Wednesday, March 29, 2023

The following is how the jiva-soul's fall down from the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, is NOT caused by the influence of Maya, but by "free will." To enter the material world, the rebellious jiva-souls must first "hire" a material bodily vessel from Maha-Visnu.

Regarding the spiritual world and how the jiva-souls can fall down from there.

All desires, voluntary service and individual choices, are all suppose to be centred around Krsna in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

In the spiritual world one can never be influenced by maya or material energy because maya and the material energy, including "material" desires" do NOT exist there.

Devotee - "Is material desires the cause of fall down, or is it misuse of free will?"

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." (Philosophy Discussions with Srila Prabhupada – Rene Descartes)

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)

The material bodily vessels or "costumes" the visiting jiva-souls have, are all provided by Maha-Visnu. 

The jiva-souls can only obtain a material body in the material world by first approaching Maha-Visnu.

These material bodily containers are "hired" from the dreams of Maha-Visnu just so the fallen jīva-souls can enter His material creation in a suitable bodily container that matches their desires.  

Srila Prabhupada - "We are not the owner of this body, not the owner of the material senses. The senses are "hired" from the Supreme Lord. This is very subtle understanding; one should know the proprietor of the senses is God." (March 1966, NY, City)

All the material bodily vessels in the material creation belong to Maha-Visnu and MUST first be acquired (hired) from Him in order to enter the material world.

However, all such bodily vessels in the material world are temporary and subject to decay, decline, in need of contant maintenance, breakdown and finally death, because nothing made of matter lasts forever.

This causes the eternal indestructible jiva-souls within those material bodies, who are visiting from the spiritual world as passengers, to continue taking birth after birth after birth to continue trying to satisfy their self centred desires desires.

Srila Prabhupada – "This material creation is the spirit soul’s dream." (SB Canto 4 Ch 29 Text 83)

Srila Prabhupada – "Actually all existence in the material world is a dream of Maha-Visnu, as the Brahma-Samhita describes-

This material world is created by the dreaming of Maha-Visnu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the spirit soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 29.83)

Srila Prabhupada - "Everything happening within time, which consists of past, present, and future, is merely a dream. This is the secret in understanding in all the Vedic literature." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 29.2b)

Srila Prabhupada - "Factually all of material existence is only a dream. Thus, there is no question of past, present, or future. Persons who are addicted to karma-kanda-vicara, which means ‘working for future happiness through fruitive activities’, are also dreaming. Similarly, past happiness and present happiness are merely dreams." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 29.2b)

All material bodies in the material creation are provided (hired out) to the jiva-souls, who reject Krsna and Visnu, by Maha-Visnu who ALWAYS owns all material bodily vessels.×

 











Sunday, March 26, 2023

What is happening to ISKCON in Melbourne Australia?

People seem to forget, especially young lndian devotees in 2023, that when ISKCON started in Australia in 1970 there were no Indian born devotee! All were mostly white Australian born devotees as the first photo from 1975 at bottom reveals.

It was only when the "White Australia policy" started to be abolished by the Federal Government from 1979, were Indians allowd to study and migrate to Australia and allowed to become citizens. 

Sadly, even though ISKCON in 2023 in Melbourne is strong in membership, the majority of Temple devotees, over a massive 98%, are Indian born. 

Western born devotees are very rare today (less than 2%) as the second photo from 2023 reveals.

Devotees are being made, but most are coming from India because of open immigration policy that allows tens of thousands of Indians to settle in Australia.

We must NEVER forget that Prabhupada originally came to the West to make Western non-Indian devotees of Krsna.

The fact is, Indians are naturally attracted because they have worshipped Krsna from birth.

But Kṛṣṇa is NOT just for Indians, Krsna is Lord of the universe, not just India!

We should all, especially Indian born devotees, make those born in the West into devotees of Krsna too and NOT give them the impression that Krsna is just a God for Indians.

Also, in the 1970s and 80s, the prasadam was very palatable, but since more Indian born devotees have arrived in Australia, especially from West Bengal, they have made the Prasadam way too spicy for Western people.

I refuse to go to Gopal's restaurant in Melbourne because the prasadam is way too spicy, haven't been there for 5 years.

Even though many devotee in the Temple are Indians, it is obvious Westerners are turned off ISKCON today. 

Most have no interest in ISKCON today with many complaining the food is not like it used to be 30 or 40 years ago, and is now too hot and spicy for Westerners!

Like it or not, these are the facts, almost no Western born people join ISKCON today in 2023.

1 - The first photo is 1975, not one Indian born devotee in the photo.

2 - The second photo is 2023, almost no Western born devotees in photo, only Indians.*


Friday, March 24, 2023

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) fully explained here by Srila Prabhupada.

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." (Introduction BG, As It Is, Los Angeles, Nov 23, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are three energies: 

1 - external energy

2 - internal energy

3 - marginal energy

The external energy is this material expansion, manifestation. 

Similarly, there is internal energy, the spiritual world manifestation, and in between them there is another energy called marginal energy, taṭastha, that we are, we living entities. 

We (the jiva-souls) are His 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 we are also permanent, jīva-bhūta. 

Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20)

"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 2.20, from 1983 edition] (Lecture on BG, Ch 9 text 4 - Melbourne, April 23, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "So we are one of the energies of the Lord, marginal energy. 

Marginal energy means if I desire... Because I have got little independence... 

Because Kṛṣṇa is fully independent, sva-rāṭ. Janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). Vedānta says,

janmādy asya yataḥ anvayād itarataś ca artheṣu avijñaḥ sva-rāṭ. 

Kṛṣṇa is sva-rāṭ, means "fully independent." But we are Kṛṣṇa's minute part and parcels; therefore we have got the independence quality, but not full independence. 

We are controlled. Just like you claim to be independent, Indian nation. But that does not mean that you are fully independent, each of you. 

You are dependent on the government. These things are very easy to understand. Similarly, a living entity has got independence, but not full independence. He cannot do anything without the sanction of God. That is his dependence." (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.119 - Gorakhpur, Feb 17, 1971)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The process is to transfer yourself from material energy to spiritual energy. We are under energy. God has got two energies—material energy and spiritual energy. We are also energy. We (the jiva-souls) are marginal energy. 

So marginal energy means we can remain under the material energy or on the spiritual energy, as we make our choice. 

Just like on the beach you find sometimes on the border of the water, the water is covering the land, and sometimes the land is open. 

This is called the marginal position. The jiva-souls are spirit but are influenced by sometimes spirit, and sometimes matter.

Similarly, we are marginal energy, or we can remain open also, in spiritual energy. 

So this process of, I mean to say, converting the material energy to spiritual energy is called bhakti-yoga. Just like this microphone. 

When it is used for some material purpose... Just like I am speaking. But sometimes the politicians or other parties or so many things—this microphone can be utilized for so many purposes. 

And it can be utilized also, God's purposes. I am speaking through this microphone about the message of God. 

So when it is utilized for God's purposes it is spiritual. And when it is utilized for our material purposes or sense gratification, this is material." (Lecture at St. Pascal's Franciscan Seminary - Melbourne, June 28, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your question about our relationship with Srimati Radharani, She is the internal energy, we are marginal energy. 

Marginal means (the jiva-souls) are 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; 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 Prabhupāda - "The living entity has no separate independent identity. He is the marginal energy of the Supreme. 

When he is entrapped by material energy, he is conditioned, and when he is Kṛṣṇa conscious, or aware of the spiritual energy, then he is in his real and natural state of life. 

Therefore, when one is in complete knowledge, one ceases all material sense gratification, or renounces all kinds of sense gratificatory activities. 

This is practiced by the yogīs who restrain the senses from material attachment. 

But a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness has no opportunity to engage his senses in anything which is not for the purpose of Kṛṣṇa." (BG, Ch 6 text 2, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Vedic literature the living entity is called jīvātmā (jiva-soul) and Brahman, but he is never called Para-brahman. The living entity (jīvātmā or jiva-soul) takes different positions—sometimes he merges into the dark material nature and identifies himself with matter, and sometimes he identifies himself with the superior, spiritual nature. Therefore he is called the Supreme Lord's marginal energy. 

According to his identification with material or spiritual nature, he receives a material or spiritual body. In material nature he may take a body from any of the 8,400,000 species of life, but in spiritual nature he has only one body. 

In material nature he is manifested sometimes as a man, demigod, animal, beast, bird, etc., according to his karma. To attain material heavenly planets and enjoy their facilities, he sometimes performs sacrifices (yajña), but when his merit is exhausted he returns to earth again in the form of a man. This process is called karma." (BG, Ch 8 text 3, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "Although living entities belong to the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord, they are in material contamination. They think themselves enjoyers, but they are not the supreme enjoyer. 

Here it is clearly stated that the supreme enjoyer is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different manifestations and plenary expansions as Nārāyaṇa, Vāsudeva, etc." (BG, Ch 8 text 8, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The entire cosmic manifestations, moving and nonmoving, are manifested by different activities of Kṛṣṇa's energy. In the material existence we create different relationships with different living entities who are nothing but Kṛṣṇa's marginal energy; under the creation of prakṛti some of them appear as our father, mother, grandfather, creator, etc., but actually they are parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa. 

As such, these living entities who appear to be our father, mother, etc., are nothing but Kṛṣṇa. In this verse the word dhātā means "creator." Not only are our father and mother parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa, but the creator, grandmother and grandfather, etc., are also Kṛṣṇa. Actually any living entity, being part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, is Kṛṣṇa. All the Vedas, therefore, aim only toward Kṛṣṇa." (BG, Ch 9 text 17, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The fact is that every individual living entity is eternally part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and both of them are very intimately related as friends. But the living entity has the tendency to reject the sanction of the Supreme Lord and act independently in an attempt to dominate nature, and because he has this tendency he is called the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. The living entity can be situated either in the material energy or in the spiritual energy. As long as he is conditioned by the material energy, the Supreme Lord, as his friend, the Supersoul, stays with him just to get him to return to the spiritual energy." (BG, Ch 13 text 23, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The living entity in his original position is pure spirit. He is just like an atomic particle of the Supreme Spirit. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa may be compared to the sun, and the living entities to sunshine. 

Because the living entities are the marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa, they have a tendency to be in contact either with the material energy or with the spiritual energy. In other words, the living entity is situated between the two energies of the Lord, and because he belongs to the superior energy of the Lord, he has a particle of independence. By proper use of that independence he comes under the direct order of Kṛṣṇa. Thus he attains his normal condition in the pleasure-giving potency." (BG, Ch 18 text 78, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The energy of the living entities is technically called kṣetrajña energy. 

This kṣetrajña-śakti, although equal in quality with the Lord, becomes overpowered by material energy out of ignorance and thus suffers all sorts of material miseries. 

In other words, the living entities (jiva-souls) are located in the marginal energy between the superior (spiritual) and inferior (material) energies, and in proportion to the living being's contact with either the material or spiritual energies, the living entity is situated in proportionately higher and lower levels of existence." (SB Introduction)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The Lord is beyond the inferior and marginal energies as above mentioned, and His spiritual energy is manifested in three different phases: as 

eternal existence, 

eternal bliss,

eternal knowledge. 

As far as eternal existence is concerned, it is conducted by the sandhinī potency; similarly, bliss and knowledge are conducted by the hlādinī and saṁvit potencies respectively. 

As the supreme energetic Lord, He is the supreme controller of the spiritual, marginal and material energies.

These different types of energies are connected with the Lord in eternal devotional service." (SB Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because the Lord is the absolute Transcendence, all of His forms, names, pastimes, attributes, associates and energies are identical with Him. 

His transcendental energy acts according to His omnipotency. 

The same energy acts as His-

external, 

internal, 

marginal energies,

And by His omnipotency He can perform anything and everything through the agency of any of the above energies. 

He can turn the external energy into internal by His will. 

Therefore by His grace the external energy, which is employed in illusioning those living beings who want to have it, subsides by the will of the Lord in terms of repentance and penance for the conditioned soul." (SB 1.3.34, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "He was not properly educated. Still, because his complete energy was engaged in the service of the Lord, he became an immortal sage. 

Such is the powerful action of devotional service. The living entities are the marginal energy of the Lord, and therefore they are meant for being properly utilized in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. 

When this is not done, one's situation is called māyā. 

Therefore the illusion of māyā is at once dissipated as soon as one's full energy is converted in the service of the Lord instead of in sense enjoyment. 

From the personal example of Śrī Nārada Muni in his previous birth, it is clear that the service of the Lord begins with the service of the Lord's bona fide servants." (SB 1.5.23, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The Absolute is mentioned here as the puruṣa, or person. 

The Absolute Personality of Godhead is mentioned in so many Vedic literatures, and in the Bhagavad-gītā, the puruṣa is confirmed as the eternal and original person. 

The Absolute Personality of Godhead is the perfect person. 

The Supreme Person has manifold energies, out of which the internal, external and marginal energies are specifically important. 

The energy mentioned here is the external energy, as will be clear from the statements of her activities. 

The internal energy is there along with the Absolute Person as the moonlight is there with the moon. 

The external energy is compared to darkness because it keeps the living entities in the darkness of ignorance. 

The word apāśrayam suggests that this energy of the Lord is under full control." (SB 1.7.4, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "Śrīla Vyāsadeva saw the all-perfect Personality of Godhead. This statement suggests that the complete unit of the Personality of Godhead includes His parts and parcels also. 

He saw, therefore, His different energies, namely the internal energy, the marginal energy and the external energy. 

He also saw His different plenary portions and parts of the plenary portions, namely His different incarnations also, and he specifically observed the unwanted miseries of the conditioned souls, who are bewildered by the external energy. 

And at last he saw the remedial measure for the conditioned souls, namely, the process of devotional service." (SB 1.7.6, Purport)

Srila  Prabhupāda - "The Lord therefore says in the Bhagavad-gītā that foolish persons consider Him to be one of the human beings without knowing the intricacies of His movements.

The bewilderment regarding Śrī Kṛṣṇa is due to the action of His twofold internal and external energies upon the third one, called marginal energy. 

The living entities are expansions of His marginal energy, and thus they are sometimes bewildered by the internal energy and sometimes by the external energy. 

By internal energetic bewilderment, Śrī Kṛṣṇa expands Himself into unlimited numbers of Nārāyaṇas and exchanges or accepts transcendental loving service from the living entities in the transcendental world." (SB 1.9.18, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "And at the end of Lord Brahmā's life, which takes place at the end of Brahmā's one hundred years of age, in our calculation at the end of 8,640,000,000 x 30 x 12 x 100 solar years, there is complete annihilation of the entire universe, and in both the periods both the material energy called the mahat-tattva and the marginal energy called jīva-tattva merge in the person of the Supreme Lord. 

The living beings remain asleep within the body of the Lord until there is another creation of the material world, and that is the way of the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the material manifestation." (SB 1.10.21, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is one without a second, but He manifests Himself by different energies because He is by nature blissful. 

The living beings are also manifestations of His marginal energy, qualitatively one with the Lord, and there are innumerable living beings both within and without the external and internal energies of the Lord. 

Since the spiritual world is a manifestation of the Lord's internal energy, the living beings within that internal potency are qualitatively one with the Lord without contamination from the external potency. 

Although qualitatively one with the Lord, the living being, due to contamination of the material world, is pervertedly manifested, and therefore he experiences so-called happiness and distress in the material world." (SB 1.13.48, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "So all living entities, both in the conditioned state and in the liberated state, are maintained by the Almighty Supreme Lord. 

Such maintenance is effected by the Lord through His different expansions of Self and three principal energies, namely the internal, external and marginal energies. 

The living entities are His marginal energies, and some of them, in the confidence of the Lord, are entrusted with the work of creation also, as are Brahmā, Marīci, etc., and the acts of creation are inspired by the Lord unto them (tene brahma hṛdā). 

The external energy (māyā) is also impregnated with the jīvas, or conditioned souls. 

The unconditioned marginal potency acts in the spiritual kingdom, and the Lord, by His different plenary expansions, maintains them in different transcendental relations displayed in the spiritual sky." (SB 2.4.7, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "This is also explained and stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.42). 

Thus the seventy-five percent expansion of His radiation is called His internal energy, whereas the twenty-five percent expansion is called the external energy of the Lord. 

The living entities (jiva-souls), who are residents of the spiritual as well as the material expansions, are His marginal energy (taṭastha-śakti), and they are at liberty to live in either of the energies, external or internal. 

Those who live within the spiritual expansion of the Lord are called liberated souls, whereas the residents of the external expansion are called the conditioned souls. 

We can just make an estimate of the number of the residents of the internal expansions in comparison with the number of residents in the external energy and may easily conclude that the liberated souls are far more numerous than the conditioned souls." (SB 2.6.17, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are two kinds of marginal living entities: nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha but the actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is nitya-siddha." (CC lecture, July 13, 1976) 

Srila Prabhupada - "Nitya-baddhas are within this material world, beginning from 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 BG, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "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." (NY City Lecture on CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them to their original position. It is a difficult task." (London lecture on BG July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The difference is that the impersonalist denies personality in the ultimate issue, whereas the devotee gives more importance to the Personality of Godhead.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam explains this truth in the verse under discussion-

Lord Vāsudeva is one without a second, but because He is all-powerful, He can expand Himself as well as display His omnipotencies. 

The Lord is described here as omnipotent by three energies (tri-śakti-dhṛk). 

So primarily His three energies are- 

internal, 

marginal, 

external. 

This external energy is also displayed in the three modes of 

goodness, 

passion,

ignorance. 

Similarly, the internal potency is also displayed in three spiritual modes-

saṁvit, 

sandhinī,

hlādinī." (SB 2.6.32, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because everything is an emanation from Him (the Mahā-viṣṇu or Mahā-samaṣṭi), nothing of the cosmic energies is different from Him; but all such expanded energies have specific functions and display as designed by the Lord, and therefore they are simultaneously different from the Lord. 

The living entities (jiva-souls) are also similar energy (marginal potency) of the Lord, and thus they are simultaneously one with and different from Him." (SB 2.10.13, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Supreme Lord expands Himself in two ways, by personal plenary expansions and separated minute expansions. 

The personal plenary expansions are viṣṇu-tattvas, and the separated expansions are living entities. 

Since the living entities are very small, they are sometimes described as the marginal energy of the Lord. 

But the mystic yogīs consider the living entities and the Supersoul, Paramātmā, to be one and the same. 

It is, however, a minor point of controversy; after all, everything created rests on the gigantic virāṭ or universal form of the Lord." (SB 3.6.8, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Devahūti expressed her happiness by uttering the word bata, for she knew that her husband was in a highly elevated, transcendental position and was under the shelter of yogamāyā. 

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, those who are great souls, mahātmās, are not under the control of the material energy. 

The Supreme Lord has two energies, material and spiritual. The living entities are marginal energy. 

As marginal energy, a person may be under the control of the material energy or the spiritual energy (yogamāyā). 

Kardama Muni was a great soul, and therefore he was under the spiritual energy, which means that he was directly connected with the Supreme Lord. 

The symptom of this is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, constant engagement in devotional service." (SB 3.23.10, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "We should always remember, as it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā, that both the gross and subtle material bodies are dresses; they are the shirt and coat of the living entity. 

To be either a woman or a man only involves one's bodily dress. 

The soul in nature is actually the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. 

Every living entity (jiva-soul), being classified as energy, is supposed to be originally a woman, or one who is enjoyed. 

In the body of a man there is a greater opportunity to get out of the material clutches; there is less opportunity in the body of a woman. 

In this verse it is indicated that the body of a man should not be misused through forming an attachment to women and thus becoming too entangled in material enjoyment, which will result in getting the body of a woman in the next life." (SB 3.31.41, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "According to a verse of the Vedic mantras, parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate: (Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport) the Supreme Personality of Godhead has different varieties of energies. 

Sakti is feminine, and the Lord is puruṣa, masculine. 

It is the duty of the female to serve under the supreme puruṣa. 

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, all living entities (jiva-souls) are marginal energies of the Supreme Lord. 

Therefore it is the duty of all living entities to serve this Supreme Person. 

Durgā is the representation in the material world of both the marginal and external energies, and Lord Śiva is the representation of the Supreme Person. 

The connection of Lord Śiva and Ambikā, or Durgā, is eternal. 

Satī could not accept any husband but Lord Śiva. How Lord Śiva remarried Durgā as Himavatī, the daughter of the Himalayas, and how Kārttikeya was born, is a great story in itself." (SB 4.7.59, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī says that within this material world or material consciousness, good and bad are the same. 

The distinction between good and bad is simply a mental concoction. 

The actual fact is that all living entities are sons of God, or by-products of His marginal energy. 

Because of our being contaminated by the modes of material nature, we distinguish one spiritual spark from another. 

That is also another kind of dreaming. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā that those who are actually learned do not make any distinction between a learned scholar, a brāhmaṇa, an elephant, a dog and a caṇḍāla. 

They do not see in terms of the external body; rather, they see the person as spirit soul." (SB 4.9.33, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "That is explained in the Brahma-saṁhitā. Sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ: (Bs. 5.1) 

He has form, but His form is different from any kind of material form. The living entities are the marginal energy of the supreme form. 

As such, they are not different from the supreme form, but at the same time they are not equal to the supreme form. 

Dhruva Mahārāja is advised herewith to render service unto the supreme form. 

That will include service to other individual forms. For example, a tree has a form, and when water is poured on the root of the tree, the other forms—the leaves, twigs, flowers and fruits—are automatically watered. 

The Māyāvāda conception that because the Absolute Truth is everything He must be formless is rejected here. 

Rather, it is confirmed that the Absolute Truth has form, and yet He is all-pervading. Nothing is independent of Him." (SB 4.12.5, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "This material energy is one of the Lord's potencies, as much as heat and light are potencies of fire. 

The material energy is not different from the Supreme Godhead, but at the same time He has nothing to do with the material energy. 

The living entity, who is of the marginal energy, is entrapped by the material energy on the basis of his desire to lord it over the material world. 

The Lord is aloof from this, but when the same living entity engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, then he becomes attached to this service. 

This situation is called yuktam. For devotees the Lord is present even in the material energy. This is the inconceivable potency of the Lord. 

Material energy acts in the three modes of material qualities, which produce the action and reaction of material existence." (SB 4.12.6, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "God is one, but He expands Himself in a variety of energies—the material energy, the spiritual energy, the marginal energy and so forth. 

Unless one is favored and especially endowed with grace, he cannot understand how the one Supreme Personality of Godhead acts through His different energies. 

The living entities are also the marginal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Brahmā is also one of these living entities, but he is especially empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Although Brahmā is supposed to be the creator of this universe, actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is its ultimate creator." (SB 4.17.32, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Although Brahmā is supposed to be the creator of this universe, actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is its ultimate creator. 

In this verse the word māyayā is significant. Māyā means "energy." 

Lord Brahmā is not the energetic but is one of the manifestations of the Lord's marginal energy. In other words, Lord Brahmā is only an instrument. 

Although sometimes plans appear contradictory, there is a definite plan behind all action. 

One who is experienced and is favored by the Lord can understand that everything is being done according to the Lord's supreme plan." (SB 4.17.32, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Being influenced by the three modes of material nature, the living entity tries to dominate material nature, but actually he is not the puruṣa (enjoyer) but prakṛti, as described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.5):

apareyam itas tv anyāṁ prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām.

Thus the jīva, or living entity, is actually prakṛti, or the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. 

Being associated with material energy, he tries to lord it over the material nature. 

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā [15.7](SB 4.24.28, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "It is clearly explained that Lord Kṛṣṇa has multienergies, which can be grouped into three: namely the 

1 - external energy, 

2 - internal energy, 

3 - marginal energy. 

There are also different cosmic manifestations—namely 

the spiritual world, 

the material world,

as well as different types of living entities (jiva-souls)

Some living entities are conditioned, and others are eternally free. 

The eternally free living entities are called nitya-mukta, for they never come in contact with the material energy. 

However, some living entities are conditioned in this material world, and thus they think themselves separated from the Supreme Lord. 

Due to their contact with the material energy, their existence is always troublesome. 

Being always in distress, the conditioned soul considers the material energy to be very much disturbing." (SB 4.24.61, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "Being influenced by the three modes of material nature, the living entity tries to dominate material nature, but actually he is not the puruṣa (enjoyer) but prakṛti, as described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.5)- 

apareyam itas tv anyāṁ prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām. 

Thus the jīva-soul, or living entity, is actually prakṛti, or the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. Being associated with material energy, he tries to lord it over the material nature. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā [15.7] (SB Canto 4 Ch 24 text 28, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "It is clearly explained that Lord Kṛṣṇa has multienergies, which can be grouped into three: namely- 

1 - External energy (Dead material energy), 

2 - Internal energy (Krsna and the different categories of spiritual [living] entities. 

3 - Marginal energy (jiva-souls) sometimes covered by material energy, sometimes uncovered in the internal energy.

There are also different cosmic manifestations—namely the spiritual world and the material world—as well as different types of living entities (namely Visnu-tattva, Siva-tattva and jiva-tattva [jiva-souls]). 

Some living entities (jiva-souls) are conditioned (nitya-baddha), and others are eternally free (nitya-siddha). 

The eternally free living entities (nitya-siddha) are called also nitya-mukta, for they never come in contact with the material energy (while they choose to remain in the spiritual world) 

However, some living entities are conditioned in this material world (nitya-baddha), and thus they think themselves separated from the Supreme Lord. 

Due to their contact with the material energy, their existence is always troublesome. Being always in distress, the conditioned jiva-soul considers the material energy to be very much disturbing." (SB Canto 4 Ch 24 text 61, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense everyone comes from Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana). 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 - "There are two kinds of marginal living entities: nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha but the actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is nitya-siddha." (CC lecture, July 13, 1976) 

Srila Prabhupada - "Nitya-baddhas are within this material world, beginning from 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 BG, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "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." (NY City Lecture on CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them to their original position. It is a difficult task." (London lecture on BG July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "Fire is situated in one place, but it distributes heat and light. 

Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is distributing His energies in different ways." 

The living entity (jiva-soul) is but one of these energies (marginal energy). 

The energy and the energetic are one in one sense, but they are differently situated as energy and the energetic. 

Similarly, the sac-cid-ānanda form confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā (īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ (Bs. 5.1)) is different from that of the living entity in both his conditioned and liberated states." (SB 4.28.63, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The living entity (jiva-soul) is the marginal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the material world is the external energy. 

Under the circumstances, one must understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is factually the original source of both matter and spirit. 

This is explained in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā [7.4-5](SB 4.31.13, Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the Manus, all the other demigods in the higher planetary systems, and you prajāpatis, who are increasing the population, are working for the benefit of all living entities. 

Thus you expansions of My marginal energy are incarnations of My various qualities." (SB 6.4.45, Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is manifested by His different energies—the material energy, the spiritual energy and the marginal energy. 

He is the original source of all living entities in the material world, and He is situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. 

Although the living entity is the cause of his various types of bodies, the body is given by material nature according to the order of the Lord." (SB 7.7.49, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The body is just like a machine, a car, in which the living entity is given a chance to sit and move according to his desire. 

The Lord is the original cause of the material body and the soul, which is expanded by His marginal energy. 

The Supreme Lord is the dearmost object of all living entities. 

Prahlāda Mahārāja therefore advised his class friends, the sons of the demons, to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead again." (SB 7.7.49, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "Thus both matter and the living entities are manifestations of energy of the Supreme Lord. 

Since the energy and the energetic are not different and since the material and marginal energies are both energies of the supreme energetic, the Supreme Lord, ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead is everything. In this regard, the example may be given of gold that has not been molded and gold that has been molded into various ornaments. 

A gold earring and the gold in a mine are different only as cause and effect; otherwise they are the same. The Vedānta-sūtra describes that Brahman is the cause of everything." (SB 8.12.8, Purport)

Being “generated” from the marginal plane does NOT mean the jiva-souls “originated” from some "so called place" in the Brahmajyoti or Spiritual Sky, including tatastha-sakti that foolish sangas and their nonsense guru's foolishly claim.

The jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa have ALWAYS existed, they were never created, there is no origin or beginning point to their existence because they have ALWAYS existed as Bhagavad Gita As It Is confirms!

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)

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, Ch 2 text 20 “corrected” 1983 edition)

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

First of all, being "marginal" means having the choice to be influenced by either the spiritual energy (the jiva-souls nature position and full potential in the spiritual world) or by the material energy (unnatural conditioned state) 

As said above, the real meaning of "marginal" means the jiva-souls can choose to be influenced by either the spiritual energy, or the material energy based on their free will.

There is no origin to the individual jiva-souls, they are eternally parts and parcel of Krsna and just as old as Krsna.

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)









Sunday, March 19, 2023

Understanding the position of the marginal living entities (the individual jiva-souls)

Srila Prabhupada - "Real sannyāsa-yoga or bhakti means that one should know his constitutional position as the living entity (jiva-soul), and act accordingly. 

The living entity (jiva-soul) has no separate (fully) independent identity. He is the "marginal energy" (individual jiva-souls) of the Supreme. 

When he is entrapped by material energy, he is conditioned (nitya-baddha) 

And when he is Kṛṣṇa conscious, or aware of the spiritual energy, then he is in his real and natural state of life (nitya-siddha)

Therefore, when one is in complete knowledge, one ceases all material sense gratification, or renounces all kinds of sense gratificatory activities. 

This is practiced by the yogīs who restrain the senses from material attachment. 

But a person (who chooses to remain in Kṛṣṇa consciousness) has no opportunity to engage his senses in anything which is not for the purpose of Kṛṣṇa." (BG, Ch 6 text 2 Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Vedic literature the living entity is called jīvātmā (jiva-soul) and Brahman, but he is never called Para-brahman. 

The living entity (jīvātmā or jiva-soul) takes different positions—sometimes he merges into the dark material nature and identifies himself with matter (as nitya-baddha), and sometimes he identifies himself with the superior, spiritual nature (as nitya-siddha). 

Therefore, he is called the Supreme Lord's "marginal energy" (the jiva-souls). 

According to his identification with material or spiritual nature, he receives a material or spiritual body. 

In material nature he may take a body from any of the 8,400,000 species of life, but in spiritual nature he has "only one body" explained below in the next quotation by Srila Prabhupada.

In material nature he is manifested sometimes as a man, demigod, animal, beast, bird, etc., according to his karma. 

To attain material heavenly planets and enjoy their facilities, he sometimes performs sacrifices (yajña), but when his merit is exhausted he returns to earth again in the form of a man. This process is called karma." (BG, Ch 8 text 3, Purport)

Devotee – "Is the original body of the jiva-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 Prabhupāda – "[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 jiva-soul."

Hari-sauri - "They are covered in the spiritual world?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world, there that is voluntary, serving Krsna as a particular bodily form is voluntary. Some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; then they become flower there, they lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna as a flower voluntarily, but he can change his form from flower to human body if one wants. 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." (Lecture on SB, 6.1.1-4 - Melb, May 20, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "We (the jiva-souls) are marginal energy (jiva-souls)

Marginal means- 

1 - sometimes internal, 

2 - 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 Mass 25 April, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one's ear, tongue and mind are engaged. 

This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord. Puruṣam means enjoyer. 

Although the living entities (jiva-souls) belong to the "marginal energy" of the Supreme Lord, they are in material contamination. They think themselves enjoyers, but they are not the supreme enjoyer. 

Here it is clearly stated that the supreme enjoyer is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different manifestations and plenary expansions as Nārāyaṇa, Vāsudeva, etc (Visnu-tattva)." (BG, Ch 8 text 8, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The entire cosmic manifestations, moving and nonmoving, are manifested by different activities of Kṛṣṇa's energy. 

In the material existence we create different relationships with different living entities who are nothing but Kṛṣṇa's marginal energy; under the creation of prakṛti some of them appear as our father, mother, grandfather, creator, etc., but actually they are parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa. 

As such, these living entities who appear to be our father, mother, etc., are nothing but Kṛṣṇa. 

In this verse the word dhātā means "creator." Not only are our father and mother parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa, but the creator, grandmother and grandfather, etc., are also Kṛṣṇa. 

Actually any living entity, being part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa, is Kṛṣṇa. All the Vedas, therefore, aim only toward Kṛṣṇa." (BG, Ch 9 text 17, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The fact is that every individual living entity is eternally part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, and both of them are very intimately related as friends. 

But the living entity has the tendency to reject the sanction of the Supreme Lord and act independently in an attempt to dominate nature, and because he has this tendency he is called the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. 

The living entity (jīva-soul) can be situated either in the material energy (as nitya-baddha) or in the spiritual energy (as nitya-siddha) 

As long as he is conditioned by the material energy, the Supreme Lord, as his friend, the Supersoul, stays with him just to get him to return to the spiritual energy." (BG, Ch 13 text 23, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The living entity in his original position is pure spirit (as nitya-siddha). He is just like an atomic particle of the Supreme Spirit. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa may be compared to the sun, and the living entities to sunshine. 

Because the living entities are the marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa, they have a tendency to be in contact either with the material energy or with the spiritual energy. 

In other words, the living entity (jiva-soul) is situated between the two energies of the Lord, and because he belongs to the superior energy of the Lord, he has a particle of independence (free will).

By proper use of that independence he comes under the direct order of Kṛṣṇa. Thus he attains his normal condition in the pleasure-giving potency." (BG, Ch 18 text 78, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The energy of the living entities is technically called kṣetrajña energy. 

This kṣetrajña-śakti, although equal in quality with the Lord, becomes overpowered by material energy out of ignorance and thus suffers all sorts of material miseries. 

In other words, the living entities (jiva-souls) are located in the marginal energy between the superior (spiritual) and inferior (material) energies, and in proportion to the living being's contact with either the material or spiritual energies, the living entity is situated in proportionately higher and lower levels of existence." (SB Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Lord is beyond the inferior and marginal energies as above mentioned, and His spiritual energy is manifested in three different phases: as eternal existence, eternal bliss and eternal knowledge. 

As far as eternal existence is concerned, it is conducted by the sandhinī potency; similarly, bliss and knowledge are conducted by the hlādinī and saṁvit potencies respectively. 

As the supreme energetic Lord, He is the supreme controller of the spiritual, marginal and material energies. 

And all these different types of energies are connected with the Lord in eternal devotional service." (SB Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because the Lord is the absolute Transcendence, all of His forms, names, pastimes, attributes, associates and energies are identical with Him. 

His transcendental energy acts according to His omnipotency. 

The same energy acts as His 

1 - external, 

2 - internal,

3 - marginal, 

energies, and by His omnipotency He can perform anything and everything through the agency of any of the above energies. 

He can turn the external energy into internal by His will. 

Therefore by His grace the external energy, which is employed in illusioning those living beings who want to have it, subsides by the will of the Lord in terms of repentance and penance for the conditioned soul." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 3 text 34, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "He was not properly educated. Still, because his complete energy was engaged in the service of the Lord, he became an immortal sage. 

Such is the powerful action of devotional service. The living entities are the marginal energy of the Lord, and therefore they are meant for being properly utilized in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. 

When this is not done, one's situation is called māyā. 

Therefore, the illusion of māyā is at once dissipated as soon as one's full energy is converted in the service of the Lord instead of in sense enjoyment. 

From the personal example of Śrī Nārada Muni in his previous birth, it is clear that the service of the Lord begins with the service of the Lord's bona fide servants." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 5 text 23, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada -  "The Absolute is mentioned here as the puruṣa, or "person." 

The Absolute Personality of Godhead is mentioned in so many Vedic literatures, and in the Bhagavad-gītā, the puruṣa is confirmed as the eternal and original person. 

The Absolute Personality of Godhead is the perfect person. 

The Supreme Person has manifold energies, out of which the internal, external and marginal energies are specifically important. 

The energy mentioned here is the external energy, as will be clear from the statements of her activities. 

The internal energy is there along with the Absolute Person as the moonlight is there with the moon. The external energy is compared to darkness because it keeps the living entities in the darkness of ignorance. 

The word apāśrayam suggests that this energy of the Lord is under full control." (SB Canto 1 Ch 7 text 4, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrīla Vyāsadeva saw the all-perfect Personality of Godhead. This statement suggests that the complete unit of the Personality of Godhead includes His parts and parcels also. 

He saw, therefore, His different energies, namely the internal energy, the marginal energy and the external energy. 

He also saw His different plenary portions and parts of the plenary portions, namely His different incarnations also, and he specifically observed the unwanted miseries of the conditioned souls, who are bewildered by the external energy. 

And at last he saw the remedial measure for the conditioned souls, namely, the process of devotional service." (SB Canto 1 Ch 7 text 6, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Lord therefore says in the Bhagavad-gītā that foolish persons consider Him to be one of the human beings without knowing the intricacies of His movements.

The bewilderment regarding Śrī Kṛṣṇa is due to the action of His twofold internal and external energies upon the third one, called marginal energy (the individual jiva-souls). 

The living entities (jiva-souls) are expansions of His marginal energy, and thus they are sometimes bewildered by the internal energy and sometimes by the external energy. 

By internal energetic bewilderment, Śrī Kṛṣṇa expands Himself into unlimited numbers of Nārāyaṇas and exchanges or accepts transcendental loving service from the living entities in the transcendental world." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 9 text 18, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "And at the end of Lord Brahmā's life, which takes place at the end of Brahmā's one hundred years of age, in our calculation at the end of 8,640,000,000 x 30 x 12 x 100 solar years, there is complete annihilation of the entire universe, and in both the periods both the material energy called the mahat-tattva and the marginal energy called jīva-tattva (jiva-souls) merge in the person of the Supreme Lord. 

The living beings (jiva-souls) remain asleep within the body of the Lord until there is another creation of the material world, and that is the way of the creation, maintenance and annihilation of the material manifestation." (SB Canto 1 Ch 10 text 21, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is one without a second, but He manifests Himself by different energies because He is by nature blissful. 

The living beings (jiva-souls) are also manifestations of His marginal energy, qualitatively one with the Lord, and there are innumerable living beings both within and without the external and internal energies of the Lord. 

Since the spiritual world is a manifestation of the Lord's internal energy, the living beings within that internal potency are qualitatively one with the Lord without contamination from the external potency. 

Although qualitatively one with the Lord, the living being (jiva-souls), due to contamination of the material world, is pervertedly manifested, and therefore he experiences so-called happiness and distress in the material world." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 13 text 48, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "So all living entities, both in the conditioned state and in the liberated state, are maintained by the Almighty Supreme Lord. 

Such maintenance is effected by the Lord through His different expansions of Self and three principal energies, namely-

1 - internal, 

2 - external,

3 - marginal. 

The living entities (jiva-souls) are His marginal energies, and some of them, in the confidence of the Lord, are entrusted with the work of creation also, as are Brahmā, Marīci, etc., and the acts of creation are inspired by the Lord unto them (tene brahma hṛdā). 

The external energy (māyā) is also impregnated with the jīvas, or conditioned souls. 

The unconditioned marginal potency acts in the spiritual kingdom, and the Lord, by His different plenary expansions, maintains them in different transcendental relations displayed in the spiritual sky." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 4 text 7, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "This is also explained and stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.42). Thus the seventy-five percent expansion of His radiation is called His internal energy, whereas the twenty-five percent expansion is called the external energy of the Lord. 

The living entities (jiva-souls), who are residents of the spiritual as well as the material expansions, are His marginal energy (taṭastha-śakti), and they are at liberty to live in either of the energies, external or internal. 

Those who live within the spiritual expansion of the Lord are called liberated souls (nitya-siddha), whereas the residents of the external expansion are called the conditioned souls (nitya-baddha). 

We can just make an estimate of the number of the residents of the internal expansions in comparison with the number of residents in the external energy and may easily conclude that the liberated souls are far more numerous than the conditioned souls (nitya-baddhas)." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 6 text 17, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The difference is that the impersonalist denies personality in the ultimate issue, whereas the devotee gives more importance to the Personality of Godhead.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam explains this truth in the verse under discussion-

Lord Vāsudeva is one without a second, but because He is all-powerful, He can expand Himself as well as display His omnipotencies. 

The Lord is described here as omnipotent by three energies (tri-śakti-dhṛk). 

So primarily His three energies are- 

1 - internal, 

2 - marginal,

3 - external. 

This external energy is also displayed in the three modes of 

1 - goodness, 

2 - passion,

3 - ignorance. 

Similarly, the internal potency is also displayed in three spiritual modes-

1 - saṁvit, 

2 - sandhinī,

3 - hlādinī." (SB Canto 2 Ch 6 text 32, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because everything is an emanation from Him (the Mahā-viṣṇu or Mahā-samaṣṭi), nothing of the cosmic energies is different from Him; but all such expanded energies have specific functions and display as designed by the Lord, and therefore they are simultaneously different from the Lord. 

The living entities (jiva-souls) are also similar energy (marginal potency) of the Lord, and thus they are simultaneously one with and different from Him." (SB Canto 2 Ch 10 text 13, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The Supreme Lord expands Himself in two ways, by personal plenary expansions and separated minute expansions. 

The personal plenary expansions are viṣṇu-tattvas, and the separated expansions are living entities (jiva-souls). 

Since the living entities are very small, they are sometimes described as the marginal energy of the Lord. 

But the mystic yogīs consider the living entities and the Supersoul, Paramātmā, to be one and the same. 

It is, however, a minor point of controversy; after all, everything created rests on the gigantic virāṭ or universal form of the Lord." (SB Canto 3 Ch 6 text 8, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Devahūti expressed her happiness by uttering the word bata, for she knew that her husband was in a highly elevated, transcendental position and was under the shelter of yogamāyā. 

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, those who are great souls, mahātmās, are not under the control of the material energy. 

The Supreme Lord has two energies, material and spiritual. 

The living entities are marginal energy (jiva-souls). As marginal energy, a person may be under the control of the material energy (as nitya-baddha) or the spiritual energy [yogamāyā] (as nitya-siddha) 

Kardama Muni was a great soul, and therefore he was under the spiritual energy (nitya-siddha),  which means that he was directly connected with the Supreme Lord. The symptom of this is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, constant engagement in devotional service." (SB Canto 3 Ch 23 text 10, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "We should always remember, as it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā, that both the gross and subtle material bodies are dresses; they are the shirt and coat of the living entity. 

To be either a woman or a man only involves one's bodily dress. The soul in nature is actually the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. Every living entity, being classified as energy, is supposed to be originally a woman, or one who is enjoyed. 

In the body of a man there is a greater opportunity to get out of the material clutches; there is less opportunity in the body of a woman. In this verse it is indicated that the body of a man should not be misused through forming an attachment to women and thus becoming too entangled in material enjoyment, which will result in getting the body of a woman in the next life." (SB Canto 3 Ch 31 text 41, Purport)

 Srila Prabhupada - "According to a verse of the Vedic mantras, parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate- (Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport) 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead has different varieties of energies. Sakti is feminine, and the Lord is puruṣa, masculine. It is the duty of the female to serve under the supreme puruṣa. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, all living entities are marginal energies of the Supreme Lord. 

Therefore, it is the duty of all living entities to serve this Supreme Person. Durgā is the representation in the material world of both the marginal and external energies, and Lord Śiva is the representation of the Supreme Person. The connection of Lord Śiva and Ambikā, or Durgā, is eternal. Satī could not accept any husband but Lord Śiva. 

How Lord Śiva remarried Durgā as Himavatī, the daughter of the Himalayas, and how Kārttikeya was born, is a great story in itself." (SB Canto 4 Ch 7 text 59, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī says that within this material world or material consciousness, good and bad are the same. The distinction between good and bad is simply a mental concoction. 

The actual fact is that all living entities (jiva-souls) are sons of God, or by-products of His marginal energy. 

Because of our being contaminated by the modes of material nature, we distinguish one spiritual spark from another. That is also another kind of dreaming. 

It is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā that those who are actually learned do not make any distinction between a learned scholar, a brāhmaṇa, an elephant, a dog and a caṇḍāla. 

They do not see in terms of the external body; rather, they see the person as spirit soul." (SB Canto 4 Ch 9 text 33, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "That is explained in the Brahma-saṁhitā. Sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ: (Bs. 5.1) He has form, but His form is different from any kind of material form. 

The living entities are the marginal energy of the supreme form. As such, they are not different from the supreme form, but at the same time they are not equal to the supreme form. 

Dhruva Mahārāja is advised herewith to render service unto the supreme form. That will include service to other individual forms. 

For example, a tree has a form, and when water is poured on the root of the tree, the other forms—the leaves, twigs, flowers and fruits—are automatically watered. 

The Māyāvāda conception that because the Absolute Truth is everything He must be formless is rejected here. Rather, it is confirmed that the Absolute Truth has form, and yet He is all-pervading. Nothing is independent of Him." (SB Canto 4 Ch 12 text 5, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "This material energy is one of the Lord's potencies, as much as heat and light are potencies of fire. 

The material energy is not different from the Supreme Godhead, but at the same time He has nothing to do with the material energy. The living entity, who is of the marginal energy, is entrapped by the material energy on the basis of his desire to lord it over the material world. 

The Lord is aloof from this, but when the same living entity engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, then he becomes attached to this service. This situation is called yuktam. For devotees the Lord is present even in the material energy. 

This is the inconceivable potency of the Lord. Material energy acts in the three modes of material qualities, which produce the action and reaction of material existence." (SB Canto 4 Ch 12 text 6, Purport) 

Srila Prabhupāda - "God is one, but He expands Himself in a variety of energies—the material energy, the spiritual energy, the marginal energy and so forth. 

Unless one is favored and especially endowed with grace, he cannot understand how the one Supreme Personality of Godhead acts through His different energies. The living entities are also the marginal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Brahmā is also one of these living entities, but he is especially empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although Brahmā is supposed to be the creator of this universe, actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is its ultimate creator." (SB Canto 4 Ch 17 text 32, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "Although Brahmā is supposed to be the creator of this universe, actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is its ultimate creator. 

In this verse the word māyayā is significant. Māyā means "energy." Lord Brahmā is not the energetic but is one of the manifestations of the Lord's marginal energy. In other words, Lord Brahmā is only an instrument. 

Although sometimes plans appear contradictory, there is a definite plan behind all action. One who is experienced and is favored by the Lord can understand that everything is being done according to the Lord's supreme plan." (SB Canto 4 Ch 17 text 32, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "Being influenced by the three modes of material nature, the living entity tries to dominate material nature, but actually he is not the puruṣa (enjoyer) but prakṛti, as described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.5)- 

apareyam itas tv anyāṁ prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām. 

Thus the jīva-soul, or living entity, is actually prakṛti, or the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord. Being associated with material energy, he tries to lord it over the material nature. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā [15.7] (SB Canto 4 Ch 24 text 28, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "It is clearly explained that Lord Kṛṣṇa has multienergies, which can be grouped into three: namely- 

1 - External energy (Dead material energy), 

2 - Internal energy (Krsna and the different categories of spiritual [living] entities. 

3 - Marginal energy (jiva-souls) sometimes covered by material energy, sometimes uncovered in the internal energy.

There are also different cosmic manifestations—namely the spiritual world and the material world—as well as different types of living entities (namely Visnu-tattva, Siva-tattva and jiva-tattva [jiva-souls]). 

Some living entities (jiva-souls) are conditioned (nitya-baddha), and others are eternally free (nitya-siddha). 

The eternally free living entities (nitya-siddha) are called also nitya-mukta, for they never come in contact with the material energy (while they choose to remain in the spiritual world) 

However, some living entities are conditioned in this material world (nitya-baddha), and thus they think themselves separated from the Supreme Lord. 

Due to their contact with the material energy, their existence is always troublesome. Being always in distress, the conditioned jiva-soul considers the material energy to be very much disturbing." (SB Canto 4 Ch 24 text 61, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense everyone comes from Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana). 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 - "There are two kinds of marginal living entities: nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha but the actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is nitya-siddha." (CC lecture, July 13, 1976) 

Srila Prabhupada - "Nitya-baddhas are within this material world, beginning from 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 BG, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "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." (NY City Lecture on CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them to their original position. It is a difficult task." (London lecture on BG July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "Fire is situated in one place, but it distributes heat and light. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is distributing His energies in different ways.

The living entity (jiva-souls) is but one of these energies (marginal energy). 

The energy and the energetic are one in one sense, but they are differently situated as energy and the energetic. 

Similarly, the sac-cid-ānanda form confirmed in Brahma-saṁhitā (īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ (Bs. 5.1) is different from that of the living entity in both his conditioned and liberated states." (SB Canto 4 Ch 28 text 63, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The living entities (jiva-souls) are the marginal energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the material world is the external energy. 

Under the circumstances, one must understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is factually the original source of both matter and spirit. This is explained in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (7.4-5)" (SB Canto 4 Ch 31 text 13, Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, the Manus, all the other demigods in the higher planetary systems, and you prajāpatis, who are increasing the population, are working for the benefit of all living entities. Thus you expansions of My marginal energy are incarnations of My various qualities." (SB 6.4.45, Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is manifested by His different energies—the material energy, the spiritual energy and the marginal energy. He is the original source of all living entities in the material world, and He is situated in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. Although the living entity is the cause of his various types of bodies, the body is given by material nature according to the order of the Lord." (SB Canto 7 Ch 7 text 49, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The body is just like a machine, a car, in which the living entity is given a chance to sit and move according to his desire. 

The Lord is the original cause of the material body and the soul, which is expanded by His marginal energy. 

The Supreme Lord is the dearmost object of all living entities. Prahlāda Mahārāja therefore advised his class friends, the sons of the demons, to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead again." (SB Canto 7 Ch 7 text 49, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Thus both matter and the living entities are manifestations of energy of the Supreme Lord. 

Since the energy and the energetic are not different and since the material and marginal energies are both energies of the supreme energetic, the Supreme Lord, ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead is everything. 

In this regard, the example may be given of gold that has not been molded and gold that has been molded into various ornaments. 

A gold earring and the gold in a mine are different only as cause and effect; otherwise they are the same. The Vedānta-sūtra describes that Brahman is the cause of everything." (SB Canto 8 Ch 12 text 8, Purport)..×*×..


Sunday, March 12, 2023

Krsna (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) has many different "sakti" energies. Jiva-soul is one, matter (mahat-tattva) is one, the eternal consorts of the Lord (Visnu-"sakti"-tattva) are one, Visnu-tattva (God) [immediate non-different expansion] are one and Lord Siva (Siva-tattva) are one.

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 Ch 5 text 15, New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969)

Technically, all the categories of living entities, Visnu-tattva, jiva-tattva, Siva-tattva and mahat-tattva, are all "sakti-tattva" (Krsna's living and non-living energies)

The material energies (mahat-tattva) are also Krsna's sakti-tattva energies.

The sakti-tattva energy with Visnu in front of sakti [Visnu-sakti-tattva] are eternal part of the internal energy.

However, there are different categories of sakti-tattva expansions of Krsna.

We are the jiva-tattva (jiva-soul) expansions are known as the "marginal living entities." 

The marginal living entities or jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) are Krsna's "separate" expansions and have 50 qualities of Krsna's 64 attributes which having 78.125% of Krsna's attributes.

Srila Prabhupada - "The "immediate" expansions of the Lord are called svāṁśa or "personal direct" expansions (known as Visnu-tattva, where the Lord Himself plays a different role in His own pastimes) 

The "separated" expansions of the Krsna are called vibhinnāṁśa (marginal living entities or jiva-souls endowed with their own independence and free will) like us." (BG 10.37, Purport)

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 - "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)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "Sakti means the "energy of Krsna." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 6 text 43)

Krsna has many different energies-

1 - The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are one of Krsna's energies. 

2 - Matter (mahat-tattva, material energy or maya) is one of Krsna's energies.

3 - The different consorts and associates of Krsna, the internal potency known as Visnu-"sakti"-tattva, are one of Krsna's energies. 

4 - The direct expansions of Krsna known as Visnu-tattva, are one of Krsna's energies.

5 - Lord Siva (Siva-tattva) who is in a league of his own is one of Krsna's energies.  

There are many sakti-tattva energies of Krsna who are direct expansions of Himself, they are called "Visnu-tattva" and "Visnu-"sakti"-tattva" expansions." 

Sakti is ALL Krsna energies however, there are many categories of sakti.

For example, the Visnu-"sakti"-tattva living entities are eternal inhabitants of Vrindavana known as Krsna's internal potency who are direct expansions of Krsna playing multiple roles in His own pastimes.

Whereas the jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) another category of sakti-tattva are NOT Visnu-sakti-tattva or Visnu-tattva but are Kṛṣṇa's "separated" energies. 

Srila Prabhupada - "The "immediate" expansions of the Lord are called svāṁśa or personal direct expansions (Visnu-tattva who are Krsna playing another role in His own pastimes) The "separated" expansions of the Lord are called vibhinnāṁśa - (jiva-tattva or the independent jiva-souls (marginal living entities) like us." (BG, Ch 10 Text 37, Purport)

Then there is Kṛṣṇa's non-living sakti energy known as the "mahat-tattva" or material energy.

There are also Lord Visnu/Narayana expansions of Krsna, each with their own unique name, who live on the Vaikuntha planets.

And then we there is Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Paramatma who manage the material creation.

"Sakti" also means the jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) living entities like us, who 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.

However, free will in the material world is greatly restricted and almost none existent.

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways

1 - Viṣṇu-tattva, 

2 - Viṣṇu-"śakti"-tattva,

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

As said above, "sakti" means the different categories of "energies" of Krsna, living entities and non-living (matter) 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)

Then there is Siva-tattva who is neither jiva-tattva, Visnu-tattva or Visnu-sakti-tattva.

Siva-tattva is in a league of his own, having 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities, or having 85.938%

The Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva expansions are direct expansions of Krsna while the jiva-tattva expansions are independent expansions of Krsna who have their own personality separate from Krsnas. 

Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva are Krsna playing  are independent living entities with their own personality, sense of self and individuality as said above.

The Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva Personalities are the eternal inhabitants of Vrindavana who NEVER fall down or choose to forget Krsna because they each ARE Krsna playing a different role in Krsna's own eternal pastimes.

On the other hand, when the jiva-souls possess a material bodily vessel, it allows the eternal "jiva-souls" to enter the material creation.

However, to stay in the material temporary creation means the jiva-souls are forced again and again to change material bodies because the material vessels are temporary and subjected to decline, decay and death.

Srila Prabhupada - "We are not the owner of this body, not the owner of the senses. The senses are "hired" from the Supreme Lord. This is very subtle understanding, one should know the proprietor of the senses is God." (March 1966 New York City USA)

Srila Prabhupada - "The "immediate" expansions of the Lord are called svāṁśa or "personal direct" expansions (Visnu-tattva). The "separated" expansions of the Lord are called vibhinnāṁśa - jiva-tattva or independent jiva-souls like us." (BG, Ch 10.37, Purport)

Each individual jiva-soul in the spiritual world can "choose" to "voluntarily" serve Krsna in an unlimited variety of ways as an unlimited varieties of bodily forms, or even reject Krsna if they choose to do so, and enter or return to the impermanent material world. 

The jiva-souls ARE an eternal individual spiritual bodily form in their full potential who originally look like Krsna's "two-armed bodily form" in the spiritual world of Goloka-Vrindavana.

Each jiva-soul has their own unique personality separate from the Krsna's Personality, that allows free will, free expression and voluntary service.

However, the outward bodily appearance of the jiva-souls can change to an unlimited variety of bodily forms in the spiritual world, and not necessarily human either. 

They can appear as a flag pole, a blade of grass, a tree, a bench, a cow herd boy or girl, a cow, a shop owner, a cloud in the sky, a bird, etc.

There are unlimited choices of what one can look like but is almost inconceivable to understand this.

It is also inconceivable to understand that the spiritual worlds are a place where EVERYTHING is living and no dead matter or maya exists there.

If the jiva-souls voluntary choose to enter the Vaikuntha planets of Visnu/Narayana, they have a 4 armed bodily form similar to Lord Visnu, or a 4 armed bodily Form similar to Luxmi devi, Lord Visnu's consort.

Srila Prabhupada - "The human form is the full manifestation of the jiva-soul." (Melb, May 20, 1975)

Devotee – "Is the original body of the jiva-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 Prabhupāda – "[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 jiva-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; then they become flower there, they lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna as a flower voluntarily, but he can change his form from flower to human body if one wants. 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, May 20, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada – "Regarding your questions 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. There is no new soul. New and old are due to this material body, but the soul is NEVER born and NEVER dies, so if there is no birth, so how there can be new soul?" (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 7/9/1970)

All jiva-souls are beginningless and endless, they were NEVER created, not even by Krsna because they have always existed, just like the Sun-disc and the sun-rays have always existed together. 

Remember, only "matter" is temporary like the material bodily vessels the perpetual jiva-souls are in as a passenger. Such material bodies wear out and eventually decay, while the jiva-soul within can never decay or be destroyed in anyway. 

All jiva-souls have existed for infinity without a beginning, nor will they ever have an ending.

The "jiva-souls" who have chosen to be covered by a temporary decaying material bodily vessel, are eternal while in that decaying material bodily container, and are therefore never subjected to the material vessels decay, impermanence, decline and death. 

All jiva-souls are eternal and are eventually forced to abandon a worn out broken down unfit material bodily container, and given a new material body out of 8 million 400 thousand species of life, a rebirth in the endless cycle of birth and death in the material manifestation.

Taking birth again in the human species is very rare, many take it for granted their next life will be a human birth, in most cases, especially in Kali-yuga it isn't, most are reborn in the animal kingdom or lower as Bhagavad Gita As It Is explains.

The individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) have existed for "infinity" which means, just like Krsna, they are beginningless and endless, and were NEVER created.

To actually realize we never really die and have NEVER died is an eye opening realization and means our real home is in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana where one never experiences birth, death or decay. 

In the material temporary creation, this can mean something very horrible.

This is because we have ALWAYS existed without beginning or end, it IS possible we have lived within billions upon billions upon billions of material bodily vessels in another time, another place, a past material creation that goes back through infinity (never ending) and goes forward through infinity (also never ending)

It is important to understand there is no such thing as new jiva-souls being created because they have ALWAYS existed and were NEVER created as Bhagavad Gita explains.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2, Verse 12-

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - "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, Ch 2 Tect 12)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is "1983 corrected edition," Chapter 2 text 20-

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - "For the soul there is neither bi[rth 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)

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)

Only matter is temporary (like the material bodily vessel the jiva-soul is presently in), while the jiva-souls in the material body are eternal and can NEVER cease to exist.

This means when the material vessels the jiva-souls are in, breaks down due to disease, decay or accidents, and ceases to function, the jiva-souls trapped within those decaying material vessels, are forced to vacate that decomposing material bodily vessel and take another body in the cycle of birth and death in the womb of a new mother.

Our real home is with Krsna in the spiritual world where we also associate with Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Sankirtana past times.

1 - Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes. Lord Caitanya is the combination of Radha and Krsna in the one spiritual Body.

2 - Lord Nityananda 

personal expansion (and also Krsna's brother Balarama) with the combined power of Balarama

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

4 - Gadadhara pandit is the combined power of Krsna's internal energy, as well Srimati Radharani herself.

5 - Srivasa is Ksna's pure devotee and symbolizes devotion. Also known as Narada Muni.

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 sakti-tattva expansion category of Krsna called Visnu-tattva, sakti-tattva also has expansions called Visnu-"sakti"-tattva, both are direct expansions of Krsna (hence Visnu/sakti) who are Krsna playing different roles in His own pastimes, and both have 60 of Krsna's 64 attributes which is 93.75% of Krsna's qualities.

The correct understanding is that ALL the different grades of Krsna’s living energies are under the broad category of sakti-tattva.

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 SB, Canto 1.5.15, New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969)

All personalities or living entities are Krsna's sakti-tattva energies however, as explained above, the Visnu-sakti-tattva and the Visnu-tattva Personalities both have 60 of Ksna's 64 attributes, which is 93.75% of Krsna's qualities. 

The jiva-tattva expansions are also "sakti-tattva" yet only have 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes which is 78.125% of Krsna's qualities.

Then there is Siva-tattva who is in a league of his own who has 55 of Krsna's 64 attributes which is 85.938% (The mathematics is 55/64=85.938%)

The Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas and Visnu-tattvas are DIRECT expansions of Krsna have 93.75% of Krsna's qualities as said above, while the jiva-tattvas or jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are MINOR independent expansions of Krsna with 78.125% of Krsna's qualities, having their own separate identity, personality and character, and their own choices of self expression which even includes rejecting Krsna if the choose.

This rejection of Krsna sadly often happens otherwise why would there be 1/4 of the Spiritual Sky (the material creation) put aside for those who rebel in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana. 

Only sentimentalists believe the jiva-souls can never fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana or again "choose" to leave the spiritual world. 

Paramahamsa - "But ultimately if we come to Krsna, there’s no return to the material world?

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

Paramahamsa - "If we want."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes."

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

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes."

Paramahamsa - "Fall down?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, as soon as we try, "Oh, this material world is very nice, Krsna says, yes, you go and enjoy the material world, 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 separately." It is free will. Just like one goes to the prisonhouse, not that government welcomes, "Come on. We have got prisonhouse. Come here, come here." He goes out of his free will; again comes out, again goes. Like that."

Paramahamsa - "So our desire to enjoy, we achieve these material 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)

Infinity is a long time, the jiva-souls make it their choice to stay there or leave over an eternity. Many haven't fallen down, but over infinity that can and will change, most jiva-souls at one point or another over eternity (infinity) HAVE been to the temporary material creation. 

However, it is also true many others do choose never to enter the material creation. 

The individual jiva-soul's unique personality is separate from Krsna's personality, the Visnu-tattva Personalities and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva Personalities.

Visnu-sakti-tattva immediate expansions of Krsna are eternally occupied in the service of the Lord, such immediate expansions have only the desire to please Krsna or Visnu, they can NEVER be covered by Maya and their concept of free will and independence is only to please Krsna or Visnu BECAUSE they ARE direct immediate expansions of Godhead, they ARE Krsna playing a different role in His own pastimes.

This is important to understand and explains why some living entities who are NOT jiva-tattva (jiva-souls), can NEVER fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan because they are Visnu-tattva (God)

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana are made up of independent jiva-souls, many, many Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas (headed by Radharani and the Gopis) and Visnu-tattvas expansions (Visnu/Narayana), all playing different Personalities in Krsna's pastimes.

Each Visnu-tattva expansions also have their own Vaikuntha planet, and unique name describing their pastimes in the spiritual world like Ramachandra, Narsingadeva, Vamanadeva, etc.

And for the material creation, Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi-Viṣṇu and Paramatma.

There are also many individual jiva-souls playing many different roles too in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrndavana, just like the Visnu- sakti-tattva are, but they are jiva-tattva.

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

Although the Visnu-tattva's are mostly seen as Krsna's direct stand out expansions like Narayana or Visnu forms but there are exceptions.

In Goloka-Vrindavana, no one knows who is who, who is jiva-tattva, who is Visnu-"sakti"-tattva or who is even Visnu-tattva, they do not even know this little boy Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cause of all causes, nor do they care.

As already explained, Visnu-"sakti"-tattva, like Visnu-tattva expansions, can never fall down because they are one of Krsna's many personalities. 

Krsna is the ORIGINAL Form of God from whom ALL His Visnu and Narayana Visnu-tattva forms expand from.

This means the only difference between Srimati Radharani and Krsna, and Lord Balarama (Krsna's first expansion) and Krsna, is Lord Krsna IS the ORIGINAL Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, and has 4 more qualities than both His Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattva have.

Balarama, Krsna's first Visnu-tattva expansion, is also Lord Nityananda from Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's pastime on earth explained below.

Therefore, not even Srimati Radharani, Krsna's eternal consort, or Balarama, Krsna's older brother, have 64 unique qualities like Krsna has, they have ONLY 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 93.75% of Krsna's 100% attributes.

Let's make this easy to understanding-

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

1 - Visnu-tattva has 60 qualities or 93.75%

2 -Visnu-"sakti"-tattva 60 qualities or 93.75%.

3 - Siva-tattva has 55 qualities or 85.938%.

4 - Jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) has 50 qualities or 78.125%.

Also the jiva-souls 78.125% of Krsna's qualities, can NEVER become Visnu-"sakti"-tattva or Visnu-tattva, who have 93.75% of Krsna's qualities.

And jiva-souls can never lose their separate individual unique separate identity and independence from Krsna either.

As explained above, all living entities are Krsna's "sakti energy" who are fully dependent on Krsna like the sun-rays are fully dependent on the Sun-disc.

Even though being parts and parcel of the Lord, the jiva-souls still have "their own" sense of self, being an independent living entity endowed with free will and a unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality.

Actually, only by having a "two-sided" relationship of voluntary exchanges, cooperation and reciprocation, can there be real love.

Srila Prabhupada - "The words bṛhate namas te have been explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura: bṛhate śrī-kṛṣṇāya. 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-

athavā bahunaitena

kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna

viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam

ekāṁśena sthito jagat

"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. The Lord enters every universe as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and then expands Himself as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu 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 (the Supersoul), 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)

The jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) have 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities, which is 78.125% of Krsna's attributes and are called the ''marginal energy."

Individual full awareness of voluntary devotional service to Krsna always exists in the "eternal presence'' of Goloka-Vrindavana and the Vaikuntha planets.

The jiva-souls are simultaneously dependent and independent unique PERSONS who have eternally existed there in their real home of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana but, due to free will, can choose to enter the material creation at anytime over the infinity of their endless existence.

The universe is NOT ''all-one" with an all pervading single consciousness that plays out different roles while contained in different material bodily vessels as the impersonalist and Mayavadis believe.

Although Krsna and His unlimited direct Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas expansions ARE all one however, we the individual jiva-soul expansions and NOT all one  they are NOT God.

Each jiva-soul has their our own unique identity, personality separate from Krsna's Personality, there own unique sense of self and being independent thinkers from all other jiva-souls.

Therefore, the jiva-souls never lose their independence and the free will to be the "person and personality " they choose.

Even a blade of grass, leaf, tree, clouds, rain drops, grains of sand and dirt or chair is a Person in Goloka.

Everything there in Goloka-Vrindavana is alive!

The jiva-soul is different from direct expansion of the Lord like like-Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas and Visnu tattvas. 

However, all can play the part of gopis, cowherd boys, anyone Krsna wants them to play in Krsnalila.

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana have so many expansions of Krsna that it is mind boggling. 

The jiva-souls on the other hand can also play the role of a gopa or gopi like the Visnu-sakti-tattva and Visnu-tattva can, but they can NEVER be God, Visnu-tattva or Visnu-"sakti"-tattva, who are Krsna Himself expanded as multiple personalities playing roles in His own pastimes.   

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are NOT God

The jiva-souls can ALWAYS choose in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan what they voluntarily want to do, and play many different roles including Brahma however, the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) ALWAYS remains jiva-tattva (jiva-soul) and can NEVER become God (Visnu-tattva)

The jiva-souls, unlike Visnu-"sakti"-tattva and Visnu-tattvas, can 'choose' to forget Krsna if they desire, and enter the mahat-tattva or material creation of Maha-Visnu as nitya-baddha, and think they are an independent god. 

Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva do not do that because they ARE direct expansion of Krsna and are already God.

The jiva-souls "eternal constitution position and eternal spiritual body" is always in the spiritual world (because of the eternal presence of time there) waiting for those jiva-souls living in the temporary material dream world, to again return back home, back to Godhead and wake up from the temporary material creation of Maha-Visnu.

Just like Jaya and Vijaya's eternal position as gatekeepers of Vaikuntha is always there waiting for their return from falling down into the material creation.

In Vaikuntha there is no concept of past and future time, only the ''individual awareness" of the "eternal presence'' of Krsna, and being a dependent unique person who eternally belongs in Goloka-Vrindavana or on a Vaikuntha planet.  

Of course, in the material world our individuality becomes covered by many, many different species of material bodily vessels,  but underneath it all the jiva-soul or jiva-soul is eternal there as an individual.

Therefore, it is very important we understand we have our independence, individuality and free will as jiva-souls in the spiritual world. 

And this is what also what "marginal" means, that makes us the unique individual "persons" we eternally are.

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 - "Regarding your question about our relationship with Srimati Radharani, She is the internal energy, we are marginal energy. 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; 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)

To say you can never leave Goloka once there is true for most but not all because we can choose to miss use our free will. Without having that choice, Prabhupada says we are no better than dead stone that would not be able to give love or receive love.

And yes, many devotees have found this subject’s true meaning in Sastra very difficult to understand and therefore call it inconceivable rather than attempting to understand it, or believe others understand it.

Like making "choices" (that allows one to increase their “unique” individual expression of love for Krsna) is always with the marginal living entity even in Vaikuntha, and to take that ability (the sense of self) away from the marginal living entity in Vaikuntha, the jiva-tattva soul loses the individual ability to “give and accept love”.

This is because without free will we lose our sense of independence as a person of having a unique separate identity from all of other individual jiva-tattva souls, Visnu tattvas, and Krsna Himself. These are important points to understand.

We, the jiva-souls are independent thinking jiva-souls eternally but simultaneously part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krsna the cause of all causes meant to please the Lord as the unique “persons”.

Therefore, no one can force the jiva-soul to stay in Vaikuntha, that choice MUST be eternally yours (the jivat-soul)

Only Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas never fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana because they ARE direct expansions of Krsna, playing different roles in Krsna's pastimes and have 93.75% of Krsna’s qualities (60 out of Krsna's 64 qualities) making them direct full expansions of Krsna Himself.

Some Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas are gopis including Radharani, gopas, parents, lovers etc many, many different personalities.

Krsna’s brother Balarama is Visnu-tattva, Srimati Radharani is Visnu-"sakti"-tattva expansion of Krsna, and many others are too, playing different parts in Krsna Lila.

Just like in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes where many are Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-sakti-tattvas playing many of His devotees.

It is ONLY these residents of Vrindavana who mme and expression of free will, sadly some jiva-souls DO choose to leave or fall from Vaikuntha however, Prabhupada explains it is only a very small minority who foolishly make that choice, 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." (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Let's clear one thing up, falling into the material world has absolutely nothing to do with maya or the material energy because maya does not and can not exist in Vaikuntha.

The jiva-souls do not even know Maya or the material energy exists, however, they do have "free will and the ability to choose" and are aware that this quality is “eternally” part and parcel of the jiva-soul’s makeup and exists in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

We do not lose our independence and sense of individual identity once we enter Vaikuntha, we are eternally independent living entities even in Vaikuntha.

However, we always depend of Krsna in Vaikuntha, or His many Visnu-tattva expansions like Maha-Visnu and Garbhodakashayi Visnu

nu who provide all facilities in the material creation. We can never be truly independent because everything, all that is, belongs to Krsna. In other words we are always independent living entities but always depend on Krsna for our existence, just like the sun-rays cannot exist without the Sun-disc.

The fact is because we CAN "choose to be with Krsna or reject Him", then there can be increasing endeavors of loving exchange and reciprocation due to "choice."

This is one of the reasons why the material universe was created - to give "reality" to that choice of rejecting and forgetting Kṛṣṇa, just so the living entity can go to another place outside Vaikuntha and try to enjoy life without being Krsna conscious.

The marginal living entity or jiva-souls MUST have that free will to choose to be with Krsna, or not be with Krsna if they want, instead of just being in Vaikuntha without having no choice or free will at all as some believe.

Such mentality that denies free will is actually impersonalism.

The point made here is the position of the jiva-tattva soul in Vaikuntha must be voluntary. Who you love and who you choose to serve MUST be voluntary.

Many cannot understand these facts about the importance of free will, individuality, identity and the sense of self worth of being a unique person who can give selfless ever increasing love or service in their own way to Krsna.

These qualities are based on the importance of the individual's ability to have "choices" within their experiences as a individual person.

Once again to be truly free there must be the choice of Vaikuntha or its so called opposite where Krsna can be forgotten, the "material creation"

Without the jiva-souls being able to choose Krsna or not there can never be love, Prabhupada has said to force love is called rape.

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 He save me from thinking like that?"

Srila Prabhupada - "That means you lose your independence ( free will). 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.)

It takes only free will to live separately from Krsna and this choice has nothing to do with maya or material energy as explained above - it is simple free will that allows us to be a independent person and enter the material creation too.

To do that one is given material bodies, a subtle and gross body that covers the spiritual form. In the material world, the jivatma has to put up with the gross material body always being in a state of decay and then eventually being forced to take another gross material body in the material world.

Also once in the material creation, you're on your own terms, you are responsible therefore karma begins as soon as you leave Vaikuntha.

No jiva-souls originate from the dormant Brahmajyoti ot Brahman. Jiva-souls often fall further to impersonal Brahman or Brahmajyoti, but NEVER did the jiva-souls originate from the impersonal Brahmajyoti as Srila Prabhupada tells us.

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 - "We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago." (Lecture on BG on Aug 6, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha." (Letter to Jagadisa das, 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." (Happening record album New York City, Dec 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 - "The actual constitutional position of every living entity is nitya-siddha, because God is eternal and His part and parcels, the living entities, they are also eternal. So that is nitya-siddha. Nitya-siddha, sädhana-siddha, krpa-siddha-there are different grades. They are all described in The Nectar of Devotion. So one can become sadhana-siddha." (CC July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can also become siddha. He can become AGAIN nitya-siddha. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them. It is a difficult task." (New York lecture on CC, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "This material world is created by the dreaming of Mahā-Viṣṇu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the spirit soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation." (SB Canto 4 Ch 29 text 83 Purport)

Once, an Indian political leader, Syamasundara Chakravarti asked Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada.

"Why has the Lord granted freedom to the jiva-souls?"

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta told him, 

"You are fighting for freedom,  don’t you know the value of freedom? Devoid of freedom the jiva-soul is no better than dead stone. Freedom offers us the alternative to do right or wrong." 

Gandhi demanded from the British authorities, 

"We want our freedom too!"

The British government replied, 

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

But Gandhi objected and told them, 

"No, we want our freedom to do right and wrong!" 

So, freedom does not guarantee only acting in the right way; freedom has its value independent of right and wrong that is why the jiva-souls can even reject Krsna and leave the spiritual world and enter the material world.

However, the material creation is also Krsna's energy, designed to allow the jiva-souls to have the choice and believe they have their own independent existence from Krsna.

Krsna allows this because free will allows independent voluntary creativity of thoughtful exchanges.

In other words, free will does NOT allow the jiva-souls in the spiritual world to be forcibly Krsna's puppets, where only He pulls the strings forcing one how to act, how to serve, what to offer, how to think, how to play.

So, it is obvious that without free will the jiva-souls could not express themselves in their own unique independent way.

The fact is in the spiritual world,  Krsna always encourages self expression and NEVER suppresses it with dictatorial control.

If Krsna did force the jiva-souls to always love and never allow them to makevtheir own mistakes, including leaving Goloka Vrindavana anytime the like, then the jiva-souls would be no better that dead emotionless useless stone.

The possibility of committing a mistake is never supressed by Krsna. 

Our first rebellious choice was to dominate and gradually we entered the material world. 

As a result of this first action, everything else has developed.

So, in the material creation the different ranks the species have been divided from the demigods down to the trees, and insects, animals, watery bodies, gaseous bodies. 

All species we find in the material world, the jiva-soul has evolved through. The activating principle in any form of embryological development is the jiva-soul, and from the jiva-soul, everything has evolved based on desire.

Srila Prabhupada makes our original position originally with Krsna very clear.

And yes, maya cannot be blamed for our fall down from Vaikuntha in any way because She, in her role as the personification of material energy, does NOT exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, nothing material can exist there.

But free will does and always will exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. Therefore "we" are responsible for our choices and actions.

Srila Prabhupada on the other hand chose to come here to serve Krsna's plan to attract the fallen souls in the material universe back home back to Godhead.

Many devotees also come here to preach Krsna Consciousness.

There are three ways the jiva-tattva souls can come here to the material creation.

1 - As a devotee who preaches God Consciousness.

2 - As a devotee who plays the part as a great demon like Jai and Vijayi the gatekeepers of Vaikuntha.

3 - And those who "choose" to just forget and give up Krsna's association and do their own thing in the material creation.

Also one can never have material desires in Vaikuntha because Maya does NOT exist there.

Maya cannot be blamed for tempting us and causing our fall down from Vaikuntha in any way because She, in her role as the personification of material energy, does NOT exist in Vaikuntha.

Nothing material can exist there in the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana.

But ''free will'', ''independence'' and ''individuality'' does, and always will exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

We therefore leave because of free will and the ability to choose to accept or reject Krsna.

As an individual ''person'' endowed with independent thought and identity, we are able to make such chooses.

What does the majority of people think being a "PERSON" really means after you surrender to Krsna?

1 - Do they think it is becoming some "yes man or women" of Krsna in His Kingdom where one becomes a mindless none thinking denier of the "individual self" who has unique qualities that makes you an individual?

2 - Do they think surrender means we give up our individuality? Sadly, so many have no idea what real "personalism" is which is a word tied to individuality.

The idea of "don't think just do what your told" is impersonalist nonsense because it denies ''you'' to use your own abilities and talents to contribute something unique to your personality that no one else may have.

So no, "you" DO NOT give up your independent individuality, unique contribution of self expression, sense of self worth and self esteem to be fully surrendered to Krsna, and "dependant" on Krsna.

Only fools and speculative religious cult leaders maintain that you have to give up your individuality and free will in order to surrender to Krsna and His devotees.  

In fact in Goloka-Vṛndāvana your individual independence and dependence on Krsna go hand in hand together, increasing simultaneously at the same time, by expanding loving exchanges between the Lord in both  Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

It takes spiritual intelligence to understand what real surrender is, and that includes understanding "you’" are eternally an independent individual person with your own sense of "individual self" separate from all other individual jiva-souls.

Although Krsna always accompanies all jiva-souls as a friend and witness to the jiva-souls individual choices and actions because we are eternally parts and parcels of the Lord.

Please read the above essay again, it explains we are all "unique individual persons" who are endowed with independent qualities allowing one to eternally give "THEIR OWN" best to Krsna.

The jiva-soul is not part of an "all one programmed none thinking impersonal collective" within God's Kingdom, no, that is a description of what hell is like.

Impersonalism means believing that in Vaikuntha we give up our free will, independence and individuality and become part of an "all one collective consciousness"

Living an impersonal existence is to be devoid of individual thought that does not allow personal contributions that makes ''you'', who you really are, as a person, as Krsna's eternal servant, as a unique living entity who can contribute the best of ''their'' individual abilities to Krsna.

On the other hand personalism means the individual jiva must be able to grow and flourish as an independent living being giving their own personal contributions of devotional service to Krsna.

To ''deny'' the jiva-soul's ''individuality'' and ''independent sense of identity'' is the hell "real" Krsna devotees fear.

Many have an impersonalist idea about what Vaikuntha is like and do not even know it. Only when the living entity 

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)

Therefore "we" are responsible for our choices and actions and in the material creation free will almost does not exist because one is binded by their own reactions to their pious and impious deeds (karma)

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 dasa, 4/25/1970)

Srila Prabhupada – "Regarding your several questions: Where are the spirit souls coming from that are taking microbe bodies? It is not a matter of any particular body. 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. There is no “ NEW” soul. “New'’ and “old'’ are due to this material body, but the soul is NEVER born and NEVER dies, so if there is no birth, so how there can be new soul?" (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 7/9/1970)

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 "correct" 1983 edition)

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 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 - "The answer to your question about the marginal energy is that the jiva soul is always called marginal energy whether he is in the spiritual world or in the material world. There are instances where marginal energy jiva-souls have fallen from the spiritual world, just like Jaya and Vijaya. So the potency to fall under the influence of the lower energy is always there. And thus the individual jiva-soul is called as Krsna’s marginal energy." (Letter to Rayarama, Dec 2, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "Every living being has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally, That is called svarupa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarupa, and that stage is called svarupa-siddhi-perfection of one’s constitutional position." (BG As It Is, Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "Originally everyone (all marginal living entities) are nitya-siddha which means eternally liberated." (SB Class 7.9.4 - Mayapur, Feb 18, 1977)

Srila Prabhupada - "So to go to Krsna means you will have to acquire your original, spiritual body. The spiritual body is already there, but we are now covered by this material body." (Germany, June 22, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada – "In the Padma Purana, wherein it is said that there are two kinds of spiritual entities; one is called the jiva, and the other is called the Supreme Lord." (87th Ch of Krsna Book, Prayers by the Personified Vedas)

Full conversation in the heading quotes reveals what Prabhupada means when he says less than 10% fall down Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

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 – "Yes."

Dr. John Mize – "From where does that tendency come?"

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)

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 - "So what made the soul take birth in the first place?"

Srila Prabhupada - "In the first place?"

Acyutananda - "What is the first birth? What is the cause of the first birth."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, that is stated in the Prema-vivarta-

krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare

nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare

We are eternal servant of Krsna. As soon as we want to become master, that is the beginning of our first birth in the material world. We have got independence. Krsna says, mamaivamso jiva bhutah—we are part and parcel of Krsna—so Krsna has got full independence, but we are minute; therefore we have got minute independence. Our business is to serve Krsna, but as soon as we give up this idea, we want to become master. That is the beginning of our material birth." (Lecture on SB, Canto 5.5.2, Hyderabad, April 11, 1975)

Acyutananda - "But in the Bhagavad Gita it says, "Once coming to the spiritual world he never returns to the material world."

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 Feb 19, 1976, Mayapur)

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura - "When the marginal living entity has contact with matter, the imprisoned soul loses the memory of his original spiritual form in Vaikuntha., material rasas (tastes and desires) are perverted reflections of the soul's original spiritual rasas." (Prema-pradipa, p. 83)

Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada why did Krishna 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." (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

Loving relationships and expressions of reciprocation are always a "two way street" based on voluntary loving exchanges, it is NEVER a slave domineering master relationship that only destroys one's free will and independence to express yourself as a unique individual.

Srila Prabhupada - ''Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is NOT love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Lecture on BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, Nov 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed only one, personally. There must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (Lecture on SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "Their (impersonalist) philosophy is oneness. So how there can be love, one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience? Love means one? No. Love means two. There must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He's so lover of you 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)

The jiva-soul in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, NEVER lose their free will, which means their own individual ability of self expression when choosing to offer their own personal contributions that is unique to each of the individual jiva-soul or jiva-tattva.

Each jiva-soul in their full natural ''svarupa'' potential in the spiritual worlds of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, has this eternal marginal quality of free will, which is part and parcel of there perpetual constitutional makeup.

In this way, each of jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, character, personality, likes and dislikes by being one of kind in the Spiritual Sky unlike any other jiva-soul. No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality and character.

This eternally existing makeup of each jiva soul, is without any beginning or ending point, and is part and parcel of every marginal living entities (jiva-souls).

This allows the jiva-soul to "personally" always be aware of their own individuality and independent nature while serving Krishna in THEIR very best way, that is different from all other living entities in the Spiritual Sky.`

This is a very important point to understand as we progress and mature in our Krsna Consciousness.

The relationship between Krsna and the jiva-soul is NEVER one-sided, never forced, never impersonal, it is ALWAYS reciprocal, nurturing, personal and voluntary, in a mood of good exchanges and feelings, ONLY then can there be REAL love.

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

So the conclusion is Srimad Bhagavatam explains the fall down of the jiva-soul from Vaikuntha found in the 4th Canto Chapter 28 text 53 of Srimad Bhagavatam where the Supreme Lord is disguised as a brahmana;

The brāhmaṇa continued - "My dear friend, even though you cannot immediately recognize Me, can't you remember that in the past you had a very intimate friend? Unfortunately you gave up My company and accepted a position as enjoyer in the material world." (SB 4th Canto Ch 28 text 53).