The science of learning how to achieve selfless pure devotional service.
To begin with, REAL love or service is ONLY fully possible at all times in the spiritual world with Krsna and Visnu.
And such loving exchanges can only be experienced in a "two-way" relationship of loving reciprocation emersed in heart felt devotion.
Love can NEVER exist in a "one-way" existence (dictatorship), there MUST always be two especially in the spiritual world.
Which means a respectful nurturing encouraging selfless relationship between two, between Krsna and His devotees.
The jiva-souls always having the free will to voluntarily express their inner sentiment as an independent individual PERSON, in their own unique way.
The jiva-souls unique acts of self expression is the contribution each jiva-soul brings to the table and offers to Krsna, even suprising Him because such offerings are unique to each jiva-soul who never share their mind with Krsna.
This means the jiva-souls always a their own unique personality that is ALWAYS separate from Krsna's Personality and absolute control.
Yes, Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes and not a blade of grass moves without first being sanctioned by Krsna.
But what a cold pointless impersonal existence it would if Krsna showed us that all is known by Him, past, present and future in our relationship with him.
There must be mystery and aur in all relationships that make it full of surprises, especially in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.
"Freedom of expression" that every marginal living entity (jiva-soul), has as part and parcel of their eternal constitution.
Krsna and His associates (in many cases His own Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva expansions) and the marginal living entities (jiva-souls), are EQUALLY involved in loving voluntary exchanges based on reciprocation between each other.
In the beginning when Krsna wanted to experience love, He knew it was not possible with just one, so He divided Himself into two.
This TWO is known as Srimati Radharani and Krsna, the Divine couple.
Thus love is only possible on a "two-way" street.
All the jiva-souls (individual marginal living entities) are independent living beings with their own unique personality that is separate from Krsna's Personality, yet simultaneously dependent on the energies of Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes.
However, the jiva-souls have their own freedom (free will) eternally also.
This means the individual jiva-souls, as part of their constitutional make up, have the freedom to make their own choices, that even includes accepting OR rejecting Krsna if they choose.
This is also one of the reasons the material world exists, because by choosing to reject Krsna the rebellious jiva-soul can no longer stay in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana and then enter Maha-Visnu's material world.
In other words, Krsna does NOT force the jiva-souls to love Him, stay with Him and just do only what He wants without personal contributions.
This is because love or service is NOT a "one-way" impersonal street of domination, tyranny, slavery and bullying.
The jiva-souls have the freedom to always voluntarily offer their own unique independent contributions or service that Krsna does not interfere with.
If Krsna forced the jiva-souls to only do what He thinks and wants, then that is NOT love, that is domination and exploitation.
Real love is based on "free will" and means each individual jiva-soul is able to make their own independent choices that may agree, or disagree with Krsna.
Genuine loving devotional service can only exist on a "two-way street," where one has the choice to accept or even reject Krsna.
Our relationship with Krsna is based on loving exchanges, it is a "two-way" street.
Love can only exist when it is based on a two-way exchange of mutual respect and NOT forced by one individual dictator, NOT even Krsna.
The living entities are NOT mindless drones in the spiritual world. No, Krsna does not allow such impersonalism into His abode.
If Krsna forced the jiva-souls to only think and do what He dictates, then loving exchanges could NEVER exist because love can only exist in a two-way exchange, and not a one way dictatorship.
The jiva-souls are eternal individuals with their own unique personality that is independent from Krsna's Personality in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.
Krsna does not want relationships based on forced coercion, intimidation, fear tactics or bullying.
The jiva-soul's relationship with Krsna is unique and very personal, each jiva soul has a different personal exchange with Him unique to them.
Therefore REAL love or service can only exist in a "TWO-WAY" voluntary exchange based on reciprocation and mutual respect.
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)
Therefore, Krsna NEVER forces the jiva-souls to surrender to Him, if He did, then that is NOT love, it is force, exploitation and abuse.
That impersonal version of Krsna Consciousness MUST be rejected Prabhupada explains.
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 Krishna does not want to become a lover like that, on the point of revolver." (Washington DC July 1976)
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." (Aug 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 with their own personality who can choose for themselves how to voluntarily serve Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, the best way they can, or ignore Him if they want.
As Prabhupada has explained, Krsna NEVER forces the jiva-soul to surrender to Him, never forces them to love Him, that MUST be voluntary otherwise love can NEVER exist unless there are voluntary reciprocal exchanges.
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)
Srila Prabhupada - "We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one 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 SBh Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)
Srila Prabhupada - Their impersonalist philosophy is oneness. So how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No. Love means two. There MUST be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much 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 SB Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)..*^*..
Srila Prabhupada - "Love cannot be one, or executed only by one, there must be two". (SB lecture Canto 1 Chapter 2 text 6, Delhi, November 12, 1973)
ReplyDeleteIf Krishna forced the jiva souls to only think and do what He dictates, then loving exchanges could NEVER exist because love can only exist in a two-way exchange, and not a one way dictatorship.
ReplyDeleteThe jiva souls are eternal individuals with their own unique personality that is independent from Krishna's Personality.
Krishna does not want relationships based on forced coercion, intimidation, fear tactics or bullying.
The jiva soul's relationship with Krishna is unique and very personal, each jiva soul has a different personal exchange with Him unique to them.
Therefore REAL love or service can only exist in a TWO WAY voluntary exchange based on reciprocation and mutual respect.
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)