The individual jiva-souls are eternal “persons” as a spiritual bodily form.
This means each individual
jiva-soul (marginal living entity) has their own unique eternal spiritual body,
personality and free will, that allows them to voluntarily serve Krsna in 5
different ways in unlimited pastimes.
The eternal spiritual form of
the jiva-soul is NOT a spark in Krsna's Bodily effulgence (which is a fallen
condition of the jiva-soul), it is an eternal bodily form-
sat,
cit,
ananda,
vigraha.
These word's means-
eternity,
knowledge,
bliss,
form.
The jiva-souls have eternally existed
without any beginning point or ending point, this means no jiva-souls have
originated from anywhere, including-
1 - The impersonal Brahmajyoti.
2 - The Body of Maha-Visnu.
3 - A dormant (inactive) region called
tatastha-sakti.
All the above are “conditioned
states” outside of the spiritual world, where the jiva-souls fall down
to.
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 means the
eternal jiva-souls belong to that category of marginal living entities (meaning
they are influenced by either the spiritual energy, or material energy
eternally), explained as follows by Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada – “The jiva-souls are Krsna’s marginal
energy. Marginal energy means the jiva-souls may be under the control of the
spiritual energy, or they may be under the control of material energy. But when
the jiva-souls are under the control of the material energy, that is their
precarious condition, struggle for existence. And when they are under spiritual
energy, that is their original position and life of freedom.” (Los
Angeles, Nov 23, 1968)
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 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 -Melbourne, April 23,
1976)
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-
“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.
This is because they have no
origin and have existed for infinity like Krsna has, as Krsna explains-
“Never was there a time when I
did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us
cease to be.” (BG 2.12)
The jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa have
always existed.
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)
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, 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 on CC Madhya-lila 20.354-358 — New York,
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 on BG 7.4-5 - Bombay, March 30, 1971)
Fall down means from a none
fallen condition and that none fallen original position of the jiva-souls is
Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana which 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.
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 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 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)
Fortunately, over 90% of
jiva-souls choose to stay in the spiritual world's of Vaikuntha 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.
Srila Prabhupada – “So, unless there is a possibility
of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom.” (Dialectical
Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes)
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, 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.
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 but still
act wrongly.”
Srila Prabhupada – “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 of 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 that 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 come 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 claim- “Not even the leaves fall
from Vaikuntha.”
It is nonsense to claim the
jiva-souls can ever again fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana
because they each have their own free will and can make their own decisions no
matter what Kṛṣṇa promises.
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 Krsnas 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 worlds.
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.” (Melbourne, 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 but still dependent on Him.
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, there is return if the
jiva-souls wants to return to the material creation Prabhupada tells us, it is
their choice.
Acyutananda – “But in the Bhagavad Gita it says,
"Once coming back to the spiritual abodes, the jiva-soul never returns to the
material world, he can return?”
Srila Prabhupada – “If he likes he can return.”
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 IF he in intelligent. 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 worlds and without having the choice to either forget or remember
Krsna, then we would have no independent personality separate from Krsna's
Personality and no ability to voluntarily offer love, we 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)..^^^..
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