Nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) and nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) explained.

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" - eternally conditioned (nitya-baddha) and eternally liberated (nitya-siddha)

No, there is only one, but the jiva-souls have "two-sides" to their personality and character.

The word "eternal" ONLY refers to the "position" and NOT the individual jiva-souls in that position, who can be both, eternally liberated or eternally conditioned, based on their circumstances.

The "position" is eternal, but not necessarily the the jiva-souls in that position of nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) and nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned)

The jiva-soul's infinite position is Nitya-siddha (eternally liberated), this means the jiva-soul's original perpetual home is the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.

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)

The actual constitutional position of EVERY marginal living entity (jiva-soul) is Nitya-Siddha.

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. 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. 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 - "Your next question, "Is a pure devotee "eternally liberated" and if so is he at any time a conditioned soul? We are "eternally conditioned," but as soon as we surrender to Krsna do we then become "eternally liberated? 

You are NOT eternally conditioned, you are eternally liberated but since we have become conditioned on account of our desire to enjoy materialistic way of life, from time immemorial, therefore it "appears" that we are eternally conditioned. 

Because we cannot trace out the history or the date when we became conditioned, therefore it is technically called eternally conditioned. Otherwise the living entity is not actually conditioned. 

A living entity is always pure. But he is prone to be attracted by material enjoyment and as soon as he agrees to place himself in material enjoyment, he becomes conditioned, but that is not permanent. Therefore, a living entity is called on the marginal state, sometimes this side, sometimes that side. 

These are very intelligent questions. And I am very glad that you are putting such intelligent questions and trying to understand it. It is very good." (Letter to Aniruddha dasa, Los Angeles 14 Nov 1968)

Srila Prabhupāda - "There are two kinds of living entities: nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. Nitya-siddha means they never fall a victim of māyā. That is nitya-siddha. Even though they are within this material world, they are never victimized. That is called nitya-siddha. And one who is victimized, he is called nitya-baddha. 

But the actual constitutional position of EVERY living entity is nitya-siddha, because God is eternal and His part and parcels, the living entities, they are also eternal. So that is nitya-siddha. 

Nitya-siddha, sādhana-siddha, kṛpā-siddha—there are different grades. They are all described in the Nectar of Devotion. 

So one can become sādhana-siddha. By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can also become siddha. He can become AGAIN nitya-siddha.

So the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them. It is a difficult task." (Lecture, New York City, July 13 1976)×