Genuine loving exchanges, service and surrender are based on voluntary contributions in a "two-way" reciprocal relationship with Krsna.
Real loving emotions are not possible in a "one-sided" dictatorial domination over the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) by Krsna or Visnu.
This is because "one-sided" authoritarianism denies voluntary contributions and self expression which can only arise when "two" are able to express their love for each other.
If Krsna's superior domination does not allow self expression, then the relationship with Krsna is dead and loveless.
In the Kingdom of God (Krsnaloka), personal voluntary expressions of loving exchanges with Krsna are always encouraged by the Lord.
However, service is always voluntary among the individual jiva-souls, Krsna NEVER forces them to love or even follow Him, that MUST always be voluntary.
And with Krsna's childhood friends, they saw Him as an equal but greatly admired and loved Him, they had no idea He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.
Krsna wants each jiva-soul to think for themselves and decide how to serve Him voluntarily in their own way.
This is why free will eternally exists in the spiritual world.
Krsna allows varigatedness, mystery, individuality and personal independence to exist in the spiritual world, so each jiva-soul can be an independent person who can express themselves in their own unique way.
Surrender to Krsna does not mean becoming a mindless cold hearted drone who allows Krsna to do all the thinking for you.
Surrendering and entering God's Kingdom does not mean giving up your free will and unique independent personality and became a mindless puppet controlled by the strings of the puppet master.
The paradox here is the individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) can never exist independently from Krsna, even though they CAN express themselves independently from Krsna's absolute control.
This is because Krsna allows this seperation for the purpose to encourage self expression and personal contributions or offering to the relationship meant to enrich, deepen and expand one's loving exchanges with Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada – "Independence means one can use it properly or one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot fall down, that is not independence, that is force. Therefore Krsna says, yathecchasi tathä kuru. “Now you do whatever you like, you can choose to do right or wrong, that is what freedom means." (BG As It Is, lecture, Mayapur, June 20, 1973)
Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is voluntary, they can become a flower to a human spiritual body, all voluntary, there is no restriction. They can serve Krsna as cow, as calf, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (Lecture, SB Class Melb, Australia May 20 1975)
In the spiritual world all relationships with Krsna are "equally blissful to each other", just like one may like to be a carnation flower while others may choose to be a rose flower.
This means the individual jiva-souls in the spiritual worlds can always voluntarily express themselves in their own unique way with their own personal contributions and offerings to Krsna.
Srila Prabhupāda - "Unless there are "two-persons," where is the question of love? Love means two persons, then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling, then there is love. Not by force! Krsna does not want to become a lover like that." (Washington DC July 8, 1976)
Srila Prabhupada - "Love means two, there MUST be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. Therefore love cannot be one or love cannot be executed only one, there MUST be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, so there must be lover, there must be beloved. We must understand that 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 and forced obedience. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Srila Prabhupada quotes 1966 - 1974, Vaniquotes)
Srila Prabhupada - "The impersonalist philosophy is oneness. So how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No. Love means two. There MUST be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (Lecture SB, Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)
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 BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York City, Nov 23, 1966)
Loving exchanges, cooperation, reciprocation and voluntary expressions from the jiva-soul's unique personality, MUST exist to allow contributions from the individual jiva-souls in their personal relationship with Krsna in a "two-way" exchange that makes the relationship "very personal," caring, genuine, equal, loving and unique.
Loving feelings and emotions towards Krsna can only exist in a "two-sided" exchange, where the jiva-souls can also voluntarily add to the relationship their friendship with Krsna too.
In other words, love can only exist when "voluntarily" expressed in a "two-way" exchange.
The jiva-soul's person unique contributions adds flavour to one's relationship with Krsna, that can only be expressed by having free will.
Having the "free will" to voluntarily contribute to one's relationship with Krsna, allows the jiva-souls to participate selflessly in a two-way exchange by contributing to the relationship in their own unique way.
One should never allow any so called "God" or His representative to impersonally control yout every thought, actions and deeds (offerings) like a puppet master controls and manipulates his puppets.
And 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, but free will ALWAYS exists there on the Vaikuntha planets and in Goloka-Vrindavana.
Krsna provides "free will" to the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) for the purpose to encourage self-expression, that allows an open "two-way" exchange of loving emotions and feelings between Krsna and the jiva-souls, that Krsna does NOT control or interfers with.
Srila Prabhupada - "The "immediate" expansions of the Lord are called svāṁśa or personal direct expansions (Visnu-tattva Personalities who are Krsna (God) playing another role in His own pastimes) We on the other hand, are the "separated" expansions of the Lord called vibhinnāṁśa (marginal living entities) or "independent" jiva-souls." (BG, Ch 10 Text 37, Purport)
Srila Prabhupada - "Because you are Son of God you have independence, you have acquired the quality of your father, so God does not interfere with your independence (free will). If you persist that "I must enjoy independently," God says, "All right, you can go." This is the position, if you persist, God sanctions. And you can come here and enjoy." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)
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)
Bali Mardana dasa - "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)
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 dasa - "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." (Discussions with Srila Prabhupada on Rene Descartes philosophy 1969)
The individual jiva-souls are independent living entities in the spiritual worlds and have their own unique personality and sense of self that is separate from Krsna's Personality, yet are simultaneously dependent on Krsna as His parts and parcels.
The reason why Krsna gives the jiva-souls their independence and free will is so they can choose for themselves how to serve Him in their own unique personal way, or even reject Him if they choose. This also means the jiva-souls can always contribute their own unique offerings out of unconditional personal love, without the need of any pressure or force from Krsna.
Real love or service can only exist when free will allows the jiva-souls to voluntarily participate in loving devotional exchanges and contribute to the relationship with Krsna in their own unique way.
Krsna allows freedom of thoughts and actions to encourage unique individual voluntary contributions on a personal bases coming from the heart of each individual jiva-soul.
This is why the jiva-souls have their own unique personality and characteristics separate from Krsna's Personality and Character.
In this way every jiva-soul is a unique individual person with their own personality separate from Krsna's Personality.
For example, Krsna may like katchoris better than any other offering while many jiva-souls, like me, prefer a curd subji over Katchoris, we did have to imitate Krsna, we are each our own person who has chosen to voluntarily serve Krsna.
In other words, the jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa are individually independent from each other regarding their personalities, even to the point the jiva-souls can completely reject Krsna if they choose.
In Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, personal voluntary expressions of loving exchanges expressed through free will, are always encouraged by Krsna in His relationship with the jiva-souls, this adds flavour, variety, individuality and mystery to the association.
This means the Kingdom of God is not a "one-sided" forceful dominating "impersonal" domain devoid of free will that does not allow personal contributions or offerings to God (Krsna) from the jiva-souls meant to expand, enrich and flavour the relationship.
As said above, love or service is not a "one-sided" affiliate of total supremacy or preeminence. In other words the Kingdom of God is not a one-sided dictatorship.
Genuine loving relations and service are based on voluntary reciprocal exhanges and contributions between two and never the demands of just one!
No, Krsna is not like that at all, in fact He serves His associates and friends more than they can ever serve Him. The individual jiva-souĺs have their choices too and Krsna knows and respects that, even if that choose to reject Him.
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!" (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
Free will only has meaning when the jiva-souls can express themselves in a "two-sided" affair.
In other words, loving reciprocation is only possible in a "two-way" exchange with each contributing to the relationship's expansion of nectarine mellows.
The word "reciprocation" only has meaning when there are two involved, not one! Free will only has meaning when the jiva-souls can express themselves in an open "two-sided" affair without being manipulated.
Being able to reject Krsna proves that "free will" does truly exist.
Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will." (Philosophy Discussions on Rene Descartes)
Srila Prabhupada – "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence. That is force." (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)
Having free will is the eternal constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul), and is the foundation for the jiva-soul's voluntary relationship with Krsna.
Srila Prabhupāda – ''Love means a relationship between "two persons", then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
Even though Krsna allows this freedom for His amusement to see what happens when the jiva-souls are given freedom, He always remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.
Just like the Sun-disc and the sun-rays cannot exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His living entities (parts and parcels) and the living entities cannot exist without Krsna.
Each jiva-soul (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind independent individual with their own unique personality and character different separate from Krsna's Personality and Character, and different from other jiva-souls and expansions of Kṛṣṇa.
No two individual jiva-souls are the same, and no jiva-souls can ever become Krsna, Visnu or Siva.
Loving devotional service to Krsna is always is based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings manifesting as loving acts of devotion between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) to Him as the real act of surrendering to Krsna's will that does not deny the free will of each individual jiva-soul.
On the other hand, actions expressed in a one-way domineering forceful mood from a "so called God" in His Kingdom that denies personal voluntary contributions expressed in a two-way exchange of feelings, only leaves the jiva-souls no better than dead useless stone as explained above by Prabhupada.
Such a cold none productive relationship devoid of voluntary service is dangerous impersonalism.
Personalism only has meaning in a "two-way" relationship, that includes voluntary loving exchange of feelings that expands, enriches and multiplies loving affection, sentiment and exchanges between the jiva-souls and Krsna.
Srila Prabhupada - ''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 BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York City, Nov 23, 1966)
Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed by only one, there must be two. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)
Srila Prabhupada - ''The impersonalist philosophy is oneness, so how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No. Love means two. There must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)
Srila Prabhupada - "Krsna does not want to become a lover by force, from the point of revolver demanding, 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; no, that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape?" (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.)
Devotee – "Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?"
Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, human form, God is also human form. Man is made after the shape of God. I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."
Hari-sauri – "How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?"
Srila Prabhupada – "[describing material form first]: Yes, they are more covered, just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."
Hari-sauri - "They are covered in the spiritual world?"
Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world, there that is voluntary, some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there. If I want that, to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, then he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change 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, Australia May 20, 1975)
The full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities, is a "two-arm form" like Krsna's Body.
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 BG, Ch 2 Text 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, Ch 2 Text 14, Mexico, Feb 14, 1975)
All the individual personal contributions from the jiva-souls are forever expanding their unique ability of self expression in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.
This allows them to always make voluIntary offerings to Krsna that forever increase and expand loving emotions in healthy two-way exchange between Kṛṣṇa and the individual jīva-souls.
It is very important to understand that the individual jiva-souls are "persons" with their own unique individual feelings of self expression existing always in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.
It must be clearly understood for love to truly exist, each individual jiva-soul must have their free will so they can contribute in their own way and make their own choices in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, even if it means choosing to leave Krsna, otherwise there can be no question of genuine love or 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 or attribute of free will is part of the jiva-soul's marginal constitutional nature, as an independent free thinking part and parcel expansion of the Krsna.
Krsna allows this freedom that all jiva-souls have because without free will loving exchanges and reciprocation can never exist.
Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, therefore if he likes he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that." (Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)
As said above, having free will is the constitutional make up of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) that is always part and parcel of their eternal character and personality in the spiritual worlds.
This means the jiva-souls can even choose to leave the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana if they want. Free will always allows this because if it didn't, then there is no question of having voluntary loving exchanges.
Being a marginal living entity (jiva-soul) also means free will.
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 reveals.” (Lecture BG, 9.4, Melb, Australia April 23, 1976)
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 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 choice to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana is possible because Krsna allows a "two-way" relationship, this means one can accept or reject Krsna if they choose to do so.
There is no such thing as permanently staying in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana simply because the the jiva-souls can leave anytime they like, and Krsna does not interfere with their free will.
As said above,if Krsna did interfere then there is no such thing as free will.
Outside of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana in the mundane material creation, many terrible things are constantly happening but taken for granted due to the ignorance of those trapped in the material creation.
Like the unnatural painful cycle of birth, disease, old age and death the jiva-souls experience while covered by a material bodily vessel foolishly taken for granted.
Frustration in the constantly changing (decaying) material creation, will always be experienced by those foolish jiva-souls who do choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana and enter the material creation.
This is because the material creation is always in a constantly progressive state of decay, decline and forgetfulness where one's material bodily vessel will always wear out, breaks down due to decay, and die.
But the jiva-soul, covered by the material temporary body, is eternal unlike the material vessel they are in.
The jiva-soul within is never subjected to decay or decline, but sadly is forced to continuously change material bodies because of the temporary nature of the material creation.
The suffering of the individual jiva-soul within this temporary material nature trspped in a material body, does not happen because of Krsna, He is not responsible for the jiva-soul's choices.
No, Krsna is not responsible for the suffering of the individual jiva-souls who have chosen to enter the material creation, even though the massive Brahmanda material universes (1/4 of the spiritual sky) are Krsna's creation, built by His expansion Maha-Visnu.
In fact, they were built to give those jiva-souls leaving Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, facilities so they can experience their desires separated from Kṛṣṇa and His Spiritual planets (3/4 of the spiritual sky.
The suffering in the material creation happens because at one point in the spiritual worlds, the individual jiva-soul chose to misuse their free will given to them by Krsna.
Krsna gave the jiva-souls free will for the purpose to allow voluntary diversity meant to encourage individual offerings and loving exchanges, but this also allows the jiva-souls to reject Krsna if they want.
Therefore, as a result of misusing their free will, the jiva-souls are forced by their own actions to enter the temporary material creation and become entangled in repeated cycle of birth and death.
In the material creation free will almost does not exist, nearly all species of life (except for humans) are governed by the urges of eating, sleeping or mating and defending and not Karmic reactions.
Only in the human species form of life in the material creation are the jiva-souls responsibility for their actions in all the different material universes within Maha-Visnu's multi-universe creation of unlimited Brahmanda universes coming from His breathing and the pores of His skin.
The spherical material massive universal shells coming from Maha-Visnu, are called Brahmanda universes and deep inside each Brahmanda universe is a "secondary universe" created by Garbhodakashayi Visnu, who is an expansion of Maha-Visnu.
From Garbhodakashayi Visnu Brahma is born who builds the many planetary systems within the inner material universe inside the Brahmanda as painting below reveals.
Our secondary material universe in our Brahmanda has 14 planetary systems in, other universes have many more planetary systems, all based on the number of heads the Lord Brahma within each material universe has.
Ours has four heads but in other universes, their Brahma may have 10, 20, 50, 1000, 10,000, 1000,000 or more heads! Such numbers of Brahma's heads is inconceivable to our small minds.
As said above, Krsna will never interfere with the individual jiva-soul's free will because if he did, the jiva-souls would have no independent sense of self, or the ability to accept, experience and respond with genuine personal loving exchanges and service.
Without an independent sense of unique self of having personal individual abilities that allows one to choose for themselves how to voluntary serve Kṛṣṇa by contributing in their own way, based on loving exchanges and reciprocation, then how can there be genuine love?
These individual unique qualities are the characteristics that make the jiva-soul (marginal living entity) the individual person they are eternally.
Love or service in the spiritual worlds are never a "one-way" street, love can only exist when "two" are exchanging loving feelings with each other.
Only then when there is reciprocation and exchanges of loving service between Kṛṣṇa and His devotee, does love truly exist. Only when "two" are voluntarily involved in reciprocating with each other, can loving exchanges exist.
In this way, real love or service is always based on a "two-way" exchange of feelings.
As said above, that means offering individual contributions that will enhance, expand and perpetually uplift the relationship between Krsna and His marginal living entities (jiva-souls)
This can only exist if the jiva-souls are allowed to express their own independent individuality, and unique free will without interference (forced surrender) from Krsna.
As already explained, if Krsna did force His will on the jiva-souls, then there can never be genuine loving exchanges because denying free will is also denying the jiva-souls to voluntary contribute the very best of their unique individuality.
Srila Prabhupāda - ''Unless there are "two persons", where is the question of love? Love means two persons, then there is exchange. When these things are transacted, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Evening Darsana, Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)
Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force, no, Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!" (Washington DC July 8, 1976)
As already explained, free will is the eternal constitutonal make up of every jiva-soul and is the foundation of their relationship with Krsna.××.
