The jiva-soul (marginal living entity) is an eternal PERSON

Each individual jiva-soul (marginal living entity) is an eternal PERSON and spiritual bodily form, who voluntarily express their individuality through their own unique personality and character, separate from Krsna’s Personality.

Each jiva-soul has the free will to voluntarily choose to serve Krsna in five different ways in unlimited expanding pastimes in the spiritual world, or forget and reject Him if thet choose.

So, clearly each individual jiva-soul (marginal living entity) has their own unique eternal spiritual bodily form, personality, and the free will to voluntarily serve Krsna in five different devotional ways. 

The full potential of the jiva-souls is bodily form always active in Krsna's pastimes and NOT some impersonal formless spark dormant or inactive in Krsna's Bodily effulgence (the impersonal aspect of the brahmajyoti)

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

Srila Prabhupada - "The spirit soul is NOT formless; it has got form, the spirit soul always has form and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. But with our material eyes at the present, our gross eyes, we cannot see these facts; therefore we foolishly believe the jiva-souls have no form." (Lecture on BG 2.14 - Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)

Devotee - "What is the form of the spiritual body. If the spirit soul is non-material, what is the form?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "There is form, just like this material body is compared with the dress. Now, just like in your present material form you have got hand; therefore your coat has got hand. You have got legs; therefore your pant has got legs. Therefore it is to be assumed that the spirit soul always has got form, and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. The spirit soul is not formless; it has got form. But with our material eyes at the present, gross eyes, we cannot find it; therefore we say and foolishly believe it has no form." (Lecture BG 2.14, Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)

Devotee - "Śrīla Prabhupāda, you state that spirit soul has form."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes."

Devotee - "Otherwise, how is the material body grown to accommodate the spirit soul? Just like a shirt has no form, but when it's put on the body, it takes the shapes of the body. Does that mean that the spirit soul has the shape of the body that is accommodating it?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, you have got body, a shape, very minute shape that we cannot see, we cannot measure. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gītā it is said, "anumeyam," what is that word used? Aprameyam, you cannot measure but it has a form. What is the length and breadth of that form? That is not in your power, but it is not material. If you have spiritual power then you can measure it. And that measurement is also given in the śāstra. What is that? One ten-thousandth part of the tip of the hair. Hair is a very small point. And divide it into ten thousand parts. That one part is the measure, magnitude of the soul.

keśāgra-śata-bhāgasya

śatadhā kalpitasya ca

jīva-bhāgaḥ sa vijñeyaḥ

sa cānantyāya kalpate

(CC Madhya 19.140)

Everything is there. But you have no eyes to see, how to see one ten-thousandth portion of the top of the hair? You cannot see even the original top of the hair. Everything is there. We must have the proper eyes." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 16 text 24 - Hawaii, Jan 20, 1974)

Hayagrīva dasa - "Aquinas believed that God is the only single essence that consists of pure form. He felt that matter is only a potential and, in order to be real, must assume a certain shape or form. 

"Being in the universe have to acquire an individual form in order to actualize themselves. When matter unites with form, the form gives an object its individuality and personality. A bodily form gives an object its individuality and personality."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, the matter has no form. The spirit soul has got form. Though the matter is covering the actual form of the spirit soul, the matter appears to have form. Just like the original cloth has no form, but when the tailor cuts the cloth according to the body of the person, then the shirt and coat takes a form. The matter itself has no form. When you take clay, it has no form, but if you make it like a doll, like a man or woman, then it has a form. When the change the clay, and you manufacture a fort, then the fort has form. So form and formlessness is of the matter, but in the spiritual world everything has got form. The spirit soul has got form. God has got form. This is the truth."

Hayagrīva dasa - "Aquinas believed that only God and the angels have form that is not material. There is no difference between God's form and His spiritual self."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, as in the material world any form-man or beast or anyone—in the outward, external covering is matter, but within the matter there is the soul. The soul has form and God has form. That is real form. And the material form is simply shirting and coating over the spiritual body." (Philosophy Discussion on Thomas Aquinas)

Hayagrīva dasa - "He considered that matter was necessary to give the soul form."

Srila Prabhupāda - "No, he has got his original form."

Hayagrīva dasa - "Original form?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes."

Hayagrīva dasa - "Which is the form of the body."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Original form (like Krsna's Bodily, that is the form of the spirit."

Hayagrīva dasa - "Of the spirit."

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, and the form of the body takes place on account of the form of the spirit. This is very nice example. The cloth has no form, but when it is cut according to the form of the gentleman, it takes a form. Similarly, matter has no form. When it is coated on the spiritual form of the soul, it takes the form. This is very easy to understand." (Philosophy Discussion on Thomas Aquinas beliefs)

Srila Prabhupāda - "There is form, just like this material body is compared with the dress. Now, just like in your present material form you have got hand; therefore your coat has got hand. You have got legs; therefore your pant has got legs. Therefore it is to be assumed that the spirit soul always has got form, and is expressed as hands, legs, heads, everything. The spirit soul is not formless; it has got form. But with our material eyes at the present, gross eyes, we cannot find it; therefore we say and foolishly believe it has no form." (Lecture BG, Ch 2.14, Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)

Devotee – "Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?" 

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, human form, God is also human form. "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."

Hari-sauri – "How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?"

Srila Prabhupada – "[describing material form first] Yes, they are more covered. Just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."

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

Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world. There that is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Krsna as flower; they become flower there. If I want to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB Canto 6 Ch 1 text 1-4 - Melb, May 20, 1975)

The five relationships the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) have with Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes, is-

1. One may be a devotee in a passive state;

2. One may be a devotee in an active state;

3. One may be a devotee as a friend;

4. One may be a devotee as a parent;

5. One may be a devotee as a conjugal lover.

A “PASSIVE” relationship (number one in above list) with Krsna in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana is an almost inactive position the jiva-souls can voluntarily choose according to their “free will,” such as-

A cloud in the sky,

The sky,

A blade of grass, 

A tree,

A rock or stone,

A fence,

A chair or bench,

A roadway, 

A chariot, 

A cow

A bird, etc.

EVERYTHING is alive in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, unlike the mundane dead material creation.

This means EVERYTHING, from the shoes on your feet, to the clothes you wear, are all individual “shape-shifting” jiva-souls who have voluntarily manifested as that form because they have chosen to play that particular role in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana to please Krsna.

This is called a “passive” relationship with Krsna.

And many jiva-souls voluntarily choose to have that passive (inert, inactive or idle) relationship with Krsna.

This means they do not react visibly to something that might be expected of them, like outwardly manifesting emotions or feelings.

Like a blade of grass, or a tree is only seen moving in the wind and outwardly showing no affection or passion. Even though “inwardly,” the jiva-soul, as that blade of grass or tree, is ecstatically blissfully fully aware of Krsna’s personal presence.

And Krsna is fully aware of those jiva-souls who have voluntarily chosen to appear as a blade of grass, a tree, a flag pole, a bench etc.

Many jiva-souls have chosen to be "passive" living objects in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana that does not involve visible reactions, or active participation. This is playing a passive or seemingly inactive role in Krsna's (God's) Kingdom.

However, one should not confuse a "passive relationships" in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, with the impersonal mundane inactive position in the impersonal Brahmajyoti.

The fact is, Krsna's abode is full of diversity where the jiva-souls can voluntarily express themselves in a variety of ways in loving exchanges with Krsna.

From active service of being a Cow herd boy (gopa) or girl (gopi), to an inactive service like being a flag on top of a flag pole or a street sign. 

Such “personal” relationships with Krsna or Visnu are NOT “impersonal” but are almost inconceivable to the neophyte immature devotees.

These relationships with Krsna are also based on reciprocation and loving exchanges too, even if the jiva-souls manifest themselves as a cloud in the sky, a bench for Krsna to sit on, or a plate for Krsna to eat off.

Just like we enjoy relationships with our families and society, so does Krsna enjoy associating with His family and friends.

However, all of His relationships are eternal in Goloka-Vrindavana, where each individual jiva-soul “ARE” an eternal svarūpa spiritual form like Krsna's Bodily form in their full potential.

In Goloka-Vrindavana and the Vaikuntha planets, the jiva-souls are completely free of material contamination because maya and matter do not exist there.

In the spiritual world the jiva-souls can also voluntarily appear as any form they choose to be, the stage of bodily appearances is unlimited.

Each of Krsna’s marginal devotees (jiva-souls) interact with Him with their own personality  separate from Krsna's Personality, with their own “free will” in one of five primary relationships as said above. 

All jiva-souls are EQUALLY intimate with Krsna because in the spiritual world, all relationships with Krsna are equally blissful and personal, just like one may like a carnation flower while others like roses.

Advanced loving relationship with Krsna number from one to five.

These five are -

1 - Neutrality, 

2 - Servitude, 

3 - Friendship, 

4 - Parental affection, 

5 - And conjugal love. 

More intimate love of God reaches its summit in romantic exchanges with Krsna.

Each devotee eternally feels one of these main moods- 

Devotees in the mood of neutrality voluntarily choose to witness and support Krsna’s pastimes by their presence as plants, animals, streams, and so on, as well as normally inanimate objects like houses, all of which are fully conscious and alive in Goloka-Vrindavana.

Devotees in the service mood voluntarily choose to run errands for Krsna, pack His lunch, wash His clothes, and perform other acts of loving service for Him.

Devotees in the fraternal mood voluntarily choose to serve Krsna by being His friends. They are sometimes boastful, considering themselves equal to Krsna because they have no idea Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes, nor do they care. 

In His company, they herd cows and enjoy games in the beautiful country setting.

Devotees who voluntarily choose to be in the parental mood, see themselves as Krsna’s provider and protector. Krsna behaves with them like a dependent child. His mother cuddles Him, carefully prepares His meals, and thinks only of His protection. His father sees that He has all the comforts of a normal home.

Devotees who voluntarily choose to be in the conjugal (of whom many are also Visnu-tattva and NOT just jiva-souls) position, or romantic mood, offer service as Krsna’s girlfriends, relating with Him in the intimacy of lover and beloved.

It is important to understand, that the eternal spiritual form of the jiva-soul, is NOT a spark in Krsna's Bodily effulgence, it is an eternal bodily form-

sat, 

cit, 

ananda, 

vigraha.

These word's means- 

eternity, 

knowledge, 

bliss, 

form.

No jiva-souls originated from- 

1 - The impersonal Brahmajyoti.

2 - The Body of Maha-Visnu.

3 - The dormant (inactive) condition of the jiva-soul known as tatastha-sakti.  

All the above are “conditioned states” of the jiva-souls are already fallen conditions, and can only happen AFTER the jiva-souls leave (fall) from the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.

The jiva-souls are part and parcel of Krsna's eternal “marginal energy” however, the marginal energy or potency is NOT a place where the jiva-souls have originated from, it simply means the jiva-souls can be under the influence of the spiritual realm or under the influence of the material realm. There is no origin to Krsna's marginal energy (unlimited individual eternal jiva-souls), who have ALWAYS existed like Krsna has always existed. 

The marginal platform ARE the eternal individual jiva-souls. The word "marginal"means they are influenced by either Krsna's spiritual energy, or by Krsna's material energy eternally, explained as follows by Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada – “The jiva-souls are marginal energy. Marginal energy means the jiva-souls may be under the control of the spiritual energy, or they may be under the control of material energy. But when the jiva-souls are under the control of the material energy, that is their precarious condition, struggle for existence. And when they are under spiritual energy, that is their original position and life of freedom.” (Los Angeles, Nov 23, 1968)

Therefore, being generated from the marginal plane does NOT mean "originating" from the marginal plain because there is no origin of the jiva-souls, they are ETERNALLY part and parcel of the marginal plain that has always existed and has no origin.

The word "marginal" simply means the jiva-souls exist sometimes under the influence of the spiritual energy, or sometimes under the material energy.

Srila Prabhupada - "The material energy, called as Maya, is also one of the multipotencies of the Lord, as much as we (the jiva-souls) are also marginal potency of the Lord. The living entities (jiva-souls) are described as superior energy than matter, when the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation. But when the supreme marginal potency (jiva-souls) are in contact with the spiritual potency, Hara, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity." (The Happening Record Album, New York City, Dec 1966)

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).” (Lecture BG, Ch 9 Text 4 -Melb, Australia April 23, 1976)

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 - "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." (From BG, Ch 10 Text 37, Purport)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 20 explains the jiva-souls have existed for “infinity” which means, just like Krsna, they are beginning less and endless, and were NEVER created-

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - “For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” (BG Ch 2 text 20 “corrected” 1983 edition)

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

Srila Prabhupada – “There are no new souls, new and old are due to this material body, but the jiva-soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth, how can there be new souls?” (Letter to Jagadisa dasa, 7/9/1970)

The jiva-souls are eternal spiritual living PERSONS as a bodily form and can never be destroyed, terminated or extinguished, the jiva-souls (you and me) are indestructible, and were never created and will never cease to exist.

Srila Prabhupada – “Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence 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.” (Letter to Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

Tatastha-sakti is an already “fallen conditional state” of the individual jiva-souls as Prabhupada explains, so there is no question of falling down from an already fallen state.

Srila Prabhupada – “So this material world is the taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics, and the spiritual world is the “personal” characteristics. So our effort is to get out of this taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics and to enter the permanent characteristics. That is called spiritual elevation.” (Lecture CC, Madhya-lila 20.354-358 - New York City, Dec 28, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada – “Because the individual soul is apt to fall down sometimes under the clutches of māyā, it is called taṭastha-śakti. Just like in the seaside the shore, the beach, sometimes you see it is covered by water and sometimes it is land; similarly, when we are covered by māyā, that is our jīva-bhūta stage, and when there is no more covering, that is brahma-bhūta stage. When we are Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we are brahma-bhūta (SB 4.30.20), and when we are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, we are materially conscious, that is māyā.” (Lecture BG, Ch 7 Text 4-5 - Bombay, March 30, 1971)

Fall down means from a none fallen condition like the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana in the spiritual world. 

Therefore, falling down from the impersonal brahmajyoti is falling down from an already fallen condition the jiva-souls previous fell to. 

The non-fallen original eternal position of the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) is Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana that are their perpetual homes.  

The "marginal living entities" are a collective of eternal individual jiva-souls who have no beginning, nor were they ever created, and whose eternal home is the Vaikuntha planets with Visnu, or Goloka-Vrindavana with Krsna.

Fortunately, over 90% of jiva-souls choose to stay in the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, even though they can choose to leave if they want. 

However, sadly, almost 10% do choose to leave and enter the material creation via the dreams of Maha-Visnu.

The jiva-souls have the free will to make their own choices which includes even rejecting Krsna. For free will to truly exist, this choice also must be an option.

In the spiritual worlds the jiva-soul's relationship with Krsna is always voluntary.

Their individual contributions are eternally expressed in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana in a two-way reciprocal exchange with Krsna.

In the spiritual worlds the jiva-souls are never forced to surrender to Krsna or do anything they choose not to do. 

For loving service and exchanges to truly exist, the individual jiva-souls must be able to act on their free will and make their own choices, decisions and offerings, even if it also means rejecting Krsna if they choose, otherwise there can be no question of voluntary loving exchanges.

Each jiva-soul can voluntarily express themselves as an independent individual to experience unique loving exchanges and personal service.

This quality of free will is part and parcel of the jiva-soul's marginal constitution that allows them to be an independent free thinking expansion of the Krsna. 

Therefore, being marginal (jiva-soul) also means having free will that is included when describing the qualities of the individual jiva-souls. 

As said above, Krsna allows this freedom the jiva-souls have because without free will, loving exchanges, personal offerings and a “two-way” reciprocal relationship could never exist.

Srila Prabhupada – “You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, therefore if he likes he can return to the material atmosphere. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that.” (Mayapur, West Bengal, India  Feb 19, 1976)

Having free will is the constitutional make up of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) that is eternally part and parcel of their individual character and personality in the spiritual worlds.

This means the jiva-souls can choose to leave the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana if they choose, at anytime, it is nonsense to claim the jiva-souls can never again fall down once in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana.

This is because free will always allows the jiva-souls to have a choice.

Bali Mardana - "An example of free will is someone can choose Kṛṣṇa or turn away? Is that an example of free will?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, because if you accept Kṛṣṇa, then you must follow what Kṛṣṇa says. If you don't follow Kṛṣṇa, then what is the use of talking of Kṛṣṇa? If he accepts Kṛṣṇa, he must abide by the injunction of Kṛṣṇa." (Morning Walk, Jan 22, 1974, Hawaii)

Therefore, without the ability to voluntarily choose, there is no question of experiencing loving exchanges. So, the choice to even leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana is possible, because Krsna allows a two-way relationship where one can accept or reject Krsna if they choose.

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 Yes, but that is free will He misuses his. Just like a thief, he knows that his stealing is bad but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will.” (Talk about Rene Descartes)

There is only one classification of jiva-souls, not two as some believe. 

Therefore, each individual jiva-soul has “two-sides” to their personality, they can either be “nitya-baddha” (eternally conditioned), or can be "nitya-siddha" (eternally liberated)

In this way, the jiva-souls can choose for themselves to be with Krsna, or reject Krsna.

The fact is, each jiva-soul, as part of their spiritual constitutional make-up, has free will.

How can there be voluntary love with Krsna without free will?

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

Srila Prabhupada – “So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, or one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that is not independence; that is force.” (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Some “wrongly” claim there are two types of jiva-souls called "nitya-siddha" and "nity-baddha" which is incorrect. 

1 - The jiva-soul stays in the Vaikuṇṭha and Goloka Vṛndāvana as nitya-siddha (eternally liberated), and can never have a choice to go to the material creation. Therefore, the jiva-souls can never again fall down to the material world once in the spiritual world.

2 - The other is the jiva-soul being nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) in the material creation, or can also be dormant (inactive) in the impersonal Brahmajyoti. But can latter enter the spiritual worlds too, but once there, some claim, can never fall down. 

Such a division of the jiva-soul explained above is bogus nonsense.

There is only one category of jiva-soul who has two-sides to their individual personality, they can be nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) or nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) 

The jiva-soul's original position is nitya-siddha (eternally liberated)

So where is the jiva-soul's original position? Where are they all coming from?

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)

As said above there is only one category of the jiva-souls th.at can be either nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) or nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) 

Srila Prabhupada – “The answer to your question about the marginal energy is that the jiva-soul is always called the marginal energy whether he is in the spiritual world or in the material world.” (Letter to Rayarama, Dec 2, 1968)

This point is emphasised here to make it clear only one kind of jiva-soul exists and due to having free will, can choose to be either nitya-siddha or nitya-baddha.

As said above, there is only one category of jiva-soul that can be either (by choice) nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) or nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned)

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

Srila Prabhupada – “There are two kinds of marginal living entities: nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. The actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity is nitya-siddha.” (C.C. lecture, July 13, 1976) 

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.” (New York 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, 13-14, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada – “There are three kinds of liberated persons. They are called 1) sadhan siddha, 2) kripa siddha, and 3) nitya siddha. When one is actually on the siddha platform there is no such distinction as to who is sadhan, kripa, or nitya siddha. When one is siddha, there is no distinction what is what. Just like when the river water glides down to the Atlantic Ocean nobody can distinguish which portion was the Hudson River or some other river.” (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada – “Nitya-baddhas are within this material world. Beginning 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, 13-14, July 14, 1973)

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)

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 (Goloka Vrindavana), 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 – “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 souls. New and old are due to this material body, but the soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth how there can be new soul.” (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 7/9/1970)

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 – “But his relationship with Krsna is never lost, simply forgotten by the influence of maya social, 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 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)

Krsna (God) is more inclined to help those who first do everything they can to help themselves find a spiritual master to teach them spiritual life.

If one is honest with themselves, Krsna sends the Guru (spiritual teacher) who will guide them out of the material creation and return back home, back to Godhead to be with Krsna.

Only then will Krsna help you when He sees you are trying your very hardest to do everything you can to help yourself, only then will Krsna send you a spiritual teacher. 

Srila Prabhupada – “In all the śāstras [scriptures] the guru is described to be as good as God, but the guru never says, ‘I am God.’ The disciple’s duty is to offer respect to the guru just as he offers respect to God, but the guru never thinks, ‘My disciples are offering me the same respect they offer to God; therefore I have become God.’ As soon as he thinks like this, he becomes a dog.” (From the Book, Science of realization)

Real loving exchanges are voluntary and reciprocal, it is never a one-way street where Krsna does everything for you.

Surrender to Krsna's pure devotees does not mean you lose your free will, independence and individuality to be qualified to enter the spiritual world, no, such bogus surrender is impersonalism.  

The marginal living entity (jiva-soul) has always had freedom (free will) therefore, there is no question of the marginal living entity ever not having free will because free will in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana is perpetually part and parcel of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) make up.

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) originate from Goloka-Vrindavana and not the Impersonal Brahman as Prabhupada teaches.

Originally all jiva-souls are nitya-siddha because they all came from Goloka-Vrindavana

Only when they enter the material creation and the impersonal brahman, do they then become nitya-baddha.

Therefore nitya-siddha can become a nitya-baddhas and nitya-baddhas can AGAIN become nitya-siddha.

The following Conversation took place in Melbourne, Australia June 25, 1974 between Srila Prabhupada and his disciples.

Devotee – “When we are in the spiritual sky and serving Krsna, we have a perfect relationship with Krsna, what causes us to fall down in the material world, because we’re already serving Krsna?”

Srila Prabhupada – “Because you desire to fall down. Here it is explained that “Don’t fall down.”

Devotee – “Srila Prabhupada, I can’t understand why we should have an impure desire when we are already serving.”

Srila Prabhupada – “Because you have got little freedom. Why one is not coming here and going to the liquor shop? It is desire.”

Devotee – “In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come, why are we here?”

Srila Prabhupada – “Yes, you forced Krsna to allow you to come. Just like sometimes a child forces his father. Father says, “My dear son, do not do this. Do not go there.” But he insists, “Oh, I must go. I must go.” All right, you go at your risk. That’s all. And you suffer. What can be done? Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, almighty—therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence. If you persist that “I must go and enjoy independently,” so God says, All right, you can go.” This is the position. You have to take sanction. That is a fact. But when you persist, God sanctions. And you come and enjoy.” (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

Question - Is there a place in the spiritual world from where we can never fall down from?"

Answer - No, it is not based on a place where you can never fall down from that keeps you in Vaikuntha, it does not work that way because of free will, which means there is always choice to leave Vaikuntha at any moment. 

If you were forced to stay there then how can there be love? The choice to leave or stay must always be with the jiva-souls too.

So many cannot understand what “free will” really means, they sentimentally foolishly claim,

"Not even the leaves fall from Vaikuntha.”

It is silly nonsense to claim the jiva-souls can never again fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

This is because the jiva-souls eternally have their own free will in the spiritual world and can make their own decisions one way or the other no matter what Kṛṣṇa promises them, it is also their choice too and not just Krsnas.

Remaining in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana eternally is based on what the jiva-soul's want to do as a unique individual, it is also their choice to say or go, not just Krsn as explained above, otherwise there is no meaning to having free will.

If Krsna forced His will on the jiva-souls then He destroys their independence, free will and ability to voluntarily express themselves in their own unique way, allowing themselves to choose where they want to be even if returning to the material creation.

In other words, the jiva-souls also have a choice to become a servant of the Lord or can reject Him if they want, even in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, only sentimental fools polluted by impersonalism cannot understand this.

The jiva-souls never lose their unique ability of free will and independent self expression, where one is personally always aware they can choose how to selflessly serve Krsna in their own unique way as the loving servant of the servant of Krsna.

The fact that one does not again fall from Krsna's personal Kingdom is the jiva-soul's responsibility too and not just only Krsnas.

It is the jiva-soul's choice as well, it is their free will to choose and no one else can choose for them including Krsna.

However, 90% of all jiva-souls do not fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana because they choose not to, but even that can change because of free will.

That choice to stay in Vaikuntha or leave is always with the marginal living entities or jiva-souls.

The jiva-souls or marginal living entities have 78.125% of Krsna's quantities or 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes which puts them in the realm of having independence, identity, personality, individuality and the ability to choose.

This means the jiva-souls have the ability to agree or not agree with Krsna. 

Their individuality allows the jiva-souls the right to choose Krsna or choose to be separate from Krsna, this is the meaning of free will.

Remember, Maya and the material energy do not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, so Maya is unknown to the jiva-souls in the spiritual world.

However, free will and independence allows the jiva-souls to experience a unique sense of individuality with the ability to express oneself in their own way. 

All these qualities are the constitutional makeup of each jiva-soul in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. 

And if all those abilities are taken away, then the jiva-souls lose the ability to give and accept love and become no better than dead stone.

Srila Prabhupada – “If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. Do you want to be stone? Then, you must have free will! But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life.” (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

Srila Prabhupada – “Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, almighty—therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence.” (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

No one forces the jiva-souls to stay in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, that choice 

For loving exchanges to truly exist with the jiva-soul, they must have the right to express themselves and choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana at anytime, therefore returning there is not necessarily permanent.

Syamasundara – “But can we predict that the process (returning back home back to Godhead) will be permanent? Can we predict that? Just like many prisoners.” 

Srila Prabhupada – “Yes, otherwise there is no meaning of independence and free will. Independence means you can do this, you can do that. “All right. Whatever you like.”

Devotee “Then he is so many times falling down, again and again, so will he eventually permanently come back?”

Srila Prabhupada – “No, there is no question of permanent because he has got independence, he can misuse his independence, he can fall down. That's why when a man is released from the prison house, that does not mean permanently because he can come back again, the general law is not to come back. but if he likes, he can come back, otherwise what is the meaning of independence? Just like one becomes free from the prison house, naturally he should not go there again.” (Discussions with Syamasundara, Henri Bergson)

The jiva-souls have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities [50 of His 64 attributes], they are minor expansions of Krsna endowed with individuality that allows them to experience an independent personal sense of self separate from Krsna. 

This allows the jiva-souls to make their own decisions and choices. Therefore, Krsna does not interfere with the jiva-soul's free will because it is part of the eternal constitution of all jiva-souls.

Krsna never at any point did not give freedom or free will to the marginal living entities (jiva-soul) because they have always had free will in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana without beginning or end. 

Free will allows the jiva-souls to experience individuality, loving reciprocation, independent service, and be responsible for their actions.

This however does not means all jiva-soul's are independent from Krsna's control of all things, that is not possible. 

At all time the jiva-souls are always dependent on Krsna or His expansions, even as independent individuals because Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

Therefore the jiva-souls always remain independent living entities, but always simultaneously depend on Krsna and His expansions in both the spiritual worlds and material worlds.

The jiva-souls are never fully independent because Krsna owns everything.

So, even though the jiva-souls are an expansion of Krsna, the jiva-souls are not one with Krsna in personality. 

Both are independent with their own unique personality.

The individual jiva-souls are not one with Krsna but are independent thinking living entities with their own sense of self and personality that makes them one in purpose. 

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the manifestation of Radha and Krsna in one Body where both experience each other's love for each other. 

In fact, Krsna, Balarama, Radharani and Lord Caitanya are all the one personality, are all Visnu-tattvas originating from Krsna.

The claim that once reaching Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana the jiva-souls can never again fall down, is not exactly correct. 

To claim those who enter Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana will never again fall down to the material creation is only true for those who choose not to fall down.

In other words, if the jiva-soul wants to leave they certainly can. 

Going to the material worlds is ultimately the jiva-soul's choice and Krsna does not interfere, even though He has promised there is no return to the material creation once entering the spiritual atmosphere. 

This is simple because they can even reject Krsna's promise. 

The fact is, there is return if the jiva-souls want to return to the material creation Prabhupada tells us, it is their choice. 

Acyutananda – “But in the Bhagavad Gita it says, “Once entering the spiritual abodes, the jiva-soul never again returns to the material world, he can return?”

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

Guru-kripa – “How is it that one can become envious of Krsna?”

Srila Prabhupada – “You have got little independence, you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God, God has got full independence, but you have got little independence, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown.” (Conversation, Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)

So clearly those who believe no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha have not understood the variety of living entities in Vaikuntha of whom the jiva-souls are just one and Prabhupada's comments here.

As said above, only a very small minority of jiva-souls (less than 10%)  choose to leave but not in the category of Visnu-tattvas who can never fall down because they are Krsna Himself playing another role in His own pastimes.

Many have not understood there are many different categories of living entities in Vrindavana who never fall down, such as the many Visnu-tattva personalities.

And for over 90% of jiva-souls, they also never fall down because they choose not to fall down.

Devotee – “Well, I believe you once said that once a conditioned soul becomes perfected and gets out of the material world and he goes to Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana), there’s no possibility of falling down again?”

Srila Prabhupada – “No, there is possibility, but he does not come. Just like after putting your hand in the fire, you never put it in again if you are really intelligent. So those who are going back to Godhead, they become intelligent.” (CC, Adi-lila 7.108-San Francisco, Feb 18, 1967)

Free will is eternal in the spiritual world and includes having the choice to either forget or remember Krsna.

If the jiva-souls never had that choice, then they would have no independent personality separate from Krsna's Personality, and no ability to voluntarily offer their own unique loving contributions, they would be like dead stone. 

The eternal constitution and original position of the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) is fully explained by Krsna disguised as a brahmana as follows- 

The Brāhmaṇa said – “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 of this material world.” (4th Canto Ch 28 text 53)

Srila Prabhupada – “So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence. That is force. Therefore Krsna says, yathecchasi tathä kuru. “Now you do whatever you like.” (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

The marginal living entities or jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) are Krsna's "separated" expansions who have 50 qualities of Krsna's 64 qualities (78.125%)

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 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 - "The material energy, called as Maya, is also one of the multipotencies of the Lord, as much as we (the jiva-souls) are also marginal potency of the Lord. The living entities (jiva-souls) are described as superior energy than matter, when the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation. But when the supreme marginal potency (jiva-souls) are in contact with the spiritual potency, Hara, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity." (The Happening Album, New York City, Dec 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "You are also energy; you are marginal energy (jiva-soul) Marginal energy means you (the jiva-souls) may be under the control of the spiritual energy or you may be under the control of material energy—your marginal position. But when you are under the control of the material energy, that is your precarious condition, struggle for existence. And when you are under spiritual energy, that is your life of freedom." (Intro BG As It Is, Los Angeles, Nov 23, 1968)

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 Text 12)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - "For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain." (BG, Ch 2 text 20 "corrected" 1983 edition)

Srila Prabhupada - "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)

Srila Prabhupada – “Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence 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.” (Letter to Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

The jiva-souls or the individual marginal living entities, possess up to the limit of 78.125% of Krsns's attributes.

Srila Prabhupada - "Learned scholars in transcendental subjects have carefully analyzed the summum bonum Krsna to have sixty-four principal attributes. All the expansions or categories of the Lord possess only some percentages of these attributes. But Sri Krsna is the possessor of the attributes cent percent (64 qualities). His personal expansions such as svayam-prakasa, tad-ekatma up to the categories of the avataras who are all visnu-tattva, possess up to 93.75% (60 of Krsna's 64 qualities) of these transcendental attributes." (SB Canto 1 Ch 3 text 29)

Lord Siva is neither avatara nor avesa, nor in between them; he possesses 85.938% of Krsna's attributes (having 55 qualities out of Krsna's 64 qualities).

Different figures are given in different Sastras but the mathematical fact is 55/64=85.938% 

The jiva-souls or the individual marginal living entities, possess up to the limit of 78.125% of Krsns's attributes.

The jiva-souls can never be Visnu-tattva (God) or Siva-tattva.

Although the jiva-souls can eventually become a Brahma who is also jiva-soul with 78.125% of Krsna's qualities.  

Siva is Kṛṣṇa's greatest devotee in a mysterious category of his own. Siva-tattva is not Visnu-tattva (God) or jiva-tattva (the jiva-soul) Siva has 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 85.938% of Krsns's attributes.

Srila Prabhupada - "So the sixty-four qualities of Kṛṣṇa have been analyzed. We have got in minute quantities. 

And amongst the living entities, the highest perfection is to be seen in the life of Brahmā (who is alsi jiva-soul), who is the chief living entity within this universe. 

So similarly, Lord Śiva has got fifty-five. 

Lord Nārāyaṇa/Visnu has got sixty. 

But Kṛṣṇa has got in full sixty-four cent percent, hundred percent all the qualities. Therefore, either Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā or the living entities, nobody can be equal to Him. This is the conception of God." (SB, Canto 5.5.1, Lecture - Los Angeles, January 20, 1969)

Understanding the percentages other living beings have of Krsna's 64 qualities.

The mathematics is simple, Siva has 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities, so 55/64 = 85.938%. 

The maths are the following calculations-   

1- 64/64 for Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Personality of Godhead = 100%

2 - 60/64 for Viṣṇu Narayana = 93.75%, 

3 - 55/64 for Siva = 85.938% 

4 - 50/64 for jiva-souls = 78.125%.

Note - It appears below Prabhupada just gave a close figure and NOT the exact percentage.

The above numbers are the exact percentages for all the categories of living entities,  for example, Siva has 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities and mathematically that is 85.938% and not 84% 

Bhagavad Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam) Canto I Ch 3 text 28-

ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ

kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam

indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ

mṛḍayanti yuge yuge

Srimad Bhagavatam - "All of the incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists." (SB, Canto I Ch 3 text 28 Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "Learned scholars in transcendental subjects have carefully analyzed the summum bonum Kṛṣṇa to have sixty-four principal attributes. ×&All the expansions or categories of the Lord possess only some percentages of these attributes. But Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the possessor of the attributes cent percent. And His personal expansions such as svayam-prakāśa, tad-ekātmā up to the categories of the avatāras who are all viṣṇu-tattva, possess up to ninety-three percent of these transcendental attributes. 

Lord Śiva, who is neither avatāra nor āveśa nor in between them, possesses almost eighty-four percent of the attributes. But the jīvas, or the individual living beings in different statuses of life, possess up to the limit of seventy-eight percent of the attributes. In the conditioned state of material existence, the living being possesses these attributes in very minute quantity, varying in terms of the pious life of the living being. 

The most perfect of living beings is Brahmā, the supreme administrator of one universe. He possesses seventy-eight percent of the attributes in full. All other demigods have the same attributes in less quantity, whereas human beings possess the attributes in very minute quantity. The standard of perfection for a human being is to develop the attributes up to seventy-eight percent in full.

The living being can never possess attributes like Śiva, Viṣṇu or Lord Kṛṣṇa. A living being can become godly by developing the seventy-eight-percent transcendental attributes in fullness, but he can never become a God like Śiva, Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa. He can become a Brahmā in due course. The godly living beings who are all residents of the planets in the spiritual sky are eternal associates of God in different spiritual planets called Hari-dhāma and Maheśa-dhāma. 

The abode of Lord Kṛṣṇa above all spiritual planets is called Kṛṣṇaloka or Goloka Vṛndāvana, and the perfected living being, by developing seventy-eight percent of the above attributes in fullness, can enter the planet of Kṛṣṇaloka after leaving the present material body."  (SB, Canto I Ch 3 text 28 Purport) 

The original eternal form of the jiva-souls are NOT some impersonal formless spark in the Brahmajyoti or Brahman as the impersonalists and mayavadis believe, nor does the jiva-souls originate from the Body of Maha-Visnu or the realm called tatastha-sakti. 

Srila Prabhupada - "When fall down takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness, existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition."(Letter to, Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

All jiva-souls originally came from their permanent home in either the Vaikuntha planets, or Goloka-Vrindavana Prabhupada teaches here-

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)

Being “generated” from the marginal plane does NOT mean the jiva-souls “originated” from an already fallen condition from the Brahmajyoti, tatastha-sakti or the Body of Maha-Visnu, as some foolishly claim.

To begin with, there are NO new jiva-souls Bhagavad Gita As It Is teaches mentioned above, the jiva-souls are eternal who have no beginning or ending, meaning the jiva-souls did NOT originate from from anywhere because they have ALWAYS existed.*××*.