Who is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and what are his teachings?

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada the founder Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON) established on July 13th 1966 in New York City, USA

Born -

Abhay Charan De

1 September 1896

Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.

Died -

14 November 1977 (aged 81) Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India

Resting place -

Bhaktivedānta Swami's Samadhi, Krsna Balarama Mandir Vrindavan

Religion -

Sanātan Dharma,

Vaishnavism,

Street Sankirtan (chanting Hare Krsna) all over the World - The Yuga Dharma.

Lineage -

Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.

Sect -

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Notable work -

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Caitanya Caritāmṛta

School -

Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta (B.A.)

Monastic name -

Abhaya Caraṇāravinda Bhakti-vedānta Svāmī

Temple -

Gaudiya Math then started ISKCON on July 13th 1966

Philosophy -

Achintya Bheda Abheda (Simultaneously one and different philosophy of Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu) 

Teacher (Spiritual Master) -

Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur 

Predecessor -

Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur 

Initiation -

Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Diksa

1933 by Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur. 

Ordination -

Gaudiya Sannyasa, 1959, by Bhaktiprajnāna Keśava Gosvāmī.

Srila Prabhupada's basic enlighting teachings-

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

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

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." (Philosophy Discussions with 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.

The jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan ALWAYS have their own independent "free will" that is part and parcel of their unique individual marginal identity (As jiva-soul)

This "freedom" of having free will, allows the jiva-souls to each make their own unique personal offerings and voluntary contributions to Visnu or Krsna, where each jiva-soul can offer or serve Krsna in their own unique personal way.

This is REAL freedom.

In this way each individual jiva-soul has their own special unique (personal) association and relationship with Krsna that no other jiva-soul has like theirs.

These loving exchanges are based on a "two-way" relationship between Krsna and the jiva-souls.

However, in the temporary material creation, it is different because those who have entered the material creation have previously chosen to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan by rejecting Visnu in Vaikuntha or Krsna in Goloka Vrindavana.

So why then does Krsna allow the jiva-souls to have their independent freedom to even leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan if they choose?

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?” 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)

First of all we read from above by Prabhupada, Krsna gives the jiva-souls "free will" in the Spiritual Worlds that allows them to make their own choices there. 

Having free will also makes the jiva-souls fully responsible for all their choices and actions. 

Rejecting Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan and therefore having to enter the material creation, (but only less than 10% make such a choice) was a mistake by those jiva-souls because the material creation is NOT the real home of the individual jiva-souls.

It is unnatural for the individual jiva-souls to be covered by a temporary material bodily vessel or container that they are given when they enter the material creation.

It must be clearly understood for love to truly exist, each jiva-soul MUST have their "free will" to make their own choices, even if it means leaving Krsna if they choose, otherwise there can be no question of genuine love or service.

This quality or attribute of free will is part of the jiva-soul's marginal constitutional nature, as an independent free thinking part and parcels expansion of the Krsna.

Krsna allows this freedom that all jiva-souls have because without free will loving exchanges and reciprocation can NEVER exist.

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. (Mayapur, February 19, 1976)

Having "free will" is the constitutional make up of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) that is ALWAYS part and parcel of their eternal character and personality in the Spiritual Worlds.

This means the jiva-souls can even choose to leave the Vaikuntha Planets or Goloka-Vrindavana if they want.

Free will always allows this and if it didn't then there is no question of loving exchanges.

This is why it is foolish that big, big sannyasis and gurus in some other sangas (religious cults) claim once entering the Spiritual Worlds the jiva-souls can never leave or down again.

No, they CAN fall down again and again if they choose to do so!

And as said above, such choices or fall downs have nothing to do with Maya (material energy) because Maya does not exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

It is simply the misuse of free will that is the cause of fall down.

The choice to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana is possible because Krsna allows a "two-way" relationship, this means one can accept or reject Krsna if they choose to do so.

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 with Rene Descartes)

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". (Talk with Syamasundara and Henri Bergson)

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Love means a relationship between "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)

The Sun-disc and the sun-rays CANNOT exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His living entities (parts and parcels) and the living entities CANNOT exist without Krsna.

Each "jiva-soul" (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind independent individual with their own unique personality and character different from other personalities including Kṛṣṇas.

No two individual jiva-souls are the same, and no jiva-souls can EVER become God (Krsna or Visnu).

Loving devotional service to Krsna is ALWAYS based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings manifesting as loving acts of reciprocation between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) of devotional service to Him as the real act of surrendering to Krsna's will that does not deny the "free will" of each jiva-soul.

On the other hand, actions expressed in a "one-way" domineering forceful mood from a "so called God" in His Kingdom that does not allow personal voluntary contributions from the individual jiva-souls in a "two-way" exchange of feelings, is dangerous impersonalism.

Personalism means a "two-way" relationship that includes voluntary loving exchange of feelings that expands, enriches and multiplies loving affection, sentiment and exchanges between the jiva-souls and Krsna.

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!" (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 BG Chapter 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 by 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''. (SB Canto 1 Chapter 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." (SB Canto 2 Chapter 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

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 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 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". (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.1-4 - Melbourne, May 20, 1975).