Monday, June 10, 2024

Even having free will must first be sanctioned by Krsna because everything comes from Him.

Krsna's devotees (individual jiva-souls) never lose their "free will" in the spiritual world that allows unique self expression and voluntary participation.  

This is because loving exchanges and reciprocation between Krsna and His devotees are based on "free will," which means having the freedom to express oneself by having the choice of how to voluntarily participate in Krsna's service. 

Such cooperation between Kṛṣṇa His pure devotees is the based on personalism expressed in a two-way relationship of loving exchanges and reciprocation.

This further acknowledges that the devotee's independent identity, personality and character is eternally separate from Krsna's Personality, so they can independently make their own unique offerings even though Krsna knows everything because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

Therefore, Krsna allows "free will" to exist because it creates diversity, independent viewpoints, unique personal voluntary contributions and offerings from His devotees in the spiritual world in a "two-sided" mood of cooperation and loving exchanges.

Of course to the devotees in the spiritual world, Krsna is the most amazing, beautiful and kindest Person they always want to be with and serve.

Therefore, the Kingdom of God is not an impersonal paradise that denies personal individual contributions and voluntary participation from His dear devotees while serving Krsna, no, Krsna is not an impersonal inconsiderate self centred God like that.

Kṛṣṇa always allows His devotees to voluntarily decide for themselves how they want to serve Him, He never forces His devotees to do anything they do not choose to voluntarily do.

Having free will therefore gives the individual devotee their independence so they can contribute in their own personal way, rather than Krsna always deciding for them what to do by controlling their every thought and actions.

Personalism and free will go together, both are eternally linked like a two-sided coin. Without free will (having the freedom to express oneself as a unique individual), personalism becomes impersonalism (a suppressive world of being told what to think, how to act and every action you do.)

Krsna's devotees are unique independent persons who eternally express their individual full potential by voluntarily serving Krsna.

We must never forget that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, who has won our heart by His selfless devotion and care for us.

Infact, Krsna's love for His devotees is far greater than they can ever love Him. 

If we properly understand this, then we will understand everything comes from Krsna, including free will. Srila Prabhupada confirms below telling us Krsna is always in control.

Syamasundara dasa - "Does the individual soul have a little independence to choose?"

Srila Prabhupada - ''No (not without the sanction of Krsna) Bhagavad-Gita states that when the individual soul wants to act, Krsna gives the orders. Man proposes, and God disposes."

Syamasundara dasa - "So we have no free will?"

Srila Prabhupada - ''Not independent from Krsna, not without the sanction of Krsna first. Without Him, we cannot do anything, therefore Krsna is the ultimate cause of all causes."

Syamasundara dasa - ''But I thought you have been saying that we have a little independence?"

Srila Prabhupada - "We have the independence (free will) in the sense that we may deny or affirm, but unless Krsna sanctions our desires, we cannot do anything." (Dialectical Spiritualism: A Vedic View of Western Philosophy)

Srila Prabhupada here is simply confirming everything comes from Krsna and must be sanctioned by Him first, including free will.

This is because Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes meaning nothing can happen without His sanction first. 

However, Krsna will always sanction free will and the ability to choose, because without free will, the devotees could never voluntary contribute in their own unique way in their relationship with Kṛṣṇa, free will actually makes the relationship with Krsna more personal because it allows "two-way" exchanges and loving reciprocation.

In this way, free will and personalism go hand in hand in a two-sided affair of loving co-operation and exchanges.

On the other hand, a "one-way" suppressive ruler only denies individual contributions and offerings, leaving only impersonalism.

Srila Prabhupada in his discussion with Syamasundara dasa, is simply making the point that everything is under the control of Krsna- 

"Not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Lord."

In other words, we only have free will because Krsna allows it as part of our personality, therefore without free will there would only be impersonalism.

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)

The individual personal contributions from Krsna's devotees are forever expanding their unique ability of self expression in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.

This allows them to always make voluntary offerings to Krsna and Viṣṇu that forever increase and expand the loving emotions of cooperation in a healthy "two-way" exchange between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees.  

For love to truly exist, each devotee must have the free will to make their own choices, even if that choice means rejecting Krsna, otherwise there can be no question of genuine voluntary loving service or free will.

Swedish man - "Is there free will?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, just like you are sitting here. If you don’t like, you can go away. That’s your free will. There is free will, we are part and parcel of God, therefore we have got minute quantity of freedom." (Temple lecture Stockholm Sweden)

Srila Prabhupada - "Every individual soul is awarded a portion of independence because each is part and parcel of God. Thus he has the quality of independence, but in minute quantity. That is his individuality." (Dialectical Spiritualism: A Vedic View of Western Philosophy)

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. 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)

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 free will. 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, therefore  unless there can be the misuse of free will, then there is no question of free will." (Excerpt from Discussions on Rene Descartes philosophy)

Syamasundara - "But can we predict returning back home back to Godhead will be permanent? Can we predict that? Just like many prisoners leave the prison, however some do come back?''

Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is no permanent effect because we have got little independence. There is nothing permanent because you can misuse your independence at any time."

Syamasundara - "And some come back?"

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 - "He has got independence, therefore there is always the possibility 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." (Talk with Syamasundara on Henri Bergson philosophy)

Bali Mardana - "An example of free will is someone can choose Kṛṣṇa or turn away? Is that 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? 

Kṛṣṇa says, satataṁ kīrtayanto mām: (BG 9.14) "Always chanting about Me." That is mahātmā. Satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ (BG 9.14). Mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ: (BG 9.13) 

Mahātmā, those who are devotee, they are not under these material influence. If he accepts Kṛṣṇa, he must abide by the injunction of Kṛṣṇa." (Morning Walk, Jan 22, 1974, Hawaii)

The qualities of "free will" allows the devotees to contribute in their own way.This means they can contribute to serving Krsna in their own unique way as the individual persons they always are eternally.

In other words, "free will" allows Krsna's devotees in the spiritual world to always voluntarily express themselves in their unique way to please Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - “The individual 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 and become a flower, voluntarily, and one can change his form in the spiritual world 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)

In the spiritual world all relationships with Krsna are "equally blissful to each other." just like one may like a carnation flower while others may choose to like a rose flower.

Krsna's devotees are independent living entities (jiva-souls) in the spiritual world who have their own unique personality and sense of self, yet simultaneously always depend on Krsna as His eternal servants.

The reason why Krsna gave the jiva-souls their independence and free will is so they can choose for themselves how to voluntarily serve Krsna in their own unique personal way.

Real love or service only exists when there is freedom of expression that can only exist in a "two-way" relationship of cooperation, reciprocation and loving exchanges.

This allows Krsna's devotees to voluntarily participate as an independent person in loving devotional exchanges, offering personal contributions in their relationship with Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 only by one, there must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "The impersonalist philosophy is oneness, so how can there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience? Love means one? No, love means two! There must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He's so lover of you 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)

Surrender to Krsna in the spiritual world does not mean giving up your "free will" and individual personality, and allow Krsna to control your every actions, words and thoughts like a puppet master impersonally controls his puppets. Krsna is not like that at all.

No, the devotees in the spiritual world are not programmed drones who only obey and never contribute to their relationship with Krsna with their own unique offerings.

Therefore in the spiritual world, Krsna's devotees can never lose their "free will," this means they always have the choice to accept Kṛṣṇa or even reject Krsna.

Only by having "free will" can genuine loving exchanges and reciprocation (personalism) take place, and without "free will" personalism becomes impersonalism.

A devotee who is devoid of free will are no better than dead stone Prabhupada has said above.

Furthermore, in the spiritual world, Krsna never interferes with the free will of His devotees, they must decide for themselves.

This is because if He did, and never allowed them their free will to voluntarily choose their own contributions or offerings in the spiritual world, then loving exchanges, cooperation and voluntarily participation would never exist.

If one is forced to worship Krsna or Visnu, then that is not love, it is impersonalism.

Voluntary service to Krsna is the bases of surrender in Goloka-Vrindavana and on the Vaikuntha planets which are the permanent eternal homes and origin for all of Krsna's devotees

Krsna does control His pure devotees with selfless loving exchanges and reciprocation. The devotees voluntarily allow this out of their unconditional attraction and love for beautiful Krsna who does everything for His devotees and serves them more than they can ever serve Him.  

Actually, Kṛṣṇa is far more selfless and caring than His devotees can ever be.

Srila Prabhupada - "Krsna does not want to become a lover by force, from the point of revolver. ‘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.)

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!" 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 - "As living spiritual jiva-souls we are all originally Kṛṣṇa conscious entities, but due to our association with matter since time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by material atmosphere. When the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation. But when the supreme marginal potency (the jiva-souls) are in contact with the spiritual potency, Harā, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity." (The "Happening Record Album" recorded Dec 1966 in New York City, USA)*^*















Saturday, June 8, 2024

Srimad Bhagavatam - "The first covering of our secondary material universe deep inside the outer massive Brahmanda universe that surrounds and encases our single universe, is the "earth" element." (SB, Canto 6 C 16 Text 37)

In most references in Srimad Bhagavatam, it says the ''earth" element is the first layer of our small single material universe's surrounding Brahmanda.

There are billions of these Brahmanda greater egg shaped universal shells, each with a smaller single material universe of planetary systems deep within them. 

All the massive Brahmanda material universes originates from the Body of Maha Visnu as seen in photo below.

Although Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 26 Text 52 says water is the first layer, most references say the seven layers of the Brahmanda our single secondary universe is in, begins with the earth element.

Srimad Bhagavatam - ''Every universe is covered by seven layers—earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego—each ten times greater than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta]." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37)

Srila Prabhupāda - "This verse describes the coverings of the universe (saptabhir daśa-guṇottarair aṇḍa-kośaḥ)

The coverings of our secondary material universe inside the Brahmanda larger material universe are-

1 - EARTH,

2 - WATER,

3 - FIRE,

4 - AIR,

5 - SKY,

6 - TOTAL MATERIAL ENERGY (mahat-tattva),

7 - FALSE EGO.

Beginning with the covering of earth, each covering is ten times greater than the previous one. Thus we can only imagine how great each the Brahmanda material universe is, and there are many millions of these material universes." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37 Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - ''The mahat-tattva, the total material energy, is called avyakta. Then, when it is agitated by the glance of the Supreme Lord, the three modes of material nature acts. And by interaction of these three modes of material nature, the whole cosmic manifestation comes into being." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 33 Vrndavana, Nov 12, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - ''So actually, there are twenty-six different elements which is conducting this material world. Etat kṣetraṁ samāsena sa-vikāram udāhṛtam. Kṣetra means this body. Either you take this body or this material world, they are interaction of these twenty-four elements.

Either you take the gigantic body of this universe or you take the body of this planet or you take this your body, my body, or a cat's body, dog's body, all these bodies, they are formed of these twenty-four elements, sa-vikāram, by action and reaction.

Just like chemically, if you mix one chemical with another chemical, a third element is produced, similarly, originally the reservation of all these elements is called mahat-tattva. It is called pradhāna, upadhāna.

So, gradually they manifest, they divide by three guṇas. Three guṇas means in the mahat-tattva, in the total material reservoir, three guṇas, three modes of nature, first of all appear and they act with one another, and then gradually, one after another, the twenty-four elements become manifested. Etat kṣetraṁ samāsena sa-vikāram udāhṛtam." (Lecture BG, Ch 13 text 6-7 Montreal, Oct 25, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - ''So mahat-tattva, the total material energy, and six, five elements, sixteen, sixteen, ṣoḍaśa-kalam.

What are those?

The five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air, and sense objects and senses and the spirit soul. In this way, sixteen. 

And from sixteen, it expands to twenty-four. That is the explanation of our Vedic creation. Ṣoḍaśa-kalam." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 3 text 1 Vrndavana, Nov 14, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada - "The total energy of material creation is called mahat-tattva or pradhāna. Then, when the mahat-tattva is agitated by the three guṇas, then they become divided into twenty-four elements." (Lecture SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 text 11-14 Bombay, Dec 23, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "That mahat-tattva is above this universe, above the sky. Above the sky there are seven layers. Each layer is ten times more than the other layer. In this way, that is called mahat-tattva. Total material elements, they are stocked there. And then these varieties take place. And above that mahat-tattva, there is spiritual world." (Lecture SB, Canto 3 Ch 26 text 10 Bombay, Dec 22, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada - "As confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (BG 10.42)-

athavā bahunaitena

kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna

viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam

ekāṁśena sthito jagat.

"But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe."

The entire material world manifests is only one fourth of the Supreme Lord's energy. Therefore He is called ananta." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 Text 28 Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - ''The extent of the cosmic phenomenon or our individual universe is calculated to be diametrically four billion miles in size.

Then the outer covering known as the ''Brahmanda universal shell'' begins.

The first covering of earth element is calculated to extend forty billion miles, (10 times the size of the inner universe) and the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively of water, fire, air, sky, total material energy, false ego one after another, each extending ten times further than the previous.

The fearless devotee of the Lord penetrates each one of them and ultimately reaches the absolute atmosphere where everything is of one and the same spiritual identity.

Then the devotee enters one of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, where he assumes exactly the same form as the Lord and engages in the loving transcendental service of the Lord.

That is the highest perfection of devotional life. Beyond this there is nothing to be desired or achieved by the perfect yogī." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 Text 28 Purport)

Srimad Bhagavatam - The material coverings of the massive Brahmanda universe that encases and surrounds our inner secondary material universe are-

1 - "The first layer is of earth and is ten times greater in size than the space within the universe. 

2 - The second layer is water, and that is ten times greater than the earthly layer.

3 - The third covering is fire, which is ten times greater than the water covering. 

In this way each of the seven layers are ten times greater than the previous one." (SB Canto 3 Ch 29 Text 43)

Srimad Bhagavatam explains there are millions of individual massive Brahmanda material universes coming from Maha Visnu making up the material creation (1/4 of the Spiritual Sky) each Brahmanda housing their own secondary universe universe inside them as painting below reveals.

All secondary material universes inside their Brahmandas are of different sizes, some, like ours, are only 4 billion miles in diameter.

Our 4 billion miles (500,000,000 yojanas) diameter material universe with its 14 planetary systems that are deep inside our Brahmanda, is one of the smallest material universes, it would also fit in the description of Bhu-Mandala (4 billion miles (500,000,000 yojanas) diameter)

Sadaputa dasa ACBSP (Richard L. Thompson) earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from Cornell University. He is the author of several books on Vedic Cosmology explain what Bhu-Mandala is-

''In the Bhagavatam, Bhu-Mandala—the “earth mandala” (not to be confused with our small earth globe), is a disk 500 million yojanas in diameter (4 billion miles).

One yojana is a unit of distance that equals about 8 miles long, therefore 8×500 million yojanas = 4 billion miles. So, the diameter of Bhu-Mandala is about 4 billion miles which is also the size of our secondary material universe.

Bhu-Mandala is marked by circular features designated as islands (Dvipas that can also mean planets) and oceans.

Srila Prabhupada -"The "planets" are called "dvīpas." Outer space is like an ocean of air. Just as there are islands in the watery ocean, these planets in the ocean of space are called dvīpas, or islands in outer space." (CC, Madhya 20.218, Purport)

So clearly, Bhu-Mandala is far too big to be our small earth global sphere we live on.

Sadaputa dasa - "Of course, Bhu-Mandala is earth centered, its innermost island, Jambudvipa, contains Bharata-varsha, which Srila Prabhupada has repeatedly identified as the planet earth." (Vedic Cosmology by Sadaputa dasa)

Srila Prabhupada - ''We have to imagine that these universes (Brahmandas), which according to our limited knowledge are expanded unlimitedly, are so great that the gross and subtle ingredients—the five elements of the cosmic manifestation, namely earth, water, fire, air and sky, along with the total material energy and false ego—are NOT only within the universe but cover the universe in seven layers, each layer ten times bigger than the previous one.

In this way, each and every universe is very securely packed, and there are numberless universes. All these universes float within the innumerable pores of the transcendental body of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

It is stated that just as the atoms and particles of dust are floating within the air along with the birds and their number cannot be calculated, so innumerable universes are floating within the pores of the transcendental body of the Lord. For this reason, the Vedas say that God is beyond the grasp of our knowledge.'' (Krsna Book 87)

We cannot therefore see from one material universe to another, this is because our individual secondary material universe is surrounded and encased by 7 material layers that is the massive Brahmanda material universe. 

So it is impossible to see the millions of other Brahmandas outside our inner universe (inside a massive Brahmanda) because of those 7 material layers.

However, there are rare mystic yogis and advanced devotees like Arjuna who can see and pass through those 7 material layers. So of course Krsna and Arjuna did not encounter such limitations that we experience with the combination of these elements earth, water, fire, air, sky, false ego, mahat-tattva - all gross elements as Bhagavad Gita explains.

Srila Prabhupada - ''The Lord is not visible to the eyes of ordinary men, those who are beyond the covering layers because of their transcendental devotional service can still see Him''. (Krsna Book 87.)

We cannot see through our Brahmanda universal shell that surrounds and encases our secondary material universe.

Srila Prabhupada is clear on this.

Srila Prabhupada - ''Lord Krsna and Arjuna crossed over the great region of darkness covering the material universes. Arjuna then saw the effulgence of light known as the brahmajyoti. The brahmajyoti is situated ''outside the covering of the material universes'', and because it cannot be seen with our present eyes, this brahmajyoti is sometimes called avyakta''. (Krsna Book, 89)

Srila Prabhupada - ''Each universe is covered by various layers of material elements (The 7 layers of the massive outer Brahmanda covering), and therefore although the material universes are clustered together, we cannot see from one universe to another. 

In other words, whatever we see is within this one universe. 

In each material universe there is one Lord Brahmā, and there are other demigods on other planets, but there is only one sun in each material universe within the Brahmanda." (SB, Canto 5 Ch 21 Text 11, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī confirms that a part of the material nature, after being initiated by the Lord, is known as the mahat-tattva.

1 - A fractional portion of the mahat-tattva is called the false ego. 

2 - A portion of the ego is the vibration of sound.

3 - A portion of sound is atmospheric air.

4 - A portion of the airy atmosphere is turned into forms. 

5 - Forms constitute the power of electricity or heat.

6 - Heat produces the smell of the aroma of the earth.

7 - The gross earth is produced by such aroma. 

8 - And all these combined together constitute the cosmic phenomenon.

The extent of the cosmic phenomenon or our individual universe is calculated to be diametrically four billion miles in size.

Then the outer covering, known as the Brahmanda shell begins.

The first covering of earth is calculated to extend forty billion miles, (10 times the size of the inner material universe inside Brahmanda) 

And the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively of water, fire, air, sky, total material energy, false ego one after another, each extending ten times further than the previous.

The fearless devotee of the Lord penetrates each one of them and ultimately reaches the absolute atmosphere where everything is of one and the same spiritual identity.

Then the devotee enters one of the Vaikuṇṭha planets, where he assumes exactly the same form as the Lord and engages in the loving transcendental service of the Lord. 

That is the highest perfection of devotional life. Beyond this there is nothing to be desired or achieved by the perfect yogī." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 Text 28)

Srimad Bhagavatam - "Every universe is covered by seven layers — earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego — each ten times greater than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta]." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37)

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

yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambya

jīvanti loma-vilajā jagad-aṇḍa-nāthāḥ

viṣṇur mahān sa iha yasya kalā-viśeṣo

govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

The origin of the material creation is Mahā-Viṣṇu, who lies in the Causal Ocean. While He sleeps in that ocean, millions of universes are generated as He exhales, and they are all annihilated when He inhales.

This Mahā-Viṣṇu is a plenary portion of a portion of Viṣṇu, Govinda (yasya kalā-viśeṣaḥ). 

The word kalā refers to a plenary portion of a plenary portion.

From Kṛṣṇa, or Govinda, comes Balarāma; from Balarāma comes Saṅkarṣaṇa; from Saṅkarṣaṇa, Nārāyaṇa; from Nārāyaṇa, the second Saṅkarṣaṇa; from the second Saṅkarṣaṇa, Mahā-Viṣṇu; from Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu; and from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu controls every material universe.

This gives an idea of the meaning of ananta, unlimited. What is to be said of the unlimited potency and existence of the Lord? This verse describes the coverings of the universe (saptabhir daśa-guṇottarair aṇḍa-kośaḥ).

The first covering is earth, the second is water, the third is fire, the fourth is air, the fifth is sky, the sixth is the total material energy, and the seventh is the false ego.

Beginning with the covering of earth, each covering is ten times greater than the previous one. Thus we can only imagine how great each universe is, and there are many millions of universes. As confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (10.42):

athavā bahunaitena

kiṁ jñātena tavārjuna

viṣṭabhyāham idaṁ kṛtsnam

ekāṁśena sthito jagat

"But what need is there, Arjuna, for all this detailed knowledge? With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and support this entire universe.” 

The entire material world manifests only one fourth of the Supreme Lord’s energy. Therefore He is called ananta." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 16 Text 37 Purport)

Is the first layer of our outer Brahmanda shell Earth or water?

There is some passages in Bhagavatam that says the first layer is earth and other places it says the first layer is water.

Srimad Bhagavatam says there are 7 layers that make up our outer Brahmanda shell that surrounds our single inner material universe inside it.

The circumference of our small secondary material universe inside our Brahmanda is 12.6 billion miles. And within that area are the 14 planetary systems.

Srila Prabhupada - ''The extent of the cosmic phenomenon or our individual universe is calculated to be diametrically four billion miles in size. Then the outer covering known as the Brahmanda shell begins.

The first covering of earth is calculated to extend forty billion miles, (10 times the size of the inner universe) and the subsequent coverings of the universe are respectively of water, fire, air, sky, total material energy, false ego one after another, each extending ten times further than the previous" (SB, Canto 2 Ch 2 text 28 Purport)

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is referring to the circumference of our Brahmanda universal shell our single material universe is within, in following text-

Caitanya Caritamrita - "Kṛṣṇa said, ‘Your particular universe has a diameter of four billion miles; therefore it is the smallest of all the universes. Consequently you have only four heads." (CC Madhya 21.84)

Srila Prabhupada - "Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, one of the greatest astrologers of his time, gives information from the Siddhānta-śiromaṇi that this universe measures 18,712,069,200,000,000 x 8 miles.

(That's 18 quadrillion, 712 trillion, 69 billion, 200 million yojanas. So, multiply that figure by 8 to get miles which is 149 quadrillion 696 trillion 553 Billion 600 million miles in circumference).

This is the circumference of this Brahmanda universe according to some, this is only half the circumference to others."(CC Madhya 21.84 Purport)

It seems this is circumference of our ''Brahmanda universal shell'' that includes our 4 billion mile diameter universe that is deep within it.

The diameter of the massive Brahmanda with its 7 material layers is 44 quadrilllion, 444 trillion, 444 billion miles. If measured from the outer edge of the inner 4 billion mile diameter "secondary material universe" inside it, then it is twice that figure.

Compiled by Gauragopala dasa ACBSP - Vedic Cosmology Decoding the 5th Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam.









Sunday, June 2, 2024

In the spiritual world everything is alive as eternal individual living life forms. This includes all that there is in the spiritual world, meaning everything there is moves as an "living individual life force."

Everything in the spiritual world from a cloud, a rain drop, a pebble on a street, a flag pole, a chair Kṛṣṇa sits on, the clothing worn by Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, a bird cage that houses birds, everything there is in the spiritual world is living individual persons.

It is very important to understand that the eternal individual jiva-souls are separated independent persons, each being a unique individual spiritual bodily form eternally.

Although the spiritual bodily appearance of the eternal individual jiva-souls can change in the spiritual world, from being a two-armed spiritual bodily form like Krsnas in Goloka Vrindavana, to any bodily form or object in the Vaikuntha planets and on Goloka-Vrindavana, Krsna's central abode.

The eternal individual jiva-souls can voluntarily choose to be anything they like, from a human form to a blade of grass, to a cloud in the sky, to a flag pole to a chariot all according to a Krsna's pastimes. 

In the spiritual world everything is alive with "individual" life. 

Srila Prabhupada - “The individual jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is always voluntary, they decide how they want to serve Krsna,  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 and become a flower, voluntarily, and one can change his form in the spiritual world 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 formless "spiritual spark" anology of an "inactive bodiless jiva-soul" only exists (is projected) in the impersonal brahmajyoti (brahman) or atom as a further fallen condition of the eternal individual jiva-soul and never in the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana. 

In the spiritual world everything is alive as individual life forms, all individual relationships with Krsna are "equally blissful to each other," just like one may like a carnation flower while others may choose to like a rose flower.

Free will allows the eternal individual jiva-souls in the spiritual world, to always voluntarily express themselves in their own unique special way, making them the contributing person they are eternally.

Everything on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana is alive as unlimited individual life, there is no material energy (Maya) in the spiritual world to tempt the individual jiva-souls but there is always free will. 

This means each eternal individual jiva-soul (marginal living entity) has their own unique personality and identity separate from Krsna's Personality.

Being an individual personalist includes the eternal individual jiva-souls having their free will eternally.

Without "free will" being part of personalism, it only leaves cold loveless impersonalism.

Free will means the eternal individual jiva-souls voluntarily make their own decisions of service in the Vaikuntha planets and on Goloka-Vrindavana serving Visnu or Krsna, including the choice to leave Them if they want.

As said above, without "free will," "personalism" has absolutely no meaning at leaving only impersonalism. 

The eternal individual spiritual bodily form the jiva-souls are is- 

sat, 

cit, 

ananda, 

vigraha.

These Sanskrit words means

eternity, 

knowledge, 

bliss, 

form.

Fortunately, over 90% of eternal individual jiva-souls choose to stay in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana even though they can choose to leave if they want at anytime. Sadly, almost 10% do choose to leave and enter the material creation via the dreams of Maha-Visnu.

The individual jiva-soul's voluntary contributions are eternally expressed fully in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

In the spiritual world they are never forced to surrender to Krsna or do anything they choose not to do. 

For loving service to truly each eternal individual jiva-soul must be able to express their free will by making their own choices, their own decisions, even if it means rejecting Krsna, otherwise there can be no question of being able to voluntarily express themselves as an individual and experience loving exchanges and 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 individual jiva-soul's marginal constitution that allows them to be an independent free thinking expansion of the Krsna. 

Therefore, the eternal marginal living entity (individual jiva-soul) also means always having free will that is included when describing the qualities and constitution of the individual jiva-souls. 

As said above, Krsna allows this freedom the eternal individual jiva-souls have because without "free will" personal loving exchanges, unique 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. Without free will personalism cannot exist.

This means the individual 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 choice to choose, and without the ability to voluntarily choose, there is no question of loving exchanges.

So, the choice to leave the Vaikuntha planets 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 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 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 on Rene Descartes philosophy with Hayagriva dasa 1969)

1 - Nitya-siddha means eternally liberated in the spiritual world means while the individual jiva-souls are in either the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana, but if they choose to leave the spiritual world they are no longer eternally liberated (nitya-siddha). 

2 - Nitya-baddha means eternally conditioned while in the material world and while "inactive" in the impersonal brahmajyoti (brahman), but only while in those "conditioned states" outside of the spiritual world. Once the individual jiva-souls again return to the spiritual world they then again become nitya-siddha or eternally liberated.

There is only one classification of jiva-souls that can choose either being eternally "conditioned," or eternally "liberated," not two as some wrongly believe. 

Therefore, each eternal individual jiva-soul has two-sides to their personality, they can either be nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned), or nitya-siddha (eternally liberated).

In this way the individual jiva-souls can choose for themselves to be with Krsna, or reject Krsna.

This is because each devotee of Krsna (jiva-soul), as part of their spiritual individual constitutional make-up, has free will that allows the right to choose.

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 eternal individual jiva-souls- 

1 - One type of eternal individual jiva-souls stays in the Vaikuṇṭha planets and Goloka Vṛndāvana and NEVER rebel and go to the material world.  These individual jiva-souls are called nitya-siddha or eternally liberated in the spiritual world.

2 - And the other eternal individual jiva-souls are in the material world,  they are known as nitya-baddha which means materially conditioned in the material world, or further fallen to being "inactive" (almost dead) as a individual bodiless spark in the impersonal brahmajyoti (brahman).

The eternal individual dormant (inactive) jiva-souls in the impersonal Brahmajyoti (a temporary fallen conditioned state), and those "active" in the material world, can eventually enter the spiritual world, but once there never fall down again to the material world, so they claim. 

Such a two-sided division of the eternal individual jiva-souls explained above, is bogus nonsense.

There is only one category of eternal individual jiva-souls who have two-sides to their individual personality explained above, they can be in the position of either nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) or nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) 

The position is eternal and not the individual jiva-souls in those positions of eternally liberated (nitya-siddha) and eternally conditioned (nitya-baddha) this is important to understand.

The eternal individual jiva-soul's original natural position is nitya-siddha or eternally liberated on the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana which are their natural eternal homes.

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.

The eternal individual jiva-souls 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." (CC, 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 City Temple Lecture 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 BG, 13-14, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are three kinds of liberated persons. They are called- 

1) sadhan siddha, 

2) kripa siddha, 

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 BG, 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 Melb, 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 (free will) as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at anytime in the spiritual world, so there is always a chance of falling down by misuse of one’s independence." (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 25th April 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 9th July 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 (free will) is always there, the soul may fall down from any position or any relationship by misusing his independence (free will) in the spiritual world." (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 27th Feb 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "The soul's relationship with Krsna is never lost, simply forgotten by the influence of maya, it maybe regained or revived again 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 27th Feb 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 genuinely honest within one's heart, Krsna sends the Guru (spiritual teacher) who will guide them out of the material creation and return them back home, back to Godhead to be with Krsna or Visnu.

Krsna will help you when He sees you are trying your very hardest to do everything you can to help yourself find God and serve Him, 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 Prabhupada's Book, "Science of reealization")

Genuine loving exchanges with Krsna are voluntary and reciprocal and always in a two-sided co-operation, it is never a "one-way" street where Krsna does everything for you denying personal contributions.

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 the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana is perpetually part and parcel of all eternal marginal living entities (individual jiva-souls) make up.

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) originate from their eternal home in Goloka-Vrindavana and not from the dormant (inactive) impersonal Brahman as Prabhupada teaches.

Originally, all eternal individual jiva-souls are nitya-siddha because they all come from their real home in Goloka-Vrindavana.

Only when the fallen jiva-souls enter the temporary material creation and later the impersonal brahmajyoti  (brahma) do they then become nitya-baddha.

The nitya-siddha can become a nitya-baddhas and nitya-baddhas can AGAIN become nitya-siddha. 

No eternal individual jiva-souls originates from the impersonal Brahmajyoti as fools believe Prabhupada explains-  

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) 

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, 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." (Rathayatra lecture 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 on a Vaikuntha planet or in Goloka Vrindavana eternally, it does not work that way because of free will, which means at anytime there is always a choice, otherwise "personalism" and "free will" have no meaning.

Falling down from the spiritual world has nothing to do with Maya (the material energy) because Maya does not exist in the spiritual world however, free will does exist eternally on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana and always gives the eternal individual jiva-souls a choice.

If you were forced to stay anywhere then how can there be voluntary love? The choice to leave the spiritual world or stay must always be with the jiva-souls too.

Loving exchanges and reciprocation are a "two-way" endeavour, and never a one-way "speak only when you are spoken too dictatorship).

Many who consider themselves advanced devotees of God cannot understand what "free will" and "personalism" really means, they sentimentally claim "not even the leaves can fall down from the Vaikuntha planets or Golokaļ Vrindavana."

It is immature to claim the eternal individual jiva-souls can never again fall down from the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana because if they genuinely do have free will, then they can make their own decisions "one way or the other,"  without any pressure of force from Kṛṣṇa.

Remaining on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana eternally (infinity) is based on what the eternal individual jiva-souls want to do as a unique separate independent beings. It is their choice also to say or go, not just Krsnas as explained above. Love is a two-way street and not a one-way dictatorship.

Otherwise there is no meaning to having free will or personalism.

If Krsna forced His will on the eternal individual jiva-souls then He destroys their independence, and turns personalism into impersonalism. 

Free will or the ability to voluntarily express themselves in their own unique way, allows the eternal individual jiva-souls to voluntarily choose where they want to be, even if means returning back to the material world.

In other words, the eternal individual jiva-souls always have a choice to become a servant of the Lord, or can reject Him if they want on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana, and enter the material world. Sentimentalist cannot understand how the individual jiva-souls can fall down from the spiritual world.  

Falling down has nothing to do with Maya or the material energy because Maya does not exist in the spiritual world however, free will eternally exists there. 

The eternal individual 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 eternal individual jiva-soul's responsibility too and not just Krsnas. Remember, love is a two-way street of loving exchanges and reciprocation.

It is the individual 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 eternal individual jiva-souls do not fall down from the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka Vrindavana because they choose not to leave.

That choice to stay in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, or leave is always with the eternal individual marginal living entities (jiva-souls).

The eternal individual jiva-souls or marginal living entities have 78.125% of Krsna's quantities which is having 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes the maths tells us.This 78.125% is not a speculative figure it is a mathematical fact!

So, why in his books does Prabhupada always go to the simplest explanation like 78% instead of 78.125% for the jiva-souls, or 93% instead of 93.75% for Visnu-tattva or 84% instead of 85.938% for Siva-tattva? 

The answer is Prabhupada encouraged us to study Srimad Bhagavatam and learn everything we can, so with the figures Prabhupada give us, by doing the maths this is what the figures are, there is no contradiction here-

1 - Visnu-tattva has 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities which mathmatically 93.75% of Krsna's qualities. 

2 - Siva-tattva has 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities which mathmatically is 85.938% of Krsna's qualities. 

3 - Jiva-tattva (jiva-souls) have 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities which mathmatically is 78.125% of Krsna's qualities. 

The eternal individual jiva-souls have their own independence, identity, personality, individuality and the ability to choose eternally. This means, because of free will, the eternal individual jiva-souls have the ability to agree or not agree with Krsna, otherwise the word's "personalism" and "free will" has no meaning.

"Free will" and "personalism" go hand in hand because personal individual voluntary contributions can only happen when there is free will.

The individuality and free will the jiva-souls eternally have, allows them to choose Krsna, or choose to be separate from Krsna otherwise free will has no meaning.

Remember, Maya and the material energy do not exist on the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana, so Maya is unknown to the jiva-souls in the spiritual worlds and is never the cause of fall down.

However, free will (freedom of self expression) and independence allows the eternal individual jiva-souls to experience their own unique sense of self with the ability to express themselves in the way they choose. 

All these qualities are the constitutional make up of each eternal individual jiva-soul in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana. 

And if all those abilities are taken away, then the eternal individual jiva-souls lose the ability of "free will and personalism" which allows them to give and accept love.

So, without free will the eternal individual jiva-souls are impersonalist 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 (free will), full independence, you have acquired the quality of your father and have little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

No one can force the eternal individual jiva-souls to stay in the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana, that choice is always a two-way decision between the Lord and the individual jiva-souls.

For loving exchanges to truly exist with the eternal individual jiva-souls, they must have the the right to express themselves including choosing to leave the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka Vrindavana at anytime, therefore, returning to the spiritual world is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains.

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 you do 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 at anytime, 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 on Henri Bergson philosophy)

The eternal individual jiva-souls have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities [50 of Krsna's 64 attributes], they are minor separated expansions of Krsna endowed with individuality that allows them to experience an independent existence if they choose. This allows the individual jiva-souls to make their own decisions and choices. Therefore, Krsna does not interfere with the eternal individual jiva-soul's free will because it is part and parcel of their eternal spiritual constitution.

Krsna never at any point did not give freedom or free will to the eternal individual marginal living entities (jiva-soul) because they have always had free will in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana without beginning or end. 

"Free will" allows the individual jiva-souls to experience individuality, loving reciprocation, independent service, and be responsible for their actions. This however does not means all individual jiva-soul's are independent from Krsna's control of all things, that is not possible. 

At all time the eternal individual jiva-souls are 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 eternal individual jiva-souls always remain independent separated living entities, but are always simultaneously depend on Krsna and His expansions in both the spiritual worlds and material worlds also.

The eternal individual jiva-souls are never fully independent because Krsna owns everything.

However, even though the individual jiva-souls are an expansion of Krsna, the individual jiva-souls are not one with Krsna in personality. 

Both Krsna and the jiva-souls are independent with their own unique personality.

The eternal individual jiva-souls are not "one" with Krsna but are separate independent thinking living entities with their own sense of self and unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality. They can be "one" in purpose only. 

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the manifestation of Radha and Krsna in the one spiritual Body where both experience each other's love for each other. 

Infact, Krsna, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Balarama, Radharani and unlimited others are all the same personality, all direct expansions of Kṛṣṇa.

The eternal individual jiva-souls are also expansions but are "separated" expansions that means they each have a unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality. 

However a small minority of eternal individual jiva-soul's (independent separated jiva-souls who have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities which means they have 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes) can choose to leave the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavan if they like.

The claim from some devotees and scholars that once reaching the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, the eternal individual jiva-soul will never again fall down to the material world, is incorrect and proves these gurus, sannyasis, devotees and scholars do not properly understand what free will or personalism really is, no matter how advanced they all claim to be. 

Therefore, to say those who enter the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana will never again fall down is only true for those who choose not to fall down. 

In other words, if the individual jiva-souls want to leave the spiritual world, they certainly can leave at anytime they choose. 

Going to the temporary material world is ultimately the eternal individual jiva-soul's choice, and Krsna does not interfere with that choice, even though He has promised there is no return to the material creation once entering the spiritual atmosphere.

However, there is return if the individual jiva-souls chooses to return regardless of Krsna's promise that can also rejected as well.

The fact, there is return to the material world if the individual jiva-souls want to return Prabhupada tells us.

It is the eternal individual jiva-soul's choice of where they want to spend eternality, with Krsna or separate from Krsna in the material world.

Otherwise if Krsna controlled their free will in the spiritual world, then free will (the freedom to choose) would be meaningless. 

Acyutananda – "ln the Bhagavad Gita it says, "Once coming to the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, the individual jiva-souls will never return to the material world, he can return?"

Srila Prabhupada – "If he likes he can return to the material world, 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)

For those who believe no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha have, they have not understood the variety of living entities on the Vaikuntha planets and on Goloka Vrindavana, of whom the individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are just in one category.

It is only a very small minority of eternal individual jiva-souls who choose to leave and not in the category of Krsna's direct expansions ("Visnu-tattvas" or "Visnu-sakti-tattvas") who never fall down because they are Krsna Himself playing another role in His own unlimited pastimes.

The amount of eternal individual jiva-souls in the Spiritual Sky is always the same, no-more, no-less, this is because the jiva-souls are eternal and were never created. However, Krsna's pastimes are also unlimited but are constantly expanding.

Many have not understood there is another category of living entities in Vrindavana who never fall down, they are the Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas who are in the category of Visnu-tattva or direct expansions of Kṛṣṇa.  

The individual jiva-souls are Krsna's separated expansions who have 78.125% (50/64) of Krsna's qualities.  

The Visnu-tattva and Viṣṇu-sakti-tattva direct expansions of Krsna are Krsna playing many different role. 

Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas (internal potency) are direct expansions of Krsna who have most of His qualities having 93.75% of Krsna's qualities, which means they have 60 of Krsna's 64 attributes.

Of course it is not possible that Krsna's Visnu-tattva expansions can fall down because they are full expansions of Krsna, they are Krsna experiencing Himself in another role, like in a play.

So for them, their choices are exactly the same as Krsna's choice. And for over 90% of the eternal individual jiva-souls, even though they who have the choice to leave the spiritual world, they choose not too.

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 to the material world?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No, there IS possibility of falling down but in most cases, he does not come IF he remains intelligent enough to always remember Krsna.

Otherwise, he will again fall down. 

Just like after putting your hand in the fire, you never do it in again IF you are intelligent enough to see you will only get burnt again. 

So, those who go back to Godhead, they have to remain intelligent and always be Krsna conscious so they do not fall down again to the material world." (Lecture, CC Adi-lila 7.108-San Francisco, Feb 18, 1967)

There will always be a very small minority of only the jiva-souls who misuse their free will and leave the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.

Free will is eternal in the spiritual world, therefore, without having the choice to either forget or remember Krsna, then the individual jiva-souls would also have no independent personality that is able to voluntarily offer loving contributions and service to Krsna, making them like dead stone or mindless programmed machines in a factory.

The eternal constitution infinite position and home of the marginal living entities (individual 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." (SB, Canto 4 Ch 28 text 53)

Srila Prabhupada - "So everyone can know that free will means one can use it properly or one can misuse it. That is free will. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not free will, that is force. Therefore Krsna says, yathecchasi tathä kuru. "Now you do whatever you like." (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)××**.




It is very important to understand that the eternal individual jiva-souls are independent PERSONS each as an eternal unique individual bodily form as their full spiritual potential serving Kṛṣṇa.

Although this can change in the spiritual world to being any bodily form or object (everything is alive as individual life in the spiritual world) the jiva-soul chooses to be according to a pastime.

The formless "spiritual spark" anology of an inactive bodiless jiva-soul only exists (is projected) in the impersonal brahmajyoti (brahman) or atom as a further fallen condition. 

Everything on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana is alive with unlimited individual life forms, there is no material energy (Maya) in the spiritual world. 

This means each eternal individual jiva-soul (marginal living entity) has their own unique personality and identity separate from Krsna's Personality.

Being a "personalist" means the individual jiva-souls must have the "free will" to voluntarily make their own decisions of service in the Vaikuntha planets and on Goloka-Vrindavana, including the choice to leave if they want.

Without "free will, personalism" has absolutely no meaning at all. The eternal individual spiritual bodily form of the jiva-souls are- 

sat, 

cit, 

ananda, 

vigraha.

These word's means- 

eternity, 

knowledge, 

bliss, 

form.

Fortunately, over 90% of jiva-souls choose to stay in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana even though they can choose to leave if they want. 

In fact almost 10% do choose to leave and enter the material creation via the dreams of Maha-Visnu.

The individual jiva-soul's voluntary contributions are eternally expressed fully in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

In the spiritual worlds they are never forced to surrender to Krsna or do anything they choose not to do. 

For loving service to truly each eternal individual jiva-soul must be able to express their free will by making their own choices, their own decisions, even if it means rejecting Krsna, otherwise there can be no question of being able to voluntarily express themselves as an individual and experience loving exchanges and 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 individual jiva-soul's marginal constitution that allows them to be an independent free thinking expansion of the Krsna. 

Therefore the eternal marginal living entity (jiva-soul) also means ALWAYS having free will that is included when describing the qualities and constitution of the individual jiva-souls. 

As said above, Krsna allows this freedom the eternal individual jiva-souls have because without "free will" PERSONAL loving exchanges, unique 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. Without free will personalism cannot exist.

This means the individual 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 choice to choose, and without the ability to voluntarily choose, there is no question of loving exchanges.

So, the choice to even leave the Vaikuntha planets 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 with Rene Descartes)

Nitya-siddha means eternally liberated and nitya-baddha means eternally conditioned.

There is only one classification of jiva-souls that can choose either being eternally "conditioned," or eternally "liberated," not two as some wrongly believe. 

Therefore, each eternal individual jiva-soul has two-sides to their personality, they can either be nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned), or nitya-siddha (eternally liberated)

In this way the individual jiva-souls can choose for themselves to be with Krsna, or reject Krsna.

This is because each eternal individual jiva-soul, as part of their spiritual constitutional make-up, has free will and the right to choose.

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- 

1 - One who stays in the Vaikuṇṭha planets and Goloka Vṛndāvana and never have a choice to go to the material creation (nitya-siddha)

2 - And the other in the material creation (nitya-baddha) who can also be dormant (inactive) in the impersonal Brahmajyoti. But can eventually enter the spiritual worlds too, but once there can NEVER fall down again to the material world, so they claim. 

Such impersonal division of the jiva-soul is bogus nonsense.

There is only one category of eternal individual jiva-souls who have two-sides to their individual personality explained above, they can be either nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) or nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) 


The position is eternal and NOT the individual jiva-souls in those positions of eternally liberated (nitya-siddha) and eternally conditioned (nitya-baddha) this is important to understand.


The eternal individual jiva-soul's original natural position is nitya-siddha or eternally liberated in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana which is their natural eternal home.


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.


The eternal individual jiva-souls 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." (CC 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 City Temple 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, 

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 BG, 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 Melb, 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 25th April 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 9th July 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 27th Feb 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "But his relationship with Krsna is never lost, simply forgotten by the influence of maya, it maybe regained or revived again 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 27th Feb 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 genuinely honest within one's heart, Krsna sends the Guru (spiritual teacher) who will guide them out of the material creation and return them back home, back to Godhead to be with Krsna or Visnu.

Krsna will help you when He sees you are trying your very hardest to do everything you can to help yourself find God and serve Him, 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 Prabhupada's Book, "Science of reealization")

Genuine 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) therefore0⁰ 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. No eternal individual jiva-souls originates from the impersonal Brahmajyoti as fools believe Prabhupada explains-  

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) 

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." (Rathayatra lecture 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 on a Vaikuntha planet or Goloka Vrindavana, it does not work that way because of free will, which means there is always choice otherwise "personalism" and "free will" have no meaning.. 

If you were forced to stay anywhere then how can there be voluntary love? The choice to leave the spiritual world or stay must always be with the jiva-souls too.

Many who consider themselves advanced devotees of God cannot understand what "free will" and "personalism" really means, they sentimentally claim not even the leaves can fall down from the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka Vrindavana.

It is immature to claim the eternal individual jiva-souls can never again fall down from the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana because if they genuinely do have free will, then they can make their own decisions "one way or the other,"  without any pressure of force from Kṛṣṇa.

Remaining on the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana eternally (infinity) is based on what the eternal individual jiva-souls want to do as a unique separate independent beings. It is their choice also to say or go, not just Krsnas as explained above. Love is a two-way street and not a one-way dictatorship.

Otherwise there is no meaning to having free will or personalism.

If Krsna forced His will on the eternal individual jiva-souls then He destroys their independence, and turns personalism into impersonalism. 

Free will or the ability to voluntarily express themselves in their own unique way, allows the eternal individual jiva-souls to voluntarily choose where they want to be, even if means returning back to the material world.

In other words, the individual jiva-souls also have a choice to become a servant of the Lord, or can reject Him if they want in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana, only sentimental fools polluted by impersonalism cannot understand this.

The eternal individual 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 eternal individual jiva-soul's responsibility too and not just Krsnas. Remember, love is a two-way street of loving exchanges and reciprocation.

It is the individual 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 eternal individual jiva-souls do not fall down from the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka Vrindavana because they choose not to leave.

That choice to stay in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, or leave is always with the eternal individual marginal living entities (jiva-souls).

The individual jiva-souls or marginal living entities have 78.125% of Krsna's quantities or 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes.

They have their own independence, identity, personality, individuality and the ability to choose. This means, because of free will, the eternal individual jiva-souls have the ability to agree or not agree with Krsna, otherwise the word "personalism" has no meaning.

"Free will" and "personalism" go hand in hand.  

The individuality and free will the jiva-souls eternally have, allows them the right to choose Krsna, or choose to be separate from Krsna.

Remember, Maya and the material energy do not exist on the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana, so Maya is unknown to the jiva-souls in the spiritual worlds and is NEVER the cause of fall down.

However, free will (freedom of self expression) and independence allows the eternal individual jiva-souls to experience their own unique sense of self with the ability to express themselves in the way they choose. 

All these qualities are the constitutional make up of each eternal individual jiva-soul in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana. 

And if all those abilities are taken away, then the eternal individual jiva-souls lose the ability of "free will and personalism" which allows them to give and accept love, without free will the individual jiva-souls become impersonalist 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." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

No one can force the eternal individual jiva-souls to stay in the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana, that choice is always a two-way decision between the Lord and the individual jiva-souls.

For loving exchanges to truly exist with the eternal jiva-soul, they must have the the right to express themselves including choosing to leave the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka Vrindavana at anytime, therefore, returning to the spiritual world is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains.

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 you do 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 on Henri Bergson philosophy)

The eternal individual jiva-souls have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities [mathematically is 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes], they are minor separated expansions of Krsna endowed with individuality that allows them to experience an independent existence if they choose. This allows the individual jiva-souls to make their own decisions and choices. Therefore, Krsna does not interfere with the eternal individual jiva-soul's free will because it is part and parcel of their eternal spiritual constitution.

Krsna never at any point did not give freedom or free will to the eternal individual marginal living entities (jiva-soul) because they have always had free will in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana without beginning or end. 

"Free will" allows the individual jiva-souls to experience individuality, loving reciprocation, independent service, and be responsible for their actions. This however does not means all individual jiva-soul's are independent from Krsna's control of all things, that is not possible. 

At all time the eternal individual jiva-souls are 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 eternal individual jiva-souls always remain independent separated living entities, but are always simultaneously depend on Krsna and His expansions in both the spiritual worlds and material worlds also.

The eternal individual jiva-souls are never fully independent because Krsna owns everything.

However, even though the individual jiva-souls are an expansion of Krsna, the individual jiva-souls are not one with Krsna in personality. 

Both Krsna and the jiva-souls are independent with their own unique personality.

The eternal individual jiva-souls are not "one" with Krsna but are separate independent thinking living entities with their own sense of self and unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality. They can be "one" in purpose only. 

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the manifestation of Radha and Krsna in the one spiritual Body where both experience each other's love for each other. 

Infact, Krsna, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Balarama, Radharani and unlimited others are all the same personality, all direct expansions of Kṛṣṇa.

The eternal individual jiva-souls are also expansions but are "separated" expansions that means they each have a unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality. 

However a small minority of eternal individual jiva-soul's (independent separated jiva-souls who have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities which means they have 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes) can choose to leave the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavan if they like.

The claim from some devotees and scholars that once reaching the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, the eternal individual jiva-soul will never again fall down to the material world is incorrect and proves these gurus, sannyasis, devotees and scholars do not properly understand what free will or personalism really is no matter how advanced they are claimed to be. 

Therefore, to say those who enter the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana will never again fall down is only true for those who choose not to fall down. In other words, if the individual jiva-souls want to leave the spiritual world they certainly can do so at anytime. 

Going to the material world is ultimately the eternal individual jiva-soul's choice, and Krsna does not interfere with that choice, even though He has promised there is no return to the material creation once entering the spiritual atmosphere, their is return if the individual jiva-souls choose to return and even reject His promise as well.

The fact, there is return if the individual jiva-souls want to return to the material world Prabhupada tells us. 

It is the individual jiva-soul's choice where they want to be and not Kṛṣṇa's choice. Otherwise if Krsna interfered and forced them to stay in the spiritual world, then free will and personalism would be meaningless. 

Acyutananda – "But in the Bhagavad Gita it says, "Once coming to the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, the individual jiva-souls will never return to the material world, 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)

For those who believe no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha have, they have not understood the variety of living entities on the Vaikuntha planets and on Goloka Vrindavana, of whom the individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are just in one category.

It is only a very small minority of eternal individual jiva-souls who choose to leave and not in the category of "Visnu-tattvas" or "Visnu-sakti-tattvas" who never fall down because they ARE Krsna Himself playing another role in His own pastimes.

Many have not understood there is another category of living entities in Vrindavana who never fall down. They are the Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas who are not individual jiva-souls but are Visnu-tattva personalities playing many different role. 

Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas are direct expansions of Krsna who have most of His qualities having 93.75% of Krsna's qualities, which means they have 60 of Krsna's 64 attributes.

Of course it is not possible that Krsna's Visnu-tattva expansions can fall down because they are full expansions of Krsna, they are Krsna experiencing Himself in another role, like in a play.

So for them, their choices are exactly the same as Krsna's choice. And for over 90% of the eternal individual jiva-souls, even though they who have the choice to leave the spiritual world, they choose not too.

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 of fall down, but he does not come if he is 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 and not fall down again." (CC, Adi-lila 7.108-San Francisco, Feb 18, 1967)

However, there will always be a very small minority of only the jiva-souls who misuse their free will and leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana.

Free will is eternal in the spiritual worlds, 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 or machines in a factory.

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." (SB, Canto 4 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)*<>*

Compiled by Gauragopala Dasa Acbsp (initiated by Srila Prabhupada on July 10th 1972).