"Free will" and its proper understanding fully explained.

The fact is without free will, loving relations with Krsna can never exist, that is why Krsna ALWAYS allows free will in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

Loving voluntary service can ONLY exist in its full potential in Krsna’s (God) Kingdom in the Spiritual worlds, where the jiva-souls experience their "freedom that enables them to choose for themselves how to love (serve) Krsna in their own unique individual way.

This is because without having the choice of "how" to have loving relationships with Krsna, based on cooperation, personal contributions and reciprocation, there can NEVER be genuine loving exchanges or loving emotions as one serves voluntary.

Krsna DOES allow from His devotees an unlimited variety of loving personal contributions and offerings, because His pure devotees NEVER lose their unique individual personality, independence and free will that allows them to voluntarily contribute as the unique PERSON they are eternally.

Srila Prabhupada - “In the spiritual world service is voluntary. Some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there. If I want that, to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, then he become 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". (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.1-4 - Melbourne, May 20, 1975)

A relationship "between two" can ONLY experience love and that is why Krsna gave the jiva-souls their freedom (free will) 

You see, Krsna gave the individual jiva-souls their free will so they could make their own voluntary choices separate from Krsna's absolute control, otherwise there is no meaningful to having a loving reciprocal relationship with Krsna unless the jiva-souls have free will.

This is important to understand.

The "highest independence" is "choosing" to be fully dependent on Krsna.

But the jiva-souls must be able to voluntarily make that choice or even not make that choice if they want, free will means even having the right to reject Krsna if one wants.

Surrender to Krsna does NOT mean the jiva-souls lose their independence, individual identity and unique personality, and Krsna takes full control of your every thoughts and actions, making all your decisions for you, like a puppet master controls his puppet's every emotion, no, we are NOT Krsna's "yes men and women puppets".

That impersonal version of Krsna consciousness is Mayavadi philosophy and I reject that kind of rubbish surrender!

No, this kind of impersonal surrender is NOT loving service, it is impersonalism based on mindless surrender to ONENESS of consciousness in a "one-sided" dictatorial world where only "ONE" does all the thinking and decision making for everyone.  

In Krsna's REAL Abode the jiva-souls NEVER lose their individual identity when surrendering to Krsna and being fully dependent on Him.

This is why Krsna allows the jiva-souls to have their free will because without it loving voluntary exchanges with Krsna can NEVER exist.

Although Srila Prabhupada has also explained to us that Krsna is ALWAYS in control because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes, but again, this absolute control does not mean the jiva-souls lose their sense of individual personality that is separate from Krsna's Personality. 

Krsna allows this so there is variety and mystery and Krsna also allowing the jiva-souls to contribute to the relationship with Him that contributes to deepening, expanding, enriching and keeping the relationship ever fresh. 

Therefore Krsna always gives sanction to the jiva-souls so they can have their little independence and free will that Prabhupada explains here -

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''. (Dialectical Spiritualism: A Vedic View).

What Srila Prabhupada is saying here, is the individual jiva-soul CANNOT have their independence or free will without the sanction of Krsna first reminding us that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes. 

As Bhagavad Gita says not a blade of grass can move unless sanctioned by Krsna. 

However, Krsna ALWAYS gives His sanction because if He didn't, then a loving contributing relationship between Krsna and the jiva-souls is not possible and can NEVER exist.

In a sense Krsna is Himself forced to give free will to the jiva-souls because He wants to experience genuine voluntary reciprocation with the jiva-souls and not just dominate them like a puppet master controls his mindless puppets.

Ultimately it is Krsna’s will alone that allows the jiva-souls to have their freedom however, as explained above, He knows by NOT giving them their freedom, then the jiva-souls can NEVER personally experience genuine selfless loving exchanges of love with Krsna that is only possible when there is the free will to give love.

Krsna does NOT want to be surrounded by mindless loveless drones (yes men or women), or those who do not know how to freely express their own unique individual personality as the independent persons they are eternally.

Therefore "Free will" ALWAYS exists as part and parcel of the constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) that Krsna ALWAYS allows so they can experience loving exchanges with Him.

The jiva-souls having their free will is the only way to experience loving exchanges and knowing what genuine loving reciprocation is with Krsna.

So it should be clear that free will DOES eternally exists, and Krsna ALWAYS allows it because without it love can NEVER exist as already explained.

Therefore "Free will" or the ability to "choose" is eternally an asset of the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) and part of their eternal constitution without beginning or end.

Free will in its full potential, is ONLY fully experienced in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan, which is the jiva-souls original perpetual home.

Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada why did Krsna give us free will if He knew we may miss use it?"

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 - ''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)

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).

Genuine LOVE or service is NOT a "one-sided" affiliate of total supremacy or preeminence. 

The fact is genuine loving relations and service are based on voluntary reciprocal exhanges and contributions between TWO, not just one!

The individual jiva-souĺs have THEIR choices too, EVEN if that choice means rejecting Krsna!

Free will only has meaning when the jiva-souls can express themselves in a "two-sided" affair.

In other words, loving reciprocation is ONLY possible on a "two-way" street between two, with each contributing to the relationship's expansion of nectarine mellows.

The word "reciprocation" only has meaning when there are TWO involved, not one!

This also means the individual jiva-souls CAN reject Krsna if they choose, which in a sense proves that "free will" DOES truly exist.

The individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) can NEVER exist independently from Krsna even though they CAN express their own independent free will that Krsna provides separately for the purpose of allowing "two-way" voluntary exchanges of loving expressions for encouraging unique individual contributions and personal offerings.

In Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, personal voluntary expressions of loving exchanges expressed through free will are ALWAYS encouraged by Krsna in His relationship with the jiva-souls, that adds flavour, variety and mystery to the association.

This means the Kingdom of God is NOT a one-sided dominating impersonal stagnant domain devoid of free will that does not allow personal contributions or offerings to God (Krsna), meant to expand, enrich and flavour the relationship.

Srila Prabhupada  - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will."

Hayagriva - "A man may know better but still act wrongly".

Srila Prabhupada -"Yes", but that is free will. He misuses his. Just like a thief, he knows that his stealing, it is bad, but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will. (Talk between Prabhupada and Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada – “So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence. That is force.” (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Having "free will" is the eternal constitutional make up of EVERY "marginal living entity", and is the foundation for ALL jiva-soul's relationship with Krsna.

As Srila Prabhupada explains, the relationship between Krsna and the individual jiva-souls are never a one-way relationship that denies personal contributions and choices, no, love is ALWAYS based on the reciprocation between two, because love can only exist when there is two as Prabhupada explains-

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Unless there are two persons, where is the question of love? Love means two persons, then there is exchange, 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". (August 9, 1976, Tehran)

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 is not independence, that is force.” (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - “Unless there is a possibility of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom.” (Dialectical Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes)

Ultimately each individual jiva-soul is a unique person who can choose for themselves to voluntarily serve Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, or ignore Him.

As Prabhupada explains, Krsna never forces you to surrender to Him, never forces you to love Him, that must be voluntary otherwise love can never exist.

Srila Prabhupada – "Krsna NEVER forces you to love Him, that MUST be voluntary. (Melbourne June 25, 1974)

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." (July 8, 1976)

In Bhagavad Gita, Krsna DOES promise one will NEVER fall from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana on returning back home, back to Godhead, and yes, Krsna always keeps His promise.

However, the promise Krsna makes, that one will never again fall down to the material creation once they have returned to the Spiritual World, is from Krsna's side, it is His promise.

Does this mean the jiva-souls must accept and can NEVER choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana again "even if they want to?"

This idea that once reaching Vaikuntha, one never again fall down is true for most jiva-souls, but not all Prabhupada has told us.

Therefore those devotees who say one will never again fall down to the material creation once returning to Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan, is true for most, but there are a small minority, less than 10%, who DO choose to re-enter the material creation.

So those who believe no jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana can ever again fall down to the material creation is true, but NOT for all jiva-souls.

So no matter who they are, including many big Gurus and sannyasis in different Sangas who claim once in Vaikuntha, the jiva-souls never again fall down, have misunderstood Scripture and have not understood the concept of free will that Krsna NEVER interferes with.

Therefore the jiva-souls CAN fall from both Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana at anytime if they choose to do so.

And again Prabhupada has explained that the figure of those jiva-souls who again choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan, is at less than 10%.

This should be easy to understand because ultimately love is not a one way street as explained above, love is based on the reciprocation between two.

Therefore, we must NOT forget the jiva-soul's freedom of expression too because the jiva-souls ALSO have THEIR choice too.

It is not just Krsna making decisions for the jiva-souls, they also have their choices too.

This is because real love is based on respecting the feelings, decision making and choices of the individual jiva-souls as well. 

Therefore in their relationship with Kṛṣṇa, the jiva-souls are always striving to establish good exchanges of feelings and reciprocation with Krsna, making the relationship what it is supposed to be, a two-way exchange of loving emotions fully expressed in Goloka Vrindavana.

So you see here, it is NOT just up to Krsna and His promise because the jiva-souls have THEIR choice as well.

And Krsna allows this because he wants the jiva-souls to think for themselves and make their own decisions by having their own choices too otherwise love can not exist.

Another important point to understand.

Not even Krsna will force His will on the jiva-souls, even though He could if He wanted too because He is the cause of all causes.

However if Krsna did force His will on all jiva-souls and made every jiva-soul His puppet who has no free will, then how can their be genuine love as Prabhupada explains, we would just be like stone.

By promising He will NEVER let the jiva-souls fall down into the material creation, can be seen as interfering with the jiva-soul's constitutional sovereignty as an independent free thinking individual jiva-souls.

Free will and the individuality of the jiva-souls allows them to choose to be with Krsna or ignore Him, and yes, Krsna DOES allow this because for love to truly exist, He must always allow free will.

This is because, they too, are entitled to THEIR choice of serving or not serving Krsna.

Krsna will NEVER make that decision for the jiva-soul otherwise one's free will is violated, and there can never be a question of love if not based on free will.

The jiva-souls are always given the right to choose for themselves so they can experience love with Krsna.

Ultimately in the end, it is the jiva soul's choice too and NOT just Krishna's because Krsna ONLY wants loving servants around Him who "choose" through their own free will to serve and love Him.

Not forced to serve Him by saying "once you are in Goloka Vrindavana, NEVER again will you fall down".

No, that is NOT "only" Krsna's call or decision, it is also the jiva's choice to REMAIN there as servant as weĺl.

The relationship between servant and Master is NEVER oneway, it is perpetually relationship based on "reciprocation".

The promise by Krsna that the jiva soul will never again fall down into the material world, is from His side but ultimately it is NOT only Krsna's decision and choice, it is also up to the jiva-souls too otherwise free will has meaning.

After all, each jiva-soul is an independent individual with 78.125% of Krsna's qualities (which is having 50 of Krsna’s 64 attributes)

Each individual jiva-soul never loses their individuality of being a unique PERSON who makes their own chooses.

Krsna never violates the jiva-soul's individual rights by forcibly making choices for them, as Prabhupada explains, if He did then love can never exist.

The jiva-souls MUST decide for themselves to serve Krsna if love truly exists.

So the conclusion is, Krsna does NOT interfere with the jiva soul's free will to make their own choices because Krsna does not want to force the jiva-souls to surrender to Him, if He did then that is NOT love it is exploration and abuse.

Srila Prabhupada  - "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". (Washington DC July 1976)

What Srila Prabhupada explains below is also a very important point-

Srila Prabhupada - ”So, even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that ‘Why shall I serve Krsna? Why not become Krsna?’ I immediately fall down. 

Vipina Purandara - “Why doesn’t Krsna protect us from that desire?

Srila Prabhupada - “He’s protecting. He says, “You rascal, don’t desire. Surrender unto Me.” But you are rascal; you do not do this”.

Vipina Purandara - “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.)***