This allows the jiva-souls to experience an independent existence separated from Krsna even though they are still dependent on Krsna via His many expansions namely maya.
Although, this still does allow the jiva-souls to make their own independent decisions and choices, at least in the spiritual world.
Free will becomes almost non-existant in the material where the majority of life forms are controlled by the demands of the material senses which is eating, sleeping, mating and defending, only being in the human form of life in the Bhurloka planetary system, creates karmic reactions.
In the spiritual world Krsna does not personally interfere with the jiva-soul's free will because it is part of the eternal constitution of all jiva-souls meant to encourages self expression, self determination and personal contributions and offerings.
Only then can love exist on a "two-way" street.
Krsna is not interested in mindless drones and "yes" man or women, or mini versions of Himself, He wants everyone to think for themselves and make their own unique offerings Krsna is not directly in control of which adds mystery and intrique to the relationship between Krsna and the jiva-souls.
Krsna never at any point did not give freedom or free will to the marginal living entities (jiva-soul), they have ALWAYS had their free will in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana that had no beginning, or will ever 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 different expansions like Maha-Visnu, even as independent individuals in the material world because Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.
Therefore, the jiva-souls always remain independent living entities, but simultaneously depend on Krsna and His expansions in both the spiritual world and the material world.
The jiva-souls are never fully independent because Krsna owns everything.
So, even though the jiva-souls are an expansion of Krsna, they are technically not one with Krsna's personality, each individual jiva-soul has their own unique personality.
The way Krsna controls all things, is He provides the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) with the facilities to carve their own pathways to heaven or hell, because of their choices. Both Krsna and the jiva-souls are independent with their own unique personality.
The individual jiva-souls are not one with Krsna but are independent thinking living entities who have 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.
Infact, Krsna, Balarama, Radharani and Lord Caitanya are all the one personality of Krsna in different moods but only properly understood when one is advanced in their Krsna consciousness.
The claim that once reaching Vaikuntha the jiva-souls can never again fall down is not exactly true.
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-souls want to leave the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, they certainly can. Therefore, entering the material world is ultimately the jiva-soul's choice, and Krsna does not interfere with that choice, even though He promised there is no return to the material creation once entering the spiritual atmosphere.
The fact is, there IS a choice simply because Krsna allows it, the jiva-souls can even reject Krsna and His promises if they want because the relationship with Krsna is always a "two-way" street based on voluntary exchanges.
Therefore, there is return to the material world IF the jiva-souls wants to return Prabhupada tells us, there is ALWAYS a choice.
Acyutananda - "But in the Bhagavad Gita it says, "Once coming there to the spiritual abodes, he never returns to the material worlds, 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)
Free will is eternal in the spiritual world and without having that ability of self-expression that allows one to choose to always remember Krsna, or forget Him, then the jiva-souls would have no independent personality or a sense of independent self existing in a two-way reciprocal relationship of loving exchanges.
The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are eternally separate from Krsna's Personality and have their own unique character and personality. This allows them to voluntarily contribute their own unique abilities and talents in the spiritual world that gives unique personality to their individual identity.
Without having the unique individual ability to voluntarily offer love as an independent PERSON, we are no better than dead stone.
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 never again fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, because the jiva-souls eternally have free will and therefore able to make their own decisions, no matter what Kṛṣṇa promises or wants.
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 that means returning to the material world.
In other words, the jiva-souls ALWAYS have a choice to either become a servant of the servant of the Lord, or reject Him if they want, and leave the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana and enter the temporary material world.
Genuine loving exchanges can never exist if one's relationship with Krsna, the Supreme Lord, is NOT a "two-way" voluntary association.
Not even Kṛṣṇa or His devotees can force Krsna consciousness (love of God) on the jiva-souls.
Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is always voluntary, some devotees want 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, Australia May 20, 1975)
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)
Real love, bhakti or service is always reciprocal, as said above, it is never a "one-sided" dictatorial affair where surrender to Krsna takes away the jiva-soul's sense of self, individuality, independence, self expression, personal unique contributions and offerings to Krsna.
This is important to understand because each individual jiva-soul have their own independent personality, sense of self and unique personality and character separate from Krsna's Personality.
These are the special qualities and make up of each individual marginal living entity (jiva-soul), making them the "person" they are eternally.
Srila Prabhupada - "Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. "So God does not interfere with your independence."(Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)
The jiva-souls never lose their unique ability of free will, individuality and self expression.
The jiva-souls are always aware they can foerver choose how to selflessly serve Krsna in their own unique way as the loving servant of the servant of Krsna, or reject Him if they choose.
The claim that the jiva-souls can never fall from Krsna's personal Kingdom is up to the jiva-souls themselves, it is their responsibility too, and not just Krsnas.
It is the jiva-soul's choice to stay in the spiritual world, or leave, it is their free will to choose and no one elses, including Krsna.
Not even Krsna's promise to never again fall to the material world can apply to all jiva-souls because some will never acknowledge His promise.
Such choices to accept or reject Krsna must be there otherwise what is the point of having free will?
It is said over 90% of all jiva-souls do not fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana (although over infinity that can also change) This is simply because the jiva-souls choose not to fall down.
However, as said above, over infinity, that may also change because the jiva-souls have free will for infinity (beginningless and endless)
Therefore, staying in the spiritual world is not necessary permanent, even though it is the jiva-soul's eternal infinite home, this is because there is ALWAYS the possibility of fall down due to misuse of free will.
So, not even being situated on the Vaikuntha planets, or in Goloka-Vrindavana may not be a permanent residency for the jiva-souls.
This is because the jiva-souls ALWAYS have a choice (free will) over infinity to stay in the spiritual world, or leave.
The jiva-souls (marginal living entities), have 78.125% of Krsna's quantities, which is having 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes.
This puts the jiva-souls in the realm of having their own independent identity, personality, self-expression, individuality and the ability to choose.
This also means the jiva-souls can agree, or not agree with Krsna.
Their individuality and independent personality allows them to choose Krsna, or choose to be separate from Krsna if they want.
This is all part and parcel of having 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 and are NOT the cause of fall down.
Free will and independence therefore, 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 (marginal living entities) in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana, if those abilities are taken away from the jiva-souls, then they will lose their ability to give and accept love, therefore becoming 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)
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." (With Syamasundara discussion on Henri Bergson philosophy).*<*.
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