Who is Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu? (Maha-Visnu)

Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu) is the first of the Purushas (“controllers,” also known as Visnus), incarnations of Krsna for the creation of the material universe.

There are three main Visnu expansions in the material creation.

1 - Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu) 

2 - Garbhodakashayi Visnu (Hiraņyagarbha)

3 - Kshirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma or Super-Soul)

Maha-Visnu (Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu) creates innumerable universes known as Brahmandas. 

He lies down in the Causal Ocean on the bed of Ananta Shesha (a snake looking expansion of Lord Balarama) and initiates the creation by glancing at His personified material energy, Maya.

From Maha-Visnu (Kāraṇodakaśāyī Viṣṇu) come the other two Visnus- 

1 - Garbhodakashayi Visnu (Hiraņyagarbha), 

2 - Kshirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma/Supersoul)

Maha-Visnu creates the innumerable Brahmanda universes of various sizes, our Brahmanda universe is small compared to others and is said to be 44 quadrillion 444 trillion 444 billion miles in diameter, or double that size if measured from the outer edge of the inner "secondary material universe" inside our Brahmanda.

Garbhodakashayi Visnu enters into each "secondary universe" deep inside each Brahmanda universe and from His naval a lotus stem grows and a lotus flower appears at its end where Lord Brahma resides.

Our Lord Brahma has 4 heads making our inner "secondary universe," called Bhu-Mandala, very small compared with other Brahmas and their secondary universes inside their Brahmanda, at only 4 billion miles in diameter. 

In other words, other Lord Brahmas in other secondary material universes inside their surrounding Brahmanda, have 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, 1000,000, 10 million or more heads!

The "Brahmanda universe" that surrounds and encases its inner "secondary universe," is often called both Bhu-gola and Bhu-Mandala.

Ksirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma) enters into each atom in every universe and sits with each jiva-soul in the region of the heart.

Wherever their is Ksirodakashayi Visnu (Supersoul or Paramatma), there is the individual jiva-soul within the material creation.

However, when the jiva-soul enters Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana that same Paramatma becomes Visnu in the Vaikuntha planets, and Krsna Himself in Goloka-Vrindavana.

Also "Sarva-gatah" means the individual life force who are everywhere.

The difference between anti-matter and matter, is anti-matter is actively alive individual units of spiritual energy who are unique independent personalities in their full potential as Krsna's servant.

And anti-matter is dead material energy that covers those jiva-souls who have chosen to enter the material world, but there is more. Also within the material atom (anti-matter), there also exists Visnu (Paramatma) and a dormant (consciously inactive) fallen jiva-soul who appears almost dead while in that dormant state. 

Within dead matter in the material creation, the individual consciousness of the jiva-souls within the material atom, is dormant (almost dead) like stone and completely inactive. 

Such a condition is another aspect of impersonalism explained by Srila Prabhupada.

The Brahma-saṁhitā says, aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham: (BS 5.35) 

“The Lord is within this material universe and also within every atom.”

In the material world, Krsna's expansion, Kshirodakashayi Visnu, also known as Paramatma and Super-Soul, is within EVERY material atom.

This further means there is an individual jiva-soul also present within every material atom (but in a "fallen" dormant (inactive) state)

This is because the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are ALWAYS accompanied by Krsna (As Kshirodakashayi Visnu or Paramatma), and always remain together in the material world.

While in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, Kshirodakashayi Visnu (Paramatma) manifest as Lord Viṣṇu or Lord Krsna. 

Tamala Krsna - "It is said that within the atom the marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is present and life symptoms of birth, growth...?

Srila Prabhupada - "Their life symptoms has not yet come, they are dormant, but there is potential."

Tamala Krsna - "At the time of disintegration of this gross material body, the living entity (jiva-soul) leaves, so does the atomic body also disintegrate when the jiva-soul leaves it, and moves to another body?"

Srila Prabhupada - "The atom body means material body, unless you are free from this material bodily existence, the atomic body will go on with you. That means unless you are mukta (liberated), the atomic body will go on. Mind, intelligence, ego (subtle body) — they are also atomic, finer atomic body."

Tamala Krsna - "Within each atom the living entity is present?"

Srila Prabhupada - Yes, God is present; therefore living entity is present."

Tamala Krsna - "So the living entity is present within the atom just as I am present within this body. When I leave this body, my body breaks apart?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, you leave this body, enter another body."

Tamala Krsna - "Right."

Srila Prabhupada - "By nature's law."

Tamala Krsna - "And when I leave this body, the body breaks apart?"

Srila Prabhupada - "The body is already atomic combination."

Tamala Krsna - "Yes."

Srila Prabhupada - "So it remains atomic combination, you leave the body but when you leave the house, that does not mean the house is finished."

Tamala Krsna - "Right, I can understand that."

Hamsaduta - "He's asking that if the jiva-soul leaves the atomic particle, then does the particle break apart. Isn't it?

Srila Prabhupada - "No, no, you have not left atomic particle."

Tamala Krsna - "No, but you were saying that within the atom there's also a living entity (jiva-soul). So when that living entity leaves the atomic particle does the particle break apart? Or doesn't it?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Just try to understand from the sastra, you understand that andantara-stham: "God lives within the atom."

Tamala Krsna - "Yes."

Srila Prabhupada - "And when the God is there, living entity's also there. This much you try to understand. Because God and living entity remain together, as two friends. God is trying to save His fallen friend. That is the information from Upanisad. So when God is there, the living entity is also there."

Rupanuga - "So Paramatma and jiva-soul are always together."

Srila  Prabhupada - "Yes."

Tamala Krsna - "Can we say that the living entity is present within the atom by consciousness?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No, consciousness will gradually develop according to the bodily situation."

Pancadravida - "How does the jiva-soul get out of the atom and take a gross body?"

Srila Prabhupada - "(laughing) Material body is combination of atoms. How he gets out of the atom. Body is nothing but combination of many atoms. Everything material is combination of many atoms, that's all."

Pancadravida - "The jiva-souls inside the atom, are they like impersonalists who are in the Brahman (Brahmajyoti)?"

Srila Prabhupada - "That you consider, the jiva-soul has not developed his consciousness, in the atom he is practically like being dead." (From morning Walk, April 4, 1975, Mayapur)

In the Kingdom of God everything is based on personalism and an active personal unique relationship with Krsna, this is what spiritual energy is known as anti-matter. 

The spiritual planets are made up of unlimited individual fully spiritual active jiva-souls as eternal spiritual bodily form. 

However, in the material creation, the jiva-souls can progress to a dormant inactive condition and therefore enter an impersonal existence called the impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman.

This happens when one falls again, this time from being active in a material bodily vessel in the material creation to attempting to cease one's existence in the impersonal Brahmajyoti.

Such activity to a devotee of Kṛṣṇa (Vaisnava) is spiritual suicide because one is trying to extinguish and end their individual existence, which is NOT possible.

The jiva-souls are eternal spiritual living PERSONS and can never be destroyed, terminated or extinguished, the jiva-souls are indestructible.

The fallen jiva-souls can become temporarily dormant for many, many life times of Lord Brahma, but eventually the fallen jiva-souls are again forced to become active and takes birth in the material creation, this happens because the nature of the jiva-souls is activity, not inactivity. 

Therefore, falling to the impersonal Brahmajyoti, or to being dormant within the material atom, is unnatural condition and therefore temporary.

Sadly, one can be inactive or dormant for so long in the Brahmajyoti that when they again emerge from their dormant state they foolishly believe the impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman is their origin.

Even many big foolish gurus, sannyasis, devotees and scholars believe the impersonal nonsense that the jiva-souls originate from a dormant (inactive) state of consciousness originating from the impersonal Brahmajyoti (Brahman) 

This is not true because the jiva-souls are beginningless and endless and have no origin as Bhagavad Gita As It Is explains-

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - "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 “corrected” 1983 edition)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - “Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor yĵou, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” (BG, Ch 2 Text 12)

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)

Being an "inactive" (dormant) so-called "spiritual spark" in the impersonal Brahmajyoti, is already a fallen unnatural condition of the jiva-soul, who in their full potential are a spiritual bodily form (PERSON) fully active serving in the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa, which is the marginal living entities (jiva-soul's) natural eternal position and home.

Krsna's effulgence is also known as the dormant (inactive) impersonal Brahmajyoti that is made up of a collective of fallen "inactive" individual jiva-souls, appearing there as an individual unnatural "spark"after being frustrated with the material world's temporary bodily vessels (the painful cycle of repeated birth and death), to become a bodiless "spiritual individual sparks" in the impersonal Brahmajyoti, which a "fallen" unnatural condition of the jiva-soul.

As said above, appearing in that "fallen condition" as a spiritual spark in Krsna's effulgence is an unnatural condition of the jiva-soul, who in their full potential IS a PERSON as a spiritual bodily form in their eternal natural state and home serving Krsna the Supreme Lord.

Srila Prabhupada - "Existence in the impersonal Brahmajyoti is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness and a fallen condition therefore, those who are in the brahman effulgence are also in a fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. 

We do not accept anyone elevated to the brahman effulgence as actually liberated, the living entities first falling down to this material world are NOT from the impersonal brahman. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition and that non-fallen condition is Krsna cconsciousness. So long one can maintain pure Krsna consciousness he is NOT fallen down. As soon as he becomes out of Krsna consciousness immediately he is fallen down. 

Those who are thinking that they are liberated by being situated in brahman effulgence are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam as impurely intelligent. So, we do not accept anyone elevated to the brahman effulgence as actually liberated. In other words, they are actually not liberated, and because they are not actually liberated they again come down to the material world." (Letter to  Revatinandana dasa, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

As said above, appearing in that "fallen condition" as a "spiritual spark" is the unnatural condition of the jiva-soul, who in their full potential IS a PERSON as a spiritual bodily form associating with Krsna in His eternal pastimes.

The full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls), is a "two-arm form" like Krsna's Body.

There is no origin to Krsna's marginal energy (an unlimited number of individual jiva-souls), who have existed for as long as Krsna has existed which is eternity and shine on and on into infinity. 

So, the real meaning of "marginal living entities" is the jiva-souls can choose to be with the spiritual energy, or the material energy, based on their free will.

The jiva-souls (marginal living entities), naturally belong in the spiritual energy (Krsna's internal energy in Goloka-Vrindavana and the Vaikuntha planets) as individual spiritual PERSONS with Krsna, are eternal PERSONS and are called "marginal living entities" because they are influenced by either the spiritual energy or the material energy explained as follows by Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada – “The jiva-souls are Krsna’s marginal energy. Marginal energy 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 - "Regarding your question about our relationship with Srimati Radharani, She is the internal energy, we are marginal energy. Marginal means ⁷ 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 - "We (the jiva-souls) are marginal energy (jiva-souls) 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 (jiva-souls); 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 material energy, called as Maya, is also one of the multipotencies of the Lord, as much as we (the jiva-souls) are also marginal potency of the Lord. The living entities (jiva-souls) are described as superior energy than matter, when the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation. But when the supreme marginal potency (jiva-souls) are in contact with the spiritual potency, Hara, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity." (The Happening Album, New York City, Dec 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "You are also energy; you are marginal energy (jiva-soul). Marginal energy means you (the jiva-souls) may be under the control of the spiritual energy or you may be under the control of material energy—your marginal position. But when you are under the control of the material energy, that is your precarious condition, struggle for existence. And when you are under spiritual energy, that is your life of freedom." (Intro BG, As It Is, 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, Australia April 23, 1976)

HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE but keep editing.

1/4 of the Spiritual Sky is like this known as matter that also covers those jiva-souls who choose to go there by covering them is gross and subtle material energy.

3/4 of the Spiritual Sky is anti-matter or always Spiritually active.

Technically matter is also spiritual because there are jiva-souls even within the material atom but inactive or dormant. 

The natural full potential of the jiva-souls is to be fully active in their original position in the service of Krsna.

Touch stones in Goloka-Vrindavan and Vaikuntha are actually individual living entities (persons) with special powers that all other living entities in the spiritual worlds can also access and possess.

Everything is alive with a personality in the spiritual world. So remember everything is living (fully active) in the spiritual worlds.

Anti-matter is all the living entities in their different categories of sakti.

1 - Krsna the Supreme Lord 64 qualities (100%)

2 - Visnu-tattva 60 qualities (93.75%)

3 - Visnu-"sakti"-tattva 60 qualities (93.75%)

4 - Siva-tattva 55 qualities 78.125 (85.938%) 

5 - Jiva-tattva (marginal living entities or jiva-souls) 78.125%.

Sakti is the "living and non-living energy" of Krsna (Anti-matter and Matter)  however, there are different categories of sakti (Krsna's energy). 

For example, the Visnu-"sakti"-tattva living entities are in the category of Visnu-tattva who are direct expansions of Krsna Himself playing multiple other roles in His own pastimes, like Radharani, the Gopis and Balarama and the cow herd boys in Goloka-Vrindavana. 

Like Visnu/Narayana etc in the Vaikuntha planets, and Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Paramatma in the material creation to name a few.

Sakti also refers to the mahat-tattva or the material energy managed by Maha-Visnu.

Sakti also refers to the jiva-souls like us are independent expansions of Krsna endowed with free will in the spiritual worlds, who have their own individuality, sense of self and unique personality separate from Krsnas.

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways- 

1 - Viṣṇu-tattva, 

2 - Viṣṇu-"śakti"-tattva,

3 - jīva-tattva, 

like that." (Lecture SB,Canto 6 Ch 2 Text 7 - Vrndavana, Sept 10, 1975)

As said above, sakti means the different categories of energies of Krsna, living and non-living as Srila Prabhupada explains. 

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)

Everything is a living individual person from a chair, a flag, a cloud in the sky, the beads around your neck, the stones on the road, a gate, a door, the stars in the sky, the shoes you wear, the clothing you wear, a chariot.

There are 5 different basic relationships (rasas) one voluntarily has in Goloka-Vrindavan and Vaikuntha, and that can change from cow to blade of grass to tree, to human spiritual form.

Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is voluntary, they can become a flower to a human spiritual body, all voluntary, there is no restriction. They can serve Krsna as cow, as calf, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (Lecture SB  Melbourne May 20 1975) 

In the spiritual world ALL relationships with Krsna are "equally blissful to each other", just like one may like a carnation flower while others may choose to like a rose flower.

Originally all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) because they came from Goloka Vrindavana and Vaikuntha. 

Krsna never interferes with the jiva-soul's free will, even when they choose to reject Him.

Srila Prabhupada - "There are two kinds of marginal living entities, nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. However, the actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is nitya-siddha. By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can become again nitya-siddha. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha." (New York Lecture CC, July 13, 1976)

Nitya-siddha is when the marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is in their natural pure bodily state, eternally liberated in Goloka Vrndavana or Vaikuntha with Krsna or Visnu.

The nitya-baddha condition is when the jiva-souls are in an unnatural impure state of reality eternally conditioned in the material creation selfishly serving one's own interests unaware of their permanently real original position of nitya-siddha.

Originally, all nitya-baddha's jiva-souls are nitya-siddha liberated jiva-souls regardless of the many quotes claiming there are two categories of jiva-souls known as nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. 

No, there is only one original category of jiva-souls called nitya-siddha. Only when the jiva-souls fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, do they then become nitya-baddha.

This means all the living entities in the category of jiva-souls are all originally nitya-siddha or Krsna consciousness.

Nitya-siddha means fully Krsna conscious in one's original position as Krsna's eternal servant.

The fact is the marginal living entity or jiva-souls, can choose to be either their nitya-siddha (eternally liberated, or nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned)  

The nitya-siddha spiritual bodily form in Goloka-Vrndavana, or on the Vaikuntha planets, is the full spiritual expression of the marginal living entities within the eternal presence of Goloka Vrindavana or Vaikuntha.

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 - "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 can misuses it, 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." (Excerpt from: Philosophy Discussions with Srila Prabhupada – Rene Descartes)

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 Cheviot Hills May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)

Srila Prabhupada - "We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago." (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita on August 6, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - ''These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha." (Letter to Jagadisa das, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "Your question about one's relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down? The souls are endowed with minute independence as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at anytime, so there is always a chance of falling down by misuse of one’s independence." (Letter to Jagadisa Prabhu, 4/25/1970.)

Srila Prabhupada - ''When the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation. But when the supreme marginal potency is in contact with the spiritual potency, Harā, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity." (The Happening Record Album, New York City USA December 1966)

Srila Prabhupada – "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." (Letter to Jagadisa 7/9/1970)

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

Srila Prabhupada - "So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas again nitya-siddha, it is a difficult task." (London lecture on Bhagavad-Gita 13-14, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are three kinds of liberated persons. 

They are called- 

1) sadhan siddha, 

2) kripa siddha, 

3) nitya siddha. 

When one is actually on the siddha platform there is no such distinction as to who is sadhan, kripa or nitya-siddha. When one is siddha, there is no distinction what is what. Just like when the river water glides down to the Atlantic Ocean nobody can distinguish which portion was the Hudson River or some other river." (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "Nitya baddhas are within this material world beginning with Brahma down to a small ant, insignificant ant, they are all nitya-baddha. Anyone who is in this material world they are nitya-baddha." (Lecture on Bhagavad-Gita 13-14, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "However, the actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity is nitya-siddha. By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can become again nitya-siddha. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha." (New York Lecture on Caitanya-Caritamrta, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "Actually, every living entity is eternally uncontaminated, although he may be in the material touch. This is the version of the Vedas. Asanga ayam purusha-the living entity is uncontaminated. Just like when there is a drop of oil in water you can immediately distinguish the oil from the water, and the water never mixes with the oil. Similarly, a living entity, although in material contact, is always distinct from the matter." (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "Actually, we are not fallen. We cannot be fallen. But we have simply created a situation. We have not created a situation. Krsna has given us a situation. Because we wanted to imitate Krsna, so Krsna has given an opportunity: "All right. Imitate." So this situation, our contact with matter, is just like dream. Actually, we are not fallen. Therefore, because we are not fallen, at any moment we can revive our Krsna consciousness. . . we can break this material connection at any moment as soon as we come to the point of Krsna conscious. We can simply give up that illusory condition at any moment. At any moment. This is the position. We are not fallen. We are thinking fallen. So we have to give up this nonsense thinking. Then we are liberated."(Bhagavatam lecture in Tokyo, April 20, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "Eternally conditioned means we do not know when we have been conditioned like this. It is not possible to trace out the history, many, many Brahma’s lives are happening, not only one." (Lecture in New York City, January 9, 1967)

Srila Prabhupada - "There is history, but that is not possible to trace out. Therefore, it is said anadi . . . Anadi means: adi means the creation. Creation before creation I contaminated this desire." (Bhagavatam lecture in Bombay, January 1, 1975) 

Srila Prabhupada - "It is impossible to trace out our history. Vaishnava poets say, therefore, anadi karma-phale, which means that these actions and reactions of one’s activity cannot be traced, for they may even continue from the last millennium of Brahma’s birth to the next millenium." (Bhagavatam lecture on verse 44 of Canto Three, Chapter thirty-one July 1974)

Devotee - "In the spiritual sky, when the living entity is in his pure state of consciousness, does something act upon him to make him illusioned at that point, also?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes. Just like Jaya-Vijaya. They committed offense, there is possibility even if you are in Vaikuntha, you will fall down, what to speak of this material world." (Bhagavad Gita lecture of July 4, 1974)

It is NOT Maya and her material energy causing the jiva-souls to leave or fall down from Vaikuntha because there is no material nature (Maya) in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana that forces the jiva-soul to leave Krsna, Maya's temptation and material energy do not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana however, free will does exist there."

Srila Prabhupada - ''The next question, about the living entities falling down in this material world are not from the impersonal brahman. Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence they 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. So long one can maintain pure Krsna consciousness he is not fallen down. As soon as he becomes out of Krsna consciousness immediately he is fallen down." (Letter to: Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krsna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness has now become polluted by the material atmosphere." (Hare Krsna Happening record album, New York December 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "So, even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that "Why shall I serve Krsna? Why not become Krsna?" I immediately fall down." (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.)

Srila Prabhupada – ''Regarding your questions about how and from where did the conditioned souls fall, your first question if someone has a relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down? The souls are endowed with minute independence as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at anytime, so there is always a chance of falling down by misuse of one’s independence." (Letter to Jagadisa, 4/25/1970.)

Srila Prabhupada – "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." (Letter to Jagadisa 7/9/1970)

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. Therefore Krsna says, yathecchasi tathä kuru. "Now you do whatever you like." (Bhagavad Gita As It Is lecture, Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

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, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "We cannot say therefore that we are not with Krsna. As soon as we try to become Lord, immediately Maya covers us. Formerly we were with Krsna in His lila or sport. But this covering of Maya may be of very, very, very, very long duration; therefore many creations are coming and going." (Letter to Madhudvisa Swami June 1972 Australia)

Acyutananda - ''But in the Bhagavad Gita it says, "Once coming ftom there, he never returns to the material creation."

Srila Prabhupada - ''But if he likes, he can return."

Acyutananda - ''He can return?''

Srila Prabhupada - ''That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown."(Morning Walk, February 19, 1976, Mayapur)

Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada why did Krsna 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).

Syamasundara - "Can we predict that 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)

In Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana personal voluntary expressions of loving exchanges are always encouraged by Krsna in His relationship with the jiva-souls. This adds flavour, variety and mystery to the association with the Lord.

This means the Kingdoms of Krsna and Visnu (Goloka-Vrindavana and Vaikuntha) are not a one-sided dominating impersonal domain devoid of free will or voluntary service.

Denying free will means not allowing or encourage voluntary personal contributions (offerings) expressed in a two-way exchange with Krsna, that will expand, enrich and flavour one's eternal relationship with Krsna.

Loving service to Krsna and exchanges with Him cannot exist if there is only a "one-sided" affiliate of total supremacy or preeminence. 

The fact is genuine loving relations and service are based on "free will" which includes loving exhanges between two, and is never a one-sided dominating affair!

"Free will" only has meaning when the jiva-souls can express themselves in a "two-sided" relationship with Krsna or even reject Him if they choose.

Unless the jiva-souls can make their own choice to do these things, then there is no question of having free will.

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)

The full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities is a two arm form like Krsna's Body.

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