Gauragopala Das ACBSP: Part 1 and 2 - Understanding how everything expands from Krsna because He is the cause of ALL causes.

Caitanya Caritamrita - "These two (Krsna and Balarāma) are one and the same identity. They differ only in form.

Lord Balarāma is the first bodily expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and He assists in Lord Kṛṣṇa's transcendental pastimes." (CC Adi 5.5, Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "According to expert opinion, Balarāma, as the chief of the original quadruple forms, is also the original Saṅkarṣaṇa. Balarāma, the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa and further expands Himself in five forms-

(1) Mahā-saṅkarṣaṇa,

(2) Kāraṇābdhiśāyī,

(3) Garbhodakaśāyī,

(4) Kṣīrodakaśāyī,

(5) Śeṣa.

These five plenary portions are responsible for both the spiritual and material cosmic manifestations." (CC Adi 5.10, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The external energy, composed of pradhāna or prakṛti as the ingredient-supplying portion and māyā as the causal portion, is known as māyā-śakti.

Inert material nature is not the actual cause of the material manifestation, for Kāraṇārṇavaśāyī (Mahā-Viṣṇu), the plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa, activates all the ingredients.

It is in this way that material nature has the power to supply the ingredients." (CC Adi 5.61, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "This is a description of the Rudra (Siva) form, which is another expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Only viṣṇu-mūrtis are expansions of Kṛṣṇa's personal and plenary portions.

Mahā-Viṣṇu, who lies on the Causal Ocean, is an expansion of Saṅkarṣaṇa.

When Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu accepts the material modes of nature for the purpose of dissolving the cosmic manifestation, His form is called Rudra." (CC Madhya 20.307, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Rudra (Siva) is simultaneously one with and different from the viṣṇu-tattva.

Due to his association with māyā, he is different from the viṣṇu-tattva, but at the same time he is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa's personal form.

This situation is called bhedābheda-tattva or acintya-bhedābheda-tattva, simultaneously one and different." (CC Madhya 20.308, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Although an incarnation of the material energy, Lord Brahmā is nonetheless the director of the material mode of passion.

Similarly, Lord Śiva, although simultaneously one with and different from Lord Kṛṣṇa, is still the incarnation of the mode of darkness.

However, Lord Viṣṇu is Kṛṣṇa's personal expansion; therefore He is the director of the mode of goodness and is always transcendentally situated, beyond the jurisdiction of the modes of material nature.

Lord Viṣṇu is the original personal expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is the original source of all incarnations.

As far as power is concerned, Lord Viṣṇu is as powerful as Lord Kṛṣṇa because He possesses all the opulences." (CC Madhya 20.315, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is stated that Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, transmitted transcendental knowledge into the heart of Brahmā.

This then is one way knowledge is received—through the heart. Thus there are two processes by which one may receive knowledge-

1 - One depends upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated as the Supersoul within the heart of all living entities.

2 - The other depends upon the guru or spiritual master, who is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Thus Kṛṣṇa transmits information both from within and from without. We simply have to receive it. If knowledge is received in this way, it doesn't matter whether it is inconceivable or not." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Intoduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "Thus Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī discusses Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Lord Nityānanda as Balarāma, the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Advaitācārya, another principal disciple of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's, is accepted as an expansion of the Mahā-Viṣṇu.

Thus Advaitācārya is also the Lord, or, more precisely, an expansion of the Lord.

The word advaita means nondual, and his name is such because he is non-different from the Supreme Lord." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 5 Intoduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are three different processes by which Kṛṣṇa can be understood-

1 - The empiric process of philosophical speculation.

2 - The process of meditation according to the mystic yoga system.

3 - The process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service.

* By the method of philosophical speculation, the impersonal Brahman feature of Kṛṣṇa is understood.

* By the process of meditation or mystic yoga, the feature of the Supersoul, the all-pervading expansion of Kṛṣṇa, is understood.

* And by devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the original Personality of Godhead is realized." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 5)

Srila Prabhupada - "Lord Caitanya further points out that the Paramātmā, the all-pervading feature situated in everyone's body, is but a partial manifestation or expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but because Kṛṣṇa is the soul of all souls, He is called Paramātmā, the Supreme Self.

In this regard, Caitanya quoted another verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam concerning the talks between Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

While hearing of the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired from his spiritual master, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, as to why the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana were so much attached to Kṛṣṇa."(Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 5)

Srila Prabhupada - "For instance, Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself in multiple forms during the rāsa dance in order to dance with each and every gopī who took part in forms in order to accommodate His 16,108 wives.

There are some instances of great mystics' also expanding their bodily features in different ways, but Kṛṣṇa did not expand Himself by any yoga process.

Each expansion of Kṛṣṇa was a separate individual.

In Vedic history, Saubhari Ṛṣi, a sage, expanded himself into eight forms by the yoga process, but Saubhari Ṛṣi remained one.

As far as Kṛṣṇa is concerned, when He manifested Himself in different forms, each and every one of them was a separate individual." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 6)

Srila Prabhupada - "Lord Śiva is not one of the living entities (jiva-souls); he is, more or less, Kṛṣṇa Himself.

The example of milk and yogurt is often given in this regard—yogurt is a preparation of milk, but still yogurt cannot be used as milk.

Similarly, Lord Śiva is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but he cannot act as Kṛṣṇa, nor can we derive the spiritual restoration from Lord Śiva that we derive from Kṛṣṇa.

The essential difference is that Lord Śiva has a connection with material nature, but Viṣṇu or Lord Kṛṣṇa has nothing to do with material nature." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 8)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Brahma-saṁhitā the example is given of an original candle which lights a second candle.

Although both candles are of equal power, one is accepted as the original, and the other is said to be kindled from the original.

The Viṣṇu expansion is like the second candle. He is as powerful as Kṛṣṇa, but the original Viṣṇu is Kṛṣṇa.

Brahmā and Lord Śiva are obedient servants of the Supreme Lord, and the Supreme Lord as Viṣṇu is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa."(Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 8)

Srila Prabhupada - "The universes of the material creation have a limited length and breadth, but as far as the Vaikuṇṭha planets are concerned, there is no limitation to their dimensions because they are spiritual.

Lord Caitanya informed Sanātana Gosvāmī that the length and breadth of each and every Vaikuṇṭha planet is millions and billions of miles.

Each of these planets is unlimitedly expanded, and in each and every one of them there are residents who are full in all six opulences-

wealth,

strength,

knowledge,

beauty,

fame,

renunciation.

In each and every one of these Vaikuṇṭha planets an expansion of Kṛṣṇa has His eternal abode.

And Kṛṣṇa Himself has His original, eternal abode called Kṛṣṇaloka or Goloka Vṛndāvana." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 9)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the prayer contained in the Harivaṁśa, Indra admitted that he could not understand the situation of Goloka even by asking Brahmā.

Those who are devotees of the Nārāyaṇa expansion of Kṛṣṇa attain the Vaikuṇṭha planets, but it is very difficult to reach Goloka Vṛndāvana.

Indeed, that planet can be reached ONLY by persons who are devotees of Lord Caitanya or Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 14)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is a statement in connection with the brahma-vimohana-līlā which demonstrates something of this impelling or impetus—giving feature of ecstatic love.

When Brahmā was deluded by Kṛṣṇa, who expanded Himself into so many cowherd boys, calves and cows, Kṛṣṇa's elder brother, Śrī Baladeva [Balarāma] (a direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa Himself), felt astonishment and said,

"How wonderful it is that My ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa is again being attracted to so many cowherd boys, calves and cows!"

He was struck with wonder by thinking in this way. This is one of the examples in which Kṛṣṇa Himself becomes the object and reservoir of ecstatic love in the impelling aspect." (Nectar of Devotion 20)

Srila Prabhupada - "Kṛṣṇa is worshiped not only by all living entities (jiva-souls), including the great demigods like Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, but also by Viṣṇu expansions (forms of Godhead) such as Baladeva and Śeṣa (both also Balarāma). Baladeva (Balarama) is a direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but He still accepts Kṛṣṇa as worshipable.

When Kṛṣṇa appeared in the arena of the Rājasūya sacrifice organized by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, to all present, including great sages and demigods, Kṛṣṇa became the cynosure, the center of attraction, and everyone offered Him respects." (Nectar of Devotion 22)

Srila Prabhupada - "As explained above, when Kṛṣṇa appears, all His plenary expansions appear with Him.

Kṛṣṇa appeared along with Balarāma (Baladeva), who is known as His elder brother. Balarāma is the origin of Saṅkarṣaṇa, of the quadruple expansion. Balarāma is also the plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

In this book, the attempt will be made to show how Kṛṣṇa appeared in the family of the Yadu dynasty and how He displayed His transcendental characteristics.

This is very vividly described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam—specifically, the Tenth Canto—and thus the basis of this book will be the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam." (Krsna Book Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "When Devakī became pregnant for the seventh time, a plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa known as Ananta appeared within her womb.

Devakī was overwhelmed with both jubilation and lamentation. She was joyful, for she could understand that Lord Viṣṇu had taken shelter within her womb, but at the same time she was sorry that as soon as her child would come out, Kaṁsa would kill Him.

At that time the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, being compassionate upon the Yadus, who were fearful due to the atrocities committed by Kaṁsa, ordered the appearance of Yogamāyā, His internal potency.

Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of the universe, but He is especially the Lord of the Yadu dynasty." (Krsna Book 2)

Srila Prabhupada - "At present," the demigods prayed-

"the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is appearing just for the maintenance of this manifestation. Actually, the Supreme Cause is one, but less intelligent persons, being deluded by the three modes of material nature, see that the material world is manifested through different causes. Those who are intelligent can see that the cause is one, Kṛṣṇa."

As it is stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā, īśvaraḥ paramaḥ krsnah . . . sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam (Bs. 5.1).

"Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the cause of all causes."

1 - Brahmā is the deputed agent for creation,

2 - Viṣṇu is the expansion of Kṛṣṇa for maintenance,

3 - Lord Śiva is the expansion of Kṛṣṇa for dissolution." (Krsna Book 2)

Srila Prabhupada - "In other words, although each boy, being an individual soul, had entirely different tastes, activities and behavior, Kṛṣṇa exactly expanded Himself into all the different positions of the individual boys.

He also became the calves, who were also of different sizes, colors, activities, etc. This was possible because everything is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa's energy.

In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is said, parasya brahmaṇaḥ śaktiḥ. Whatever we actually see in the cosmic manifestation—be it matter or the activities of the living entities—is simply an expansion of the energies of the Lord, as heat and light are the different expansions of fire." (Krsna Book 13)

Srila Prabhupada - "In order to convince Brahmā that all those calves and boys were not the original ones, the calves and boys who were playing with Kṛṣṇa transformed into Viṣṇu forms.

Actually, the original ones were sleeping under the spell of Brahmā’s mystic power, but the present ones, seen by Brahmā, were all immediate expansions of Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu.

Viṣṇu is the expansion of Kṛṣṇa, so the Viṣṇu forms appeared before Brahmā."(Krsna Book 13)

Srila Prabhupada - "Just as innumerable atomic infinitesimal fragments pass through the holes of a screened window, so millions and trillions of universes in their seedling form are coming out from the bodily pores of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

And that Mahā-Viṣṇu is but a part of a part of the plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Under these circumstances, although Lord Brahmā is the supreme creature within this material universe, what is his importance in the presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa?" (Krsna Book 14)

Srila Prabhupada - "We are attached to material possessions because they give pleasure to the senses or to the body.

The attachment to the body is there only because the "I," the spirit soul, is within the body.

Similarly, when one is further advanced, he knows that the spirit soul is pleasing because it is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. Ultimately, it is Kṛṣṇa who is pleasing and all-attractive. He is the Supersoul of everything. And in order to give us this information, Kṛṣṇa descends and tells us that the all-attractive center is He Himself. Without being an expansion of Kṛṣṇa, nothing can be attractive." (Krsna Book 14)

Srila Prabhupada - "After the marriage of Baladeva (Balarama), Kṛṣṇa married Rukmiṇī.

Rukmiṇī was the daughter of King Bhīṣmaka, ruler of the province known as Vidarbha.

Just as Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, Rukmiṇī is the supreme goddess of fortune, Mahā-Lakṣmī.

According to the authority of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, the expansion of Kṛṣṇa and that of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are simultaneous.

Kṛṣṇa expands Himself into various viṣṇu-tattva forms, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī expands Herself into various śakti-tattva forms by Her internal potency as multiforms of the goddess of fortune." (Krsna Book 52)

Srila Prabhupada - "The bodily limitation whereby one part of the body cannot act as another part is totally absent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

There is no difference between His body and Himself. He is completely spiritual, and therefore there is no difference between His body and His soul.

Similarly, He is not different from His millions of incarnations and plenary expansions.

Baladeva (Balarama) is the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and from Baladeva or Balarāma expands-

Saṅkarṣaṇa,

Vāsudeva,

Pradyumna,

Aniruddha.

From Saṅkarṣaṇa there is an expansion of Nārāyaṇa, and from Nārāyaṇa there is a second quadruple expansion of-

Saṅkarṣaṇa,

Vāsudeva,

Pradyumna,

Aniruddha."(Krsna Book 70)

Srila Prabhupada - "As stated in the Vedas, the Lord has innumerable energies, and they also stood there in their personified forms.

The most important among them were as follows-

1 - Puṣṭi, the energy for nourishment;

2 - Śrī, the energy of beauty;

3 - Kīrti, the energy of reputation;

4 - Ajā, the energy of material creation.

All these energies are invested in the administrators of the material world, namely Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu, and also in Indra (the King of the heavenly planets), Candra, Varuṇa and the sun-god.

In other words, all these demigods, being empowered by the Lord with certain energies, engage in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The Mahā-Viṣṇu feature is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa's body." (Krsna Book 89)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Brahma-saṁhitā confirms that Mahā-Viṣṇu is a portion of a plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

All such expansions are non-different from the Personality of Godhead, but since Kṛṣṇa appeared within this material world to manifest His pastimes as a human being." (Krsna Book 89)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there is a list of all the incarnations, that-

"Such and such incarnation appears for such and such particular activities."

In that incarnation list there is name of Lord Rāmacandra also, Lord Buddha also. Buddha's name is also there.

But in the conclusive portion it is declared there: ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam (SB, Canto 1.3.28).

In that list, the name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Balarāma is there also.

But the conclusion is given by Vyāsadeva that "Except Kṛṣṇa, all others, they are plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa, or part of plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa." Aṁśa-kalāḥ.

1 - Aṁśa means direct expansion.

2 - kalāḥ means expansion of the secondary expansions.

So, it is concluded there that ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ. All these incarnations, they are either aṁśa or kalāḥ.

But Kṛṣṇa, the name Kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam: He's the original Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa." (Lecture BG, Ch 2 text 1 Ahmedabad, Dec 7, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "Rādhā is the internal potency, we are marginal potency (jiva-souls).

Of course, originally, in that sense, EVERYTHING is Kṛṣṇa's expansion. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma.

But even there are expansions, that is a difference understanding between the Māyāvāda philosophy and the Vaiṣṇava philosophy.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu's philosophy is - acintya bhedābheda tattva. (simultaneously one and different)

We are always simultaneously one and different, always, we should always remember that.

We are, because we are expansion of Kṛṣṇa, we are expansion of Rādhā also because Rādhā is also expansion of Kṛṣṇa. But still, different." (Lecture BG, Ch 4 text 5 Montreal, June 10, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "The sun and the sunshine are always there. It is a question of appearance and disappearance, that's all.

Everything expansion of Kṛṣṇa without any exception.

1 - Some of them are expansion of His material energy.

2 - Some of them are expansion of His spiritual energy.

3 - Some of them are expansion of His marginal energy (individual jiva-souls).

So, EVERYTHING is expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate (BG, Ch 10 text 8).

So, because everything expansion of Kṛṣṇa's, therefore is nothing but Kṛṣṇa.

But still they are different.

This is the whole basic principle of philosophy, "simultaneously one and different." (Lecture BG, Ch 4 text 5 Montreal, June 10, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "Kṛṣṇa says, bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate (BG 7.19). Because ultimately Kṛṣṇa. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate, ahaṁ sarvasya. (BG 10.8). And Kṛṣṇa says.

Vedānta says also, janmādy asya yataḥ (SB 1.1.1). Brahman, Paramātmā, they are expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the original.

Mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya (BG 7.7). This is the truth. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says that either you follow the Brahman path or Paramātmā path, either as a jñānī or yogi or as a bhakta." (Lecture BG, Ch 4 text 11 Bombay, March 31, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "Meditation means to concentrate the mind without being diverted to any other subject, simply thinking of Lord Viṣṇu. That is the yoga meditation recommended in Vedic literature.

So here also, Kṛṣṇa says "Me." Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu, the same. Viṣṇu is expansion of Kṛṣṇa. So when we concentrate our mind upon Kṛṣṇa, Viṣṇu is included there." (Lecture BG, Ch 7 text 1 San Diego, July 1, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "Everything is manifested practically just like ordinary human being.

But at the same time, whenever there is a need for, big, big demons, beginning from Pūtanā, when He was only a few months old, He is maintaining His position as God, but dealing with His devotees.

This father and mother and friends, lover, all in Vṛndāvana, who are they? They are expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

That story we have got in the Kṛṣṇa book, that Brahmā stole all the cows and calves and cowherd boys. Stolen, so Kṛṣṇa immediately created another set.

Then Brahmā understood that "Here is the Supreme Lord, my master."

So, these, Kṛṣṇa's associates, they are all also Kṛṣṇa, expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis tābhir ya eva nija-rūpatayā kalābhiḥ.

We are also expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

We living entities (jiva-souls), Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhāgavata, mamaivāṁśo, part and parcel."

(Lecture BG, Ch 7 text 1 Melb, Australia June 29, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "Every living entity (individual jiva-soul) is described as prakṛti. No living entity (individual jiva-soul) is puruṣa. Puruṣa is only Kṛṣṇa.

So, when we are thinking, "I have become a puruṣa, enjoyer," that is māyā. That is māyā. As woman or man, but actually, every one of us are woman, prakṛti. Every one of us.

And every one of us are thinking as man, even the woman. Man means enjoyer. So everyone is thinking enjoyer, "I am enjoyer." And this is called māyā.

And about the gopīs, it is better not to speculate. The speculator's writing has no value. Gopīs, they are pleasure potency expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Ānanda cinmaya sad ujjvala-vigrahasya [Bs. 5.32]." (Lecture BG, Ch 7 text 1-3 Ahmedabad, Dec 14, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "So gopīs are also expansion of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa's pleasure potency.

Gopīs are not these ordinary women; neither Kṛṣṇa is ordinary man.

So unless we understand Kṛṣṇa as were discussing this morning, the verse, kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ.

Out of many millions of siddhas, one can understand Kṛṣṇa as He is. If we do not understand Kṛṣṇa, then how we can understand gopīs?"(Lecture BG, Ch 7 text 1-3 Ahmedabad, Dec 14, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "Kṛṣṇa is the original Nārāyaṇa. That is a big definition or understanding from the Vedic knowledge, that Kṛṣṇa, from Kṛṣṇa first expansion is Baladeva (Balarama).

From Baladeva (Balarama) comes-

Saṅkarṣaṇa,

Pradyumna,

Aniruddha.

In this way, expansion takes place.

And from Saṅkarṣaṇa also comes Nārāyaṇa, Vaikuṇṭha Nārāyaṇa.

And from Nārāyaṇa the Puruṣa Avatāra, Viṣṇu. In this way there is expansion. Rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan.

So, the Nārāyaṇa or expansion of Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa or expansion of Kṛṣṇa, they are not of this material world.

Nārāyaṇaḥ avyaktāt. Paras tasmat tu bhavah anyah. There is another, spiritual, world. Vyako 'vyaktāt sanātanaḥ.

Avyaktāt is material, and above this avyaktāt, there is a sanātanaḥ, eternal abode." (Lecture BG, Ch 7 text 2 Hyderabad, April 28, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "Kṛṣṇa is realized in different degrees as-

1 - Brahman,

2 - Paramātmā,

3 - Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Kṛṣṇa consciousness means, concisely, to be always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

But those who are attached to the impersonal Brahman or the localized Supersoul are also partially Kṛṣṇa conscious, because impersonal Brahman is the spiritual ray of Kṛṣṇa, and Supersoul is the all-pervading partial expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Thus the impersonalist and the meditator are also indirectly Kṛṣṇa conscious.

A directly Kṛṣṇa conscious person is the topmost transcendentalist because such a devotee knows what is meant by Brahman and Paramātmā.

His knowledge of the Absolute Truth is perfect, whereas the impersonalist and the meditative yogī are imperfectly Kṛṣṇa conscious." (BG, Ch 6 text 10, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Upaniṣad continues,

nārāyaṇād brahmā jāyate, nārāyaṇād prajāpatiḥ prajāyate, nārāyaṇād indro jāyate, nārāyaṇād aṣṭau vasavo jāyante, nārāyaṇād ekādaśa rudrā jāyante, nārāyaṇād dvādaśādityāḥ-

"From Nārāyaṇa, Brahmā is born, and from Nārāyaṇa the patriarchs are also born. From Nārāyaṇa, Indra is born, from Nārāyaṇa the eight Vasus are born, from Nārāyaṇa the eleven Rudras are born, from Nārāyaṇa the twelve Ādityas are born."

This Nārāyaṇa is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa." (BG, Ch 10 text 8, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Mahā-Viṣṇu, into whom all the innumerable universes enter and from whom they come forth again simply by His breathing process, is a plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore I worship Govinda, Kṛṣṇa, the cause of all causes."

Therefore, one should conclusively worship the personal form of Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead who has eternal bliss and knowledge. He is the source of all forms of Viṣṇu, He is the source of all forms of incarnation, and He is the original Supreme Personality, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā." (BG, Ch 11 text 54, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Lord is omnipotent, and He expands Himself in innumerable forms and energies, and the whole unit is known as the one Supreme Brahman.

Such extensions of the Lord are divided into two divisions, namely personal and differential.

1 - The personal expansions are called the viṣṇu-tattvas.

2 - The differential expansions are called the jīva-tattvas (individual jiva-souls).

And in such expansional activity, Lord Baladeva (Lord Balarama) is the first personal expansion of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 7 text 26, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Kāraṇārṇavaśāyī Viṣṇu (Maha-Visnu) is a plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa, it is He who electrifies the matter to put it in motion.

The example of electrification is quite appropriate. A piece of iron is certainly not fire, but when the iron is made red-hot, certainly it has the quality of fire through its burning capacity.

Matter is compared to the piece of iron, and it is electrified or made red-hot by the glance or manipulation of the supreme consciousness of Viṣṇu.

Only by such electrification is the energy of matter displayed in various actions and reactions." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 10 text 45, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Ordinary living entities (jiva-souls) are called vibhinnāṁśa expansions.

The unlimited expansions of viṣṇu-tattva, such as-

Vāmana,

Govinda,

Nārāyaṇa,

Pradyumna,

Vāsudeva,

Ananta,

All the above are called svāṁśa-kalā.

"Svāṁśa" refers to a direct expansion (Visnu-tattva), and "kalā" denotes an expansion from the expansion of the original Lord.

Baladeva (Balarama) is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and from Baladeva the next expansion is Saṅkarṣaṇa.

Thus Saṅkarṣaṇa is kalā (an expansion of a expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but Baladeva (Balarama) is svāṁśa (a direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa). There is no difference, however, among Them." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 21 text 32, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Kapila Muni is accepted as an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Here the word ādyaḥ means "the origin of all living entities," and puṁsām īśvaraḥ means "the Lord (īśvara) of the living entities" (īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ (Bs. 5.1).

Kapila Muni is the direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa (svāṁśa), who is the sun of spiritual knowledge.

As the sun dissipates the darkness of the universe, so when the light of the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes down, it at once dissipates the darkness of māyā." (SB, Canto 3 Ch 25 text 9, Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "That Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, who is a partial expansion of Kṛṣṇa, has now appeared in the dynasties of Yadu and Kuru, in the forms of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna respectively, to mitigate the burden of the world." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 1 text 59, Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Nara is a part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.

Thus the energy and the energetic together are the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Maitreya informed Vidura that Nara, the portion of Nārāyaṇa, had appeared in the family of the Kurus and that Nārāyaṇa, the plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa, had come as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with the purpose of delivering suffering humanity from the pangs of material burdens.

In other words, Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi was now present in the world in the forms of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 1 text 59, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is said, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya (CC Adi 5.142). This means that Kṛṣṇa alone is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all others, even the viṣṇu-tattva and certainly the living entities (jiva-souls), are His servitors.

Baladeva (Balarama) is the immediate expansion of Kṛṣṇa (svāṁśa). He also engages in the service of Kṛṣṇa, and certainly the ordinary living entities are serving. Everyone is created, constitutionally, for serving Kṛṣṇa." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 7 text 43, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The first plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa is Baladeva (Balarama), also known as Śeṣa.

The Śeṣa incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead supports the entire universe, and the eternal mother of this incarnation is mother Rohiṇī.

"Because I am going into the womb of Devakī," the Lord told Yogamāyā, "the Śeṣa (Balarama) incarnation has already gone there and made suitable arrangements so that I may live there. Now He should enter the womb of Rohiṇī, His eternal mother." (SB, Canto 10 Ch 2 text 8, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "When Brahmā took away Kṛṣṇa's associates to test the supremacy of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Lord expanded Himself again in the forms of the many cowherd boys and calves, all of whom, as Brahmā saw, were viṣṇu-mūrtis. Devakī is also an expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and therefore this verse says, devakyāṁ deva-rūpiṇyāṁ viṣṇuḥ sarva-guhā-śayaḥ." (SB, Canto 10 Ch 3 text 7-8, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Brahma-saṁhitā (5.48) further says:

yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambya

jīvanti loma-vilajā jagad-aṇḍa-nāthāḥ

viṣṇur mahān sa iha yasya kalā-viśeṣo

govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

This verse describes Mahā-Viṣṇu as a plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Mahā-Viṣṇu lies on the Causal Ocean, and when He exhales, millions of brahmāṇḍas, or universes, come from the pores of His body. Then, when Mahā-Viṣṇu inhales, all these brahmāṇḍas disappear. Thus the millions of brahmāṇḍas controlled by the Brahmās and other demigods come and go in this material world through the breathing of Mahā-Viṣṇu." (SSO Canto 10 Ch 3.14, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Up to this time, even Balarāma was captivated by the bewilderment that covered Brahmā. Even Balarāma did not know that all the calves and cowherd boys were expansions of Kṛṣṇa or that He Himself was also an expansion of Kṛṣṇa. This was disclosed to Balarāma just five or six days before the completion of the year." (SB, Canto 10 Ch 13 text 28, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "According to the Vedic version, ekaṁ bahu syām: Kṛṣṇa can expand Himself into many thousands and millions but still remain one.

In that sense, everything is spiritual because everything is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa; that is, everything is an expansion either of Kṛṣṇa Himself or of His potency.

Because the potency is non-different from the potent, the potency and the potent are one (śakti-śaktimatayor abhedaḥ).

The Māyāvādīs, however, say, cid acit samanvayaḥ: spirit and matter are one. This is a wrong conception." (SB, Canto 10 Ch 13 text 39, Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "A devotee should not see anything as being separate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

Ether, fire, air, water, earth, the sun and other luminaries, all living beings (Visnu-tattvas and individual jiva-tattvas or jiva-souls), the directions, trees and other plants, the rivers and oceans—whatever a devotee experiences he should consider to be an expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Thus seeing everything that exists within creation as the body of the Supreme Lord, Hari, the devotee should offer his sincere respects to the entire expansion of the Lord's body." (SB, Canto 11 Ch 2 text 41, Translation only)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is stated that Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, transmitted transcendental knowledge into the heart of Brahmā. This, then, is one way knowledge is received—through the heart.

Thus there are two processes by which one may receive knowledge:

One depends directly upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated as the Supersoul within the heart of all living entities, and the other depends upon the guru, or spiritual master, who is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Thus Kṛṣṇa transmits information both from within and from without. We simply have to receive it. If knowledge is received in this way, it doesn’t matter whether it is inconceivable or not." (CC Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the first eleven verses of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī thus discusses Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Lord Nityānanda as Balarāma, the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Then in the twelfth and thirteenth verses he describes Advaitācārya, who is another principal associate of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's and an incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

Thus Advaitācārya is also the Lord, or, more precisely, an expansion of the Lord." (CC Introduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "Lord Nityānanda, who is Balarāma Himself, the first direct manifestation or expansion of Kṛṣṇa, is the original spiritual master. He helps Lord Kṛṣṇa in His pastimes, and He is a servant of the Lord." (CC Adi 1.44, Purport)

Understanding how everything expands from Krsna because He is the cause of all causes, part 2

Caitanya Caritamrita - "These two (Krsna and Balarāma) are one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Lord Balarāma is the first bodily expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and He assists in Lord Kṛṣṇa's transcendental pastimes." (CC Adi 5.5, Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "According to expert opinion, Balarāma, as the chief of the original quadruple forms, is also the original Saṅkarṣaṇa.

Balarāma, the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa and further expands Himself in five forms-

(1) Mahā-saṅkarṣaṇa,

(2) Kāraṇābdhiśāyī,

(3) Garbhodakaśāyī,

(4) Kṣīrodakaśāyī,

(5) Śeṣa.

These five plenary portions are responsible for both the spiritual and material cosmic manifestations." (CC Adi 5.10, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The external energy, composed of pradhāna or prakṛti as the ingredient-supplying portion and māyā as the causal portion, is known as māyā-śakti. Inert material nature is not the actual cause of the material manifestation, for Kāraṇārṇavaśāyī (Mahā-Viṣṇu), the plenary expansion of Kṛṣṇa, activates all the ingredients. It is in this way that material nature has the power to supply the ingredients." (CC Adi 5.61, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "This is a description of the Rudra (Siva) form, which is another expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Only viṣṇu-mūrtis are expansions of Kṛṣṇa's personal and plenary portions. Mahā-Viṣṇu, who lies on the Causal Ocean, is an expansion of Saṅkarṣaṇa. When Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu accepts the material modes of nature for the purpose of dissolving the cosmic manifestation, His form is called Rudra (an expansion of Lord Siva)." (CC Madhya 20.307, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Rudra (Siva) is simultaneously one with and different from the viṣṇu-tattva. Due to his association with māyā, he is different from the viṣṇu-tattva, but at the same time he is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa's personal form. This situation is called bhedābheda-tattva or acintya-bhedābheda-tattva, simultaneously one and different." (CC Madhya 20.308, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Although an incarnation of the material energy, Lord Brahmā is nonetheless the director of the material mode of passion. Similarly, Lord Śiva, although simultaneously one with and different from Lord Kṛṣṇa, is still the incarnation of the mode of darkness. However, Lord Viṣṇu is Kṛṣṇa's personal expansion; therefore He is the director of the mode of goodness and is always transcendentally situated, beyond the jurisdiction of the modes of material nature. Lord Viṣṇu is the original personal expansion of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is the original source of all incarnations. As far as power is concerned, Lord Viṣṇu is as powerful as Lord Kṛṣṇa because He possesses all the opulences." (CC Madhya 20.315, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is stated that Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, transmitted transcendental knowledge into the heart of Brahmā. This then is one way knowledge is received—through the heart. Thus there are two processes by which one may receive knowledge-

1 - One depends upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated as the Supersoul within the heart of all living entities.

2 - The other depends upon the guru or spiritual master, who is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Thus Kṛṣṇa transmits information both from within and from without. We simply have to receive it. If knowledge is received in this way, it doesn't matter whether it is inconceivable or not." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Intoduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "Thus Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī discusses Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu as Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Lord Nityānanda as Balarāma, the first expansion of Kṛṣṇa.

Advaitācārya, another principal disciple of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's, is accepted as an expansion of the Mahā-Viṣṇu. Thus Advaitācārya is also the Lord, or, more precisely, an expansion of the Lord. The word advaita means non-dual, and his name is such because he is non-different from the Supreme Lord." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 5 Intoduction)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are three different processes by which Kṛṣṇa can be understood-

1 - The empiric process of philosophical speculation.

2 - The process of meditation according to the mystic yoga system.

3 - The process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service.

* By the method of philosophical speculation, the impersonal Brahman feature of Kṛṣṇa is understood.

* By the process of meditation or mystic yoga, the feature of the Supersoul, the all-pervading expansion of Kṛṣṇa, is understood.

* And by devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the original Personality of Godhead is realized." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 5)

Srila Prabhupada - "Lord Caitanya further points out that the Paramātmā, the all-pervading feature situated in everyone's body, is but a partial manifestation or expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but because Kṛṣṇa is the soul of all souls, He is called Paramātmā, the Supreme Self. In this regard, Caitanya quoted another verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam concerning the talks between Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Śukadeva Gosvāmī. While hearing of the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired from his spiritual master, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, as to why the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana were so much attached to Kṛṣṇa."(Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 5)

Srila Prabhupada - "For instance, Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself in multiple forms during the rāsa dance in order to dance with each and every gopī who took part in forms in order to accommodate His 16,108 wives. There are some instances of great mystics' also expanding their bodily features in different ways, but Kṛṣṇa did not expand Himself by any yoga process.

Each expansion of Kṛṣṇa was a separate individual.

In Vedic history, Saubhari Ṛṣi, a sage, expanded himself into eight forms by the yoga process, but Saubhari Ṛṣi remained one. As far as Kṛṣṇa is concerned, when He manifested Himself in different forms, each and every one of them was a separate individual." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 6)

Srila Prabhupada - "Lord Śiva is not one of the living entities (he is not a jiva-soul); he is, more or less, Kṛṣṇa Himself. The example of milk and yogurt is often given in this regard—yogurt is a preparation of milk, but still yogurt cannot be used as milk. Similarly, Lord Śiva is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but he cannot act as Kṛṣṇa, nor can we derive the spiritual restoration from Lord Śiva that we derive from Kṛṣṇa. The essential difference is that Lord Śiva has a connection with material nature, but Viṣṇu or Lord Kṛṣṇa has nothing to do with material nature." (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 8)

Srila Prabhupada - "In Brahma-saṁhitā the example is given of an original candle which lights a second candle. Although both candles are of equal power, one is accepted as the original, and the other is said to be kindled from the original. The Viṣṇu expansion is like the second candle. He is as powerful as Kṛṣṇa, but the original Viṣṇu is Kṛṣṇa. Brahmā and Lord Śiva are obedient servants of the Supreme Lord, and the Supreme Lord as Viṣṇu is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa."(Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Ch 8)

Srila Prabhupada - "The universes of the material creation have a limited length and breadth, but as far as the Vaikuṇṭha planets are concerned, there is no limitation to their dimensions because they are spiritual.