"Sakti" means the different categories of "energies" of Krsna, living and non-living.

Srila Prabhupāda - "Sakti means “energy.” There are many types of energies of the Supreme Lord, and all of them are auspicious. 

Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara are called guṇa-avatāras, or incarnations of material qualities. 

In the material world we compare these different incarnations from different angles of vision, but since all of them are expansions of the supreme auspicious, all of them are auspicious, although sometimes we consider one quality of nature to be higher or lower than another. 

The mode of ignorance, or tamo-guṇa, is considered very much lower than the others, but in the higher sense it is also auspicious. 

The example may be given herein that the government has both an educational department and criminal department. 

An outsider may consider the criminal department inauspicious, but from the government’s point of view it is as important as the education department, and therefore the government finances both departments equally, without discrimination." (SB Canto 4 Ch 6 text 43 Purport)

Therefore Krsna has many different energies. Jiva is one, Matter is one, the consorts of the Lord are one.

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are also in the category of sakti-tattva living entities who are part and parcel of the "energy" of Krsna, they are not material (matter)

There are different categories of "living" entities in the category of sakti-tattva expansions of Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways: 

1 - Viṣṇu-tattva, 

2 - Viṣṇu-"śakti"-tattva,

3 - jīva-tattva, 

like that." (Lecture on SB Canto 6.2.7 - Vrndavana, Sep 10, 1975)

Krsna who is compared to the Sun-disc and His variety of living entities above are compared to the sun-rays, only Krsna's Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva living entities are direct expansions of Krsna that are almost equal to Krsna. 

1 - Visnu-tattva (God) 

2 - Visnu-"sakti"-tattva (God in a playful role)

3 - Siva-tattva (A league of his own)

4 - Jiva-tattva (jiva-souls or marginal living entities with the quality of free will or independence) 

We are the jiva-soul expansions known as the "marginal living entities," while other living entities are more direct expansions of Krsna Himself called Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva expansions.

As said above, there are many categories of living entities in the spiritual world which includes the marginal living entities, Visnu-tattvas and expansions of the internal energy Radharani known as Visnu-"sakti"-tattva. 

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) in the spiritual world are always marginal, whether they are in the spiritual worlds or material world Prabhupada explains, only the jiva-souls can fall down because the marginal potency is endowed with free will and a separate independent personality from Krsna's Personality. 

Where as the Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva entities are not marginal, they are none different from Krsna.

Again Prabhupada explains- 

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways: Viṣṇu-tattva, "Viṣṇu "śakti" tattva", jīva-tattva, like that. (Lecture on SB Canto 6.2.7 - Vrndavana, Sept 10, 1975)

Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas IS the internal energy or potency of Kṛṣṇa headed by Srimati Radharani meaning they are not in the marginal category.

Then there is Siva-tattva who is neither jiva-tattva, Visnu-tattva or Visnu-"sakti"-tattva, Lord Siva is in a league of his own who has 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 85.938% of His personal qualities.

The Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva expansions are Krsna in another role in His pastimes who have 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities or 93.75% of Krsna’s personal qualities.

The jiva-souls are independent free thinking individual entities, having the unique quality of free will in the spiritual world, having their own personality separate from Krsna's Personality, who voluntarily express themselves in the way they choose to serve the Lord. The jiva-souls have 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 78.125% of Krsna’s opulence. 

The majority of jiva-souls are perpetually situated in either Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana and most, over 90%, never choose to fall to the material creation.

Where as the Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva Personalities are eternal inhabitants of Vrindavana who never fall down or choose to forget Krsna because they are Krsna playing a different role in Krsna's own eternal pastimes and affairs like Balarama and Radharani.

They are direct expansions of Krsna Himself and part and parcel of His internal energies or potency that are all direct and full expansions of Krsna.

For example, the Pancha-tattva are a combination of Visnu-"sakti"-tattva, Visnu-tattva, Siva-tattva and jiva-tattva Personalities with only one being jiva-tattva.

1 - Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, The Supreme Person (Svayam Bhagavan).

2  - Nityananda is Krsna's first personal expansion Balarama

3 - Advaita Acharya is Visnu-tattva and the combined Personalities of Lord Visnu and Lord Siva (Harihara).

4 - Gadadhara is the combined power of Krsna's internal energy Srimati Radharani known as Visnu-"sakti"-tattva.  

5 - Srivasa (jiva-soul) is Krsna's perfected pure devotee and symbolizes the marginal living entities devotion to Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Śrī Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Śrī Gadādhara, and Śrīvāsādi. Śrīvāsādi means jīva-tattva. The jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva, these are all tattvas. So Pañca-tattva. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the supreme tattva, Kṛṣṇa. Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya. We are worshipping Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. So Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combined." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.5, Mayapur, March 7, 1974)

The correct understanding is that all the different categories of Krsna’s living and none-living energies are under the broad category of "sakti-tattva."

Sakti-tattva includes all living expansions of Krsna-

1 -Visnu-tattva,

2 -Visnu-"sakti"-tattva,

3 - Siva-tattva,

4 - Jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) (marginal living entity or jiva-soul).

5 - Mahat-tattva, the lifeless material energy 

As said above, Visnu tattva (1) and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva (2) are direct expansions of Krsna playing different roles in His own pastimes. 

Where as Siva-tattva and jiva-tattva tattva are not Krsna (God). Siva has his own unique personality also separate from Krsna's Personality as do the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) also.

And as a reminder, each individual jiva-soul also have their own unique personality and character that is separate from Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "There are Viṣṇu-tattva, Jīva-tattva and Sakti-tattva. Viṣṇu-tattva is the Supreme Absolute Truth, jīva-tattva is part and parcel, and Sakti-tattva is the energy of God." (Lecture on SB Canto 1.5.15, New Vrindaban, west Virginia USA June 19, 1969)

As said above, all living entities in their different categories are the "sakti" (energy) of Krsna.

The jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are minor independent expansions of Krsna endowed with their unique constitutional quality of free will.  

This means the individual jiva-souls have their own identity, individuality and personality that is separate from Krsna's Personality, that allows them to express themselves and serve Krsna in their own unique way.

The jiva-souls do not share Krsna's personality like the Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva Forms do because the jiva-souls have their own unique independent personality separate from Krsna's Personality. 

As said above, this allows them to voluntarily express themselves in their own unique way to please Krsna.

Visnu-"sakti"-tattva expansions of Krsna are "constitutionally" "direct" expansions of Krsna and can never be covered by Maya because they are Krsna playing a role within His own pastimes.

Therefore, obviously the Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva expansions of Krsna are always direct expansions of Godhead (Krsna).

This is important to understand, and explains why Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas living entities can never fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan.

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana are made up of many Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas and Visnu-tattvas all playing different roles, such as some of the gopis, gopas and many, many others there.

There are also unlimited jiva-souls also playing many different roles in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrndavana as well, as servants of the servants of Krsna and friend of the Lord.

Some roles in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana are sometimes very difficult to know if the pastimes are played out by a Visnu-"sakti"-tattva, Visnu-tattva or jiva-souls.

As explained above, Visnu-tattvas ARE Krsna's direct stand-out expansions such as Balarama,  Narayana, Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu,  Ramachandra, Narsinga deva etc, but there are other more intimate expansions too (Visnu-"sakti"-tattva) who maybe just simple cowherd boys (gopas), cowherd girls (gopis) or some seemingly ordinary inhabitants of Vṛndāvana.

The fact is, in Goloka Vrindavana, no one knows who is who, or who is jiva-soul, Visnu-"sakti"-tattva or Visnu-tattva, or even recognising Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, because everyone is playing a humble role and do not even care if Krsna is God or not.

The inhabitants in Vrindavana do not even know this little boy Krsna is the Supreme Lord, nor do they care.

As already explained, Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva expansions, can never fall down because they are Krsna playing another role in Krsna's own pastimes, and may not even outwardly show they are Visnu-tattva or Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas in the play they are in to please Krsna.

And yes, some Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas outwardly seems to forget they are Krsna's expansion in a particular role or pastime they are in to please Krsna. 

After all, Krsna can do anything He likes, He is not bound by even His own rules.

Krsna is the original Form of God from whom all His Visnu/Narayana (Visnu-tattva forms) and jiva-souls expand from, and that number is unlimited.

Like the Sun-disc and sun-rays exist simultaneously together, similarly, Krsna and the jiva-souls have eternally existed together and never had a beginning because there was no origin, or will there be an end to their existence.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 20 explains the jiva-souls have existed for “infinity.” 

This means, just like Krsna, they are beginning less and endless, and were NEVER created-

Bhagavad Gita - "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 As It Is, Ch 2 text 20 “corrected” 1983 edition)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 12 also confirms the jiva-souls were never created. 

This is because they have no origin and have existed for infinity like Krsna has, as Krsna explains-

Bhagavad Gita - "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 2.12)

The jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa have always existed, the jiva-souls were never created because they have always existed.

Srila Prabhupada – "There are 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, how can there be new souls?" (Letter to Jagadisa dasa, 7/9/1970)

The only difference between Srimati Radharani and Krsna, and Lord Balarama and Krsna, is Lord Krsna IS the first original Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

Krsna also has 4 more qualities than His Visnu-tattva expansions that is not always expressed by Radharani (Visnu-"sakti"-tattva) or Balarama (Visnu-tattva) yet both are none-different from Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

Caitanya Caritamrita - "Krsna's eternal consort Srimati Radharani, He created by dividing Himself into two just so He could experience loving exchanges, intimacy and affection with a women." (CC introduction) 

Therefore Srimati Radharani is non-different from Krsna in every way, and being Krsna, can express Krsna's 64 qualities on certain occasions.

However, because they are not the original (first) form of God, then not even Srimati Radharani, Krsna's eternal consort, or Balarama, Krsna's older brother are fully equal to Krsna, He is the Supreme controller from who all others originate from.

Genuinely Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas do not have those 64 unique qualities in full like Krsna does.

They have only 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities as mentioned above, regardless of this, they are still none-different from Krsna.

Let's make this easy to understand that Krsna is the original Lord of all-

Lord Krsna has 64 qualities which is "exactly" 100% of those unique qualities.

1 - Visnu-tattva (Balarama, Visnu, Narayana, Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu, Paramatma, etc has 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 93.75%

2 - Visnu-"sakti"-tattva (internal energy of Radharani and Her associates) also has 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 93.75%

3 - Siva-tattva (Lord Siva and his expansions) has 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 85.938% of Krsna's qualities.

4 - Jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) have 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 78.125% of Krsna’s qualities.

Also the jiva-souls who have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities, can never become Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattvas (93.75%) or Siva-tattva (85.938%)

Also the jiva-souls can never lose their separate individual independent identity or free either.

All the categories of living entities are "sakti-tattva" expansions of Krsna (being all His energy as said above) meaning they are simultaneously fully dependent on Krsna just like the sun-rays are constitutionally associated with the Sun-disc and depends on the Sun-disc for its existence.

The sun-rays have no meaning without the Sun-disc, and the sun-disc has no meaning without the sun-rays.

Similarly, as explained in "Nectar of Devotion" the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) mentioned above have no meaning without Krsna, and Krsna has no meaning without the jiva-souls.

Being part and parcel of the Lord, as explained above, the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) always have their individual identity, unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality, making them the independent free thinking individuals who can express themselves serving Krsna in their own unique way in a two-way exchange of loving devotion.

Srila Prabhupada - "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Kṛṣṇa the maintainer of all and cause of all causes. We are "separate and none separate" from Krsna simultaneously. There are many tattvas, such as viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva, but above everything is the viṣṇu-tattva, which is all-pervading. This all-pervading feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (10.42), wherein the Lord says -

"But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe."

Thus Kṛṣṇa says that the entire material world is maintained by His partial representation as Paramātmā. 

In the material creation Maha-Visnu enters (expands into) every material universe (Brahmanda) as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and then expands Himself as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Paramatma) to enter the hearts of all living entities and even enter the atoms.

Aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham (Bs. 5.35). Every universe is full of atoms, and the Lord is not only within the universe but also within the atoms. Thus within every atom the Supreme Lord exists in His Viṣṇu feature as Paramātmā, but all the viṣṇu-tattvas emanate from Kṛṣṇa. 

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.2) - aham ādir hi devānām Kṛṣṇa is the ādi, or beginning, of the devas of this material world—Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara. Therefore He is described here as bhagavate bṛhate." (SB Canto 8 Ch 3 text 17)

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana have so many different expansions of Krsna (Visnu-tattva Personalities) playing many different roles that it is mind boggling.

The jiva-souls can also voluntarily choose to play the different roles of a gopa (cowherd boy) or gopi (cowherd girl) too just like a Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva can also do. 

However, the jiva-souls can never become God or personalities like Siva but in time can become a Brahma.

They can never be Visnu-"sakti"-tattva or Visnu-tattva because these Personalities are Krsna Himself expanding as multiple personalities playing different roles in His own pastimes.

The jiva-souls can always voluntarily make their own choices of how they want to serve the Lord in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan, or even not serve Him if they choose but they can never become God (Visnu-tattva) or Siva (Siva-tattva) but can in due course becomes a Lord Brahma because he is also jiva-soul.  

Srila Prabhupada - "In the spiritual world the relationship one has with Krsna 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." (SB Canto 6.1.1-4, Melb, Australia May 20, 1975)

The individual jiva-souĺs are constitutionally endowed with free will, this means they can also reject Krsna at any time as Prabhupada has explained.

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!" (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

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." (Discussions with Srila Prabhupada - Rene Descartes and devotees)

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

In other words, loving exchanges  and reciprocation is only possible in a "two-way" exchange 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 jiva-souls are qualified to play other roles including Brahma in the material creation but can never be Visnu or Siva as previously explained.

The jiva-souls, unlike Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattvas Personalities, can 'choose' to forget Krsna if they desire and therefore enter the material creation of Maha-Visnu in ignorance and foolishly think they are an independent god.

Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Brahma create and manage the material creation on behalf of Krsna as His expansions.

The jiva-souls eternal constitution position and eternal spiritual form is expressed fully in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, situated in the "eternal presence" of the spiritual world beyond the the mundane flow of past, present and future in the material creation.

Our relationship with Krsna is voluntary, and therefore we can be what ever we desire it to be serving Krsna. 

In other words, what ever bodily appearance we have in Goloka Vrindavana, we can change, from a flower, to a Cow, to a bird, or have a human form, or four armed form on the Vaikuntha planets. 

Every service in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana is always voluntary for the jiva-souls. 

We just have to wake up from this temporary material dream and return back home back to Godhead, our real home and see for ourselves.

All jiva-souls have the "free will" to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana at anytime if they choose.

It says in Bhagavad Gita that once reaching Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, the jiva-soul never again returns to the material creation.

However, Prabhupada was asked about this and if the jiva-souls can leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana if they choose to do so and Prabhupada said "yes" they can if they choose to do so otherwise having free will is meaningless.

The reason why, Prabhupada explains, is the jiva-souls have their "free will" eternally, meaning ultimately it is their choice to stay or go.

This further means not even Krsna's promise of the jiva-souls never again falling down can be enforced by Krsna because of free will.

This is important understanding because sadly many great scholars and devotees cannot understand "free will" as explained here by Srila Prabhupada-

Acyutananda – "In the Bhagavad Gita it says, “Once coming to the spiritual world, the jiva-soul never returns to the material world. He can return?"

Srila Prabhupada – "If he likes he can return, that is voluntary."

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)

Paramahamsa - "But ultimately if we come to Krsna, there’s no return."

Srila Prabhupada - "There is return, that is voluntary. Return there is."

Paramahamsa - "If we want."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes."

Paramahamsa - "So we can come to the spiritual world and return to the material world?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes."

Paramahamsa - “Fall down?”

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, as soon as we try, “Oh, this material world is very nice, Yes, Krsna says, yes, you go. Otherwise what is the meaning of free will? Every living entity has got a little free will. And Krsna is so kind, He gives him opportunity, "All right, you enjoy like this." Just like one goes to the prison house, not that government welcomes, "Come on. We have got prison house. Come here, come here." He goes out of his free will; again comes out, again goes. Like that. Therefore, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: "Anyone who surrenders unto Me, maya does not interfere anymore."

Paramahamsa - "So our desire to enjoy, we achieve these bodies; and our desire to achieve Krsna brings us to our natural position."

Srila Prabhupada - ''Yes." (Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course, May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)

Srila Prabhupada - "So, even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that ‘Why shall I serve Krsna? Why not become Krsna?’ I immediately fall down. That is natural. A servant is serving the master, but sometimes he may think that, “If I could become the master.” They are thinking like that; they are trying to become God. That is delusion. You cannot become God. That is not possible. But he’s wrongly thinking."

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 Krsna 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 and demand you love me, you love me, you love me, is that 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.)

Misusing one's free will is the cause of the jiva-souls choice live separately from Krsna and enter the material creation.

And this choice has nothing to do with Maya or material energy. As Prabhupada has explained, it is one's free will that allows the jiva-souls to reject Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your questions concerning the spirit souls falling into Maya’s influence, it is not that those who have developed a passive relationship with Krsna are more likely to fall into nescient activities. Usually anyone who has developed his relationship with Krsna does not fall down in any circumstance, but because the independence is always there, the jiva-soul may fall down from any position or any relationship by misusing his independence." (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 02/27/1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "The relationship with Krsna is never lost, it is simply forgotten by the influence of maya, so it maybe regained or revived by the process of hearing the Holy Name of Krsna and then the devotee engages himself in the service of the Lord which is his original or constitutional position. The relationship of the living entity with Krsna is eternal as both Krsna and the living entity are eternal; the process is one of revival only, nothing new." (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 02/27/1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense everyone comes from Krsna Loka. When one forgets Krsna he is conditioned, when one remembers Krsna he is liberated." (Letter to Mukunda dasa, June 10, 1969)

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 because of "free will", it is not just a "one way"  dictatorial decision made by Krsna. 

No, real loving exchanges and relationships can only exist on a "two-way" street, and that is only possible when there is "free will."

So this means one can also use their "free will" to reject Krsna if they choose, that choice has to be there Prabhupada explains.

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

A devotee once ask Srila Bhaktisiddhanta why was the jiva-soul granted free will when they could also misuse it?

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati answered- 

"You are fighting for freedom. Don’t you know the value of having free will? Devoid of freedom the soul is only matter."

Freedom (free will) offers one the alternative to do either right or wrong Gandhi once told the British authorities.

"We want our freedom too."

The British authorities replied-

"You are not fit to have self-government or your freedom. When you are fit, we shall give it to you."

Gandhi replied,

“We want the freedom to do wrong too.”

So, freedom does not guarantee only acting in the right way; and that choice must be there to do wrong too.

Freedom means being able to choose "right or wrong."

The possibility of also rejecting Krsna must always be there even in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana because of free will.

And this is always the case.

Our first choice after rejecting Krsna in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, is to dominate and imitate Krsna, therefore it is that choice that causes the jiva-soul to enter the material world of domination.

And such choices have nothing to do with the influence of Maya or the material energy that does not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana  it is simply free will that is the cause of fall down.

As a result of "free will," everything else in the material creation has developed.

Srila Prabhupada has explained  the "original position" of the jiva-soul is with Krsna in a voluntary relationship of loving exchanges.

As explained above, Maya can never be blamed for the fall down of the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana because Maya, as the personification of material energy, does not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana.

But "free will" does exist there and has always existed in the spiritual worlds.

The jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are always the marginal potency whether in Vaikuntha, Goloka-Vrindavana or the material creation.

Therefore the jiva-souls have their free will "fully" in the spiritual planets.

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)

For loving exchanges to truly exist with Krsna, the marginal living entity (jiva-soul) must have the right to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana at anytime if they choose, therefore returning to Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana 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)

For those who believe no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana have not understood these clear points explained by Prabhupada.

In Bhagavad Gita As It Is Krsna promises the jiva-souls they will never fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana to the material creation, and yes, Krsna will always keeps His promise!

Therefore Krsna's promise of never falling down to the material creation once there, is from Krsna's point of view, however do the jiva-souls have to accept Krsna's promise as final?

In other words, does this mean the jiva-souls have no "free will" in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana?

And therefore have no choice to leave Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana even if they want to leave?

The fact is, Krsna's promise of never falling down to the material creation once there in Vaikuntha, is from Krsna's point of view and His promise, however, does the jiva-souls also have to accept His promise as final?

In other words, does this mean the jiva-souls have no "free will" to "choose" to leave Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, even if they want to leave?

There must be choice otherwise there is no question of loving voluntary exchanges that contribute to a relationship.

Krsna's promise, confirmed by many Vaisnavas who agree that once reaching Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, the jiva-soul will never again fall down to the material world, is true for almost every jiva-souls, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM!

Those who quote Krsna's promise from Bhagavad Gita are right for the majority of jiva-souls, which is over 90% in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana because they have "chosen" not to fall down and leave the spiritual planets and enter the material creation.

In other words, they choose to NOT misuse their "free will".

However, as Prabhupada explains, not all jiva-souls make that choice to stay, less than 10% do misuse their free will and fall down (reject Krsna).

And at the same time there are jiva souls returning back home back to Godhead from the material creation continuously.

The fact is, as part of their perpetual constitution, each individual jiva-soul is endowed with their own "free will" that allows independent thinking. 

This also further explains why it is the jiva soul's choice to stay or leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, and not just Krsna making decisions for them.

In other words, Krsna's promise is not binding or absolute law with the living entities (jiva-souls) because they have their own independent "free will" too that allows them to make their own choices.

Srila Prabhupada explains Krsna's promise and gives the proper explanation in full, saying only a small minority of jiva-souls choose to be rebellious and leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, and as already explained, Prabhupada puts that figure at less than 10%.

Dr. 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, there are 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 Krsna know ahead of time that a soul is going to be foolish and fall?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Krsna? Yes, Krsna 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 independence. Everyone is not liking to misuse the 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 – "Tendency means the independence. 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. Therefore Krsna says,yathecchasi tathä kuru. "Now you do whatever you like." (BG, As It Is, lecture, Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Many also do not understand the variety of living entities in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana of whom many never fall down, only a very small minority in the category of jiva-souls choose to fall down (less than 10%) while the majority of jiva-souls (over 90%) choose to stay also because of their "free will".

The majority of jiva-souls do not even know the material creation exists nor cares.

However, there are other categories of living entities who never fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana

The fact is, there are many different inhabitants of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana too who are not only jiva-souls.

They never fall down by choice because they are more direct expansions of Krsna, known as Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas who are an expansion of Krsna's Personality playing another role in His own pastimes.

Many inhabitants in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana are Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and not just jiva-tattva souls.

Therefore they never fall down because they are an expansion of Krsna's Personality, unlike the jiva-tattva souls who each have their own independent personality.

The Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas are Krsna's eternal associates that are His own direct expansions experiencing Himself in unlimited different ways.

Prabhupada has also explained that because the jiva-souls have their independence, there will always be a very small minority of only the jiva-souls, less than 10% (not the Visnu-"sakti"-tattva or Visnu-tattva) who misuse their free will and "choose" to leave the spiritual world.

Free will for the jiva-souls is eternal in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan because without the freedom to be able to choose for themselves to forget or remember Krsna, then the jiva-souls would have no free will, individuality or independent personality, which means having no ability to give or receive love.

The jiva-soul would simply be mindless pawns of ''yes men and woman'' like mechanical drones in a factory, or like a dead stone Prabhupada has told us.

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)

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)

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 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 executed only by one, 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 SB Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "The 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 on SB Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)..*^^*.