..
Surrender to Krishna NEVER extinguishes one's personal sense of self as an independent person with free will and individual identity.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, the "highest sense of independent thinking" is "CHOOSING" to be fully dependent on Krishna.
This is because real love or service is ALWAYS reciprocal, it is NEVER a one sided "one way street" where surrender to Krishna takes away one's individuality, sense of self and free will making one no better than a dead stone.
No, Krishna does not want mindless servants like that, who are denied their natural individuality of being an independent person who can ALWAYS choose for themselves.
This quality of free will and the right to choose in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan is part and parcel of all individual jiva tattva souls.
Surrender to Krishna NEVER takes away one's identity as an independent person, sense of self, individuality and free will.
Those who think it does are Mayavadi impersonalists.
Goloka Vrindavana, or the Kingdom of God is where the jiva tattva's natural independent identity and personal individual abilities are at their full potential of self expression.
All jiva tattva's have individuality and a unique personal sense of self as part and parcel of their eternal constitution.
These are the qualities of each jiva tattva soul that enable them to serve Krishna in their own unique personal way exclusive to them.
The Kingdom of God is NOT ''all one'' where everyone thinks the same like a mindless drone in a collective of ''yes men and women'' (of course unless one chooses to be)
All jiva tattva's have as part of their individual make up, their own personal sense of self that enables them to make THEIR ''personal choices'' of what to offer Lord Krishna in the spirit of cooperation and reciprocation in loving service.
In this way the "highest sense of independent thinking" is "CHOOSING" to be fully dependent on Krishna.
The Spiritual World is full of unlimited variety therefore Krishna only wants those in His circle who "choose" to be there and gives the best of who they are as an independent thinking individual person, who has their own unique abilities and talents they can offer to Krishna.
The freedom to EVEN stay in Vaikuntha MUST be the jivas choice in reciprocation with Krishna because without free will there can be no real love.
The fact is God is more inclined to help those who FIRST do everything they can to help themselves. Only then will Krishna help you when He sees you trying your best to help yourself to remember Krishna.
This is because each jiva has their own independent individual personality and sense of self that allows them to ''choose'' to help themselves first, otherwise if Krishna does everything for you, how can there be genuine love?
Real love is ALWAYS reciprocal, it is NEVER a one way street where surrender to Krishna takes away one's sense of self and individuality that only makes one a mindless drone.
The "highest independence" is therefore using your free will to "CHOOSE" to be fully dependent on Krishna. However, this also means the freedom to EVEN stay in Vaikuntha MUST be the jivas choice too in reciprocation with Krishna because without the jiva's free will to also choose, there can be no real love.
Srila Prabhupada has said not even Krishna can force you to love Him, LOVE or service is based on free will and then reciprocation.
Srila Prabhupada told his disciples, if you love me then naturally I will love you.
Our ONLY education should be being trained up from a very young age to go "back home back to Godhead"
Loving relationships and expressions of love are always a two way street based on reciprocation and loving exchanges, it is never a slave domineering master relationship that only destroys one's free will and sense of individual self.
ReplyDeleteDevotee - "Srila Prabhupada why did Krishna give us free will if He knew we could fall down in the material world?"
Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will. But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life". (August 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
Srila Prabhupada - ''Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is NOT love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation. (Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 text 2-5, New York, November 23, 1966)
Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be done or love cannot be executed only one, personally. There must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love''. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 2 text 6, Delhi, November 12, 1973)
Love means two.
Srila Prabhupada - ''Their (impersonalist) philosophy is oneness. So how there can be love, one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience? Love means one? No. Love means two. There must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He's so lover of you that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant..." (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 1 text 3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974)
The jiva-soul in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, NEVER lose their free will, which means their own individual ability of self expression when choosing to offer their own personal contributions that is unique to each of the individual jiva-soul or jiva-tattva.
Each jiva-soul in their full natural ''svarupa'' potential in the Spiritual Worlds of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, has this eternal marginal quality of free will, which is part and parcel of there perpetual constitutional makeup.
In this way, each of jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, character, personality, likes and dislikes by being one of kind in the Spiritual Sky unlike any other jiva-soul. No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality and character.
This eternally existing makeup of each jiva soul, is without any beginning or ending point, and is part and parcel of every marginal living entities (jiva-tattva souls).
This allows the jiva-soul to "personally" always be aware of their own individuality and independent nature while serving Krishna in THEIR very best way, that is different from all other living entities in the Spiritual Sky.
This is a very important point to understand as we progress and mature in our Krishna Consciousness.
Indian man - "Srila Prabhupada why is there duality in this world?"
ReplyDeleteSrila Prabhupāda - "There is no duality. There is one, Kṛṣṇa. But you have created duality. That is Māyā.
When you forget Kṛṣṇa, that is duality. When you think that there is something else other than Kṛṣṇa, that is duality. So people who do not come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this is due to duality. They are thinking that we can be happy WITHOUT Kṛṣṇa. That IS the duality.
If they know that Kṛṣṇa is one then that is perfection, and know our interest should ONLY be with Kṛṣṇa, then one's interest will be no different from Kṛṣṇa's interest, that is what oneness means.
So if every one acts according to the desire of Kṛṣṇa, then there is no duality, there is only oneness.
But we don't act like that, therefore there is duality. And this duality is Māyā." (Translated from Srila Prabhupada's lecture given on August 04, 1971, London).
The following poisonous impersonal nonsense from a well know bogus so called guru who foolishly claims souls are created out of the impersonal Brahmajyoti -
ReplyDeleteThese bogus impersonalist gurus claim - "The brahmajyoti, the non-differentiated marginal plane, is the source of infinite jiva souls, atomic spiritual particles of non-differentiated character.
The rays of the Lord’s transcendental body are known as the brahmajyoti, and a pencil of a ray of the brahmajyoti is the jiva. LOL
The jiva soul is an atom in that effulgence, and the brahmajyoti is a product of an infinite number of jiva atoms. LOL
Generally, souls emanate from the brahmajyoti which is living and growing. LOL
Within the brahmajyoti, their equilibrium is somehow disturbed and movement begins. From non-differentiation, differentiation begins. LOL
From a plain sheet of uniform consciousness, individual conscious units grow. LOL
And because the jiva is conscious it is endowed with free will. So, from the marginal position they choose either the side of exploitation or the side of dedication. LOL
Krsna bhuli sei jiva anadi bahirmukha. Anadi means that which has no beginning.
When we enter the land of exploitation, we come within the factor of time, space, and thought. And when we come to exploit, action and reaction begins in the negative land of loan. LOL
Although we strive to become masters, really we become losers. LOL
Goloka and Vaikuntha servitors are also seen to be within the jurisdiction of the brahmanda, the material universe, but that is only a play, lila.
They come from that higher plane only to take part in the Lord’s pastimes and then return. The fallen souls come from the marginal position within the brahmajyoti and not from Vaikuntha". LOL
The above stupid rant by a bogus guru claiming to be a spiritual teacher is nonsense impersonalism!
Avoid these crazy bogus gurus in the many nonsense sangas around the world.
Srila Prabhupada - "There is no “ NEW” soul. “New'’ and “old'’ are due to this material body, but the soul is NEVER born and NEVER dies, so if there is no birth, so how there can be new soul?''. (Letter to Jagadisa 7/9/1970)
There is no birth for the jiva soul as the fool bogus guru from some other sangas foolishly above claim.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 text 12 - "Never was there a time I did not exist, nor you or all these Kings and in the future shall any of us cease to be"
The following should be understood with proper spiritual maturity and not like some fool fundamentalist devotees, sannyasis and gurus over the internet who fanatically claim ''the jiva soul has no free will'' when in actual fact the jiva souls ALWAYS have free will!
ReplyDeleteSrila Prabhupada is simply making the point that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the ultimate cause of ALL causes, that includes the free will the jiva souls ETERNALLY have.
Please read the following carefully.
Syamasundara dasa - ''Does the individual soul have a little independence to choose?
Srila Prabhupada - ''No (not without the sanction of Krsna, unless Krsna sanctions, we cannot do ANYTHING) Bhagavad-Gita states that when the individual soul wants to act, Krsna gives the orders. Man proposes, and God disposes.
Syamasundara dasa - ''So we have no free will?
Srila Prabhupada - ''Not without the sanction of Krsna. Without Him, we cannot do anything. Therefore He is the ultimate cause.
Syamasundara dasa - ''But I thought you have been saying that we have a little independence.
Srila Prabhupada - ''We have the independence in the sense that we may deny or affirm, but unless Krsna sanctions, we cannot do anything''. (Dialectical Spiritualism: A Vedic View of Western Philosophy)
Srila Prabhupada is simply making the point that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the ultimate cause of ALL causes, that includes the free will the jiva souls ETERNALLY have.
And then concludes -
Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will! But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life". (August 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)*
Here is a discussion with Srila Prabhupada regarding falling down from the Spiritual Worlds.
ReplyDeleteDr. John Mize – “Did all the souls that were in the spiritual sky fall out of the spiritual sky at once or at different times, or are there any souls that are always good, they’re not foolish, they don’t fall down?”
Srila Prabhupada – “No, majority, 90%, they are always good, they never fall down”.
Dr. John Mize – “So we’re among the 10%.
Srila Prabhupada – “Yes. Or less than that. In the material, whole material world all the living entities they are. Just like in the prison house, there is some population, but they are not majority. The majority of the population, they are outside the prison house. Similarly, majority of living being, part and parcel of God, they are in the spiritual world. Only a few fall down”.
Dr. John Mize – “Does Krishna know ahead of time that a soul is going to be foolish and fall?”
Srila Prabhupada – “Krishna? Yes, Krishna may know because He is omniscient”.
Dr. John Mize – “Are more souls falling all the time?”
Srila Prabhupada – “Not all the time. But there is the tendency of fall down, not for all, but because there is independenc. Everyone is not liking to misuse their independence. The same example: Just like a government constructing a city and constructs also prison house because the government knows that somebody will be criminal. So their shelter must be also constructed. It is very easy to understand. Not that cent percent population will be criminal, but government knows that some of them will be. Otherwise why they construct prison house also? One may say, “Where is the criminal? You are constructing” Government knows, there will be criminal. So if the ordinary government can know, why God cannot know? Because there is tendency”.
Dr. John Mize – “The origin of that tendency (to fall from Goloka) is…?”
Srila Prabhupada – “Yes”.
Dr. John Mize – “From where does that tendency come?”
Srila Prabhupada – “So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly or one can misuse it. That is independence, that tendency is always there. If you make it one way only, that you cannot fall down, that is not independence. That is force. Therefore Krishna says, yathecchasi tathä kuru. “Now you do whatever you like.” (Bhagavad Gita as it is. lecture, Mayapur, June 20, 1973)