Does ISKCON (The Hare Krishna Movement) believe in free will?

Yes, ISKCON believes in free will, but it is a "minute" or limited free will (self-expression) while the individual jiva-souls are restricted to the material world (temporary matter). 

Only in the spiritual world (perpetual living anti-matter as individual personalities) do the individual jiva-souls always have free will in its full potential. 

At all times in the material world, the fallen individual jiva-souls are under the control of Maha-Visnu's material nature. 

Only in the human species numbering 400,000 out of the 8 million 400 thousand, does the individual jiva-souls have limited freedom of expression  (free will) and can voluntarily turn to God by first finding a bonafide Spiritual Master or teacher. 

Free will is essential so the individual jiva-souls can participate in voluntary service and self-determination so they can voluntarily contribute to their relationship with God. 

Such self-expression expands their loving exchanges and unique service contributions to God (Krsna). 

This ability of choosing means the individual jiva-souls can voluntary contribute to their relationship with God in their owncway, or can act against God's divine instructions. 

Without the possibility of choice, there can be no true love, reciprocation or loving exchanges, but ISKCON also emphasizes that the ultimate outcome of all actions are dependent on a higher sanction and the divine will of Kṛṣṇa.

After all, everything is Kṛṣṇa's creation and belongs to Him because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes. 

Free will has meaning only when one can choose to do wrong or right. The misuse of free will is what leads the individual jiva-souls to fall from the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, and enter Maha-Visnu's temporary decaying material world of repeated birth and death.

The individual jiva-souls only then have limited freedom in the material world, this allows them to choose their pious and impious actions while trapped in a temporary material bodily vessel within the material creation.

However, these choose of actions only minutely happen within the "human species (human form)" that leads to the accumulations of a back log of good and bad deeds (karma) performed while in a human bodily form.

This backlog or build up of Karmic reactions, creates future reactions this human form or the next bodily vessel that punish or reward the embodied individual jiva-souls trapped in the material creation. 

Ultimately, everything in God's material creation is overseen by the laws of material nature. This means that while free will is restricted in the temporary material world, it is never eliminated. Only while the individual jiva-soul is in a material bodily vessel in the material world, is free will limited (in the human species) or non existent (in the lower species).

In the lower species of life in the material world, there are 8 million species where free will does not exist, there is only the bodily instincts of eating, sleeping, mating and defending influenced by geological surroundings. 

Unlike the decaying material world (matter), free will in its full potential only exists unrestricted in the perpetual spiritual world (anti-matter) known as the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana (the Kingdom of God) 

The ability to serve and love Krishna voluntarily is only possible because of free will. If one were forced, it would not be love, but "threatening."

While free will exists, the ultimate outcome of actions is still determined by God's will. This means that while individuals can choose their path, the consequences and the overall cosmic play are orchestrated by divine will. 

Free will exists because Krsna allows it, just so the jiva-souls can make their own voluntary contributions. Only by Krsna’s sanction do we have the free will to do this.

Free will, or the ability to choose and contribute in your own unique way, is eternally part and parcel of the jiva-soul's (marginal living entities) natural constitution and always exists without beginning or end in the spiritual planets. 

The material creation exists for those jiva-souls who choose to fall down from the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana.  

However, the material worlds are never the real natural home of the individual jiva-souls, and their full freedom is never experienced in the material creation covered by the material energy in the form of a material bodily container or vessel, therefore, their natural home is never the material worlds.

Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada why did Krsna give us free will if He knew we may rebel and miss use it and choose to enter the material creation?"

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 soon as we try, "Oh, this material world is very nice," "Yes," Kṛṣṇa says, "yes, you can go." Otherwise what is the meaning of free will? Every living entity has got a little free will. And Kṛṣṇa is so kind, He gives him opportunity, "all right, you enjoy like this, it is free will." (Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course, May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)

Devotee – "In Srimad Bhagavatam it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come here, why are we here?" Why doesn’t He save me from thinking like that?"

Srila Prabhupada - "That means you lose your independence, that is force. In Bengali it is said, "If you catch one girl or boy and demand "You love me, you love me, you love me!" Is that love? "You love me otherwise I will kill you!" Is that love? So Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, on 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; that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape?" (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C).

As Srila Prabhupada explains, the relationship between Krsna and the individual jiva-souls is never a one way relationship that denies personal contributions which is an array of unique offerings and choices from the individual jiva-souls, no, love is always based on the reciprocation between "two" because love can only exist when there are "two" engaged in loving exchanges as Prabhupada explains-

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Unless there are two persons, where is the question of love? Love means two persons, then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)

Srila Prabhupada – "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, or one can misuse it. That is independence (free will). If you make it one way only, that is not independence, that is force." (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "So, unless there is a possibility of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom." (Dialectical Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes)

Ultimately, each individual jiva-soul is a unique person as an eternal spiritual bodily form in their full potential, who can choose for themselves how to voluntarily serve Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, or ignore Him if they choose. 

As Prabhupada explains, Krsna never forces the individual jiva-souls to surrender to Him, never forces them to love Him, that loving exchange must be voluntary.

Srila Prabhupada – "Krsna never forces you to love Him, that must be voluntary, only then it is genuine love." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada – "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force, no, Krsna does not want to become a lover like that." (July 8, 1976)

In the following conversation Srila Prabhupada is explaining to us that Krsna is always in control because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes. This includes allowing the individual jiva-souls to have their independence or free will explained here-

Syamasundara dasa - ''Do the individual jiva-souls have a little independence to choose?"

Srila Prabhupada - ''No, not without Krsna's sanction first. Bhagavad Gita states that when the individual jiva-souls wants to act, Krsna gives the orders. Man proposes, and God disposes." (Dialectical Spiritualism: A Vedic View).

What Srila Prabhupada is saying here, is the individual jiva-souls cannot have their little independence (free will) without first being sanctioned by Krsna. This is because everything belongs to Krsna and He alone is the cause of all causes. 

It is Krsna's will alone that allows the individual jiva-souls to have their freedom for the purpose of allowing a "two-way" loving relationship with Krsna based on a two-way open exchange with the individual jiva-souls which means allowing them to voluntary participate in Krsna's pastimes if they choose. 

Syamasundara dasa - "So the individual jiva-souls have no free will?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Not without the sanction of Krsna first, without Kṛṣṇa we cannot do anything, therefore He is the ultimate cause of all causes." (Dialectical Spiritualism: A Vedic View).

Under Krsna's plan, free will exists as part of the natural constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (individual jiva-soul). 

Only by Krsna’s sanction are the individual jiva-souls allowed to have their unique free will (independence).

This is an obvious and only conclusion because without free will, there can never be genuine loving relationship with Krsna, where personal contributions, exchanges and reciprocation exist hand in hand with with Krsna. The individual jiva-souls would simply be like dead stone without expressing their free will as Prabhupada has explained.

The paradox of having free will is the individual jiva-souls can always express their own unique independence and individuality with their own unique contributions, while at the same time, Krsna remains always the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, which means not even a blade of grass can move without first being sanctioned by Krsna as Srila Prabhupada explains.

Srila Prabhupada - "As we generally say, not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus everything is moving under His will: by His will everything is being created, everything is being maintained, and everything is being annihilated." (BG, Ch 9 text 6 Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "So, from the Vedic literature we can find evidence that this material manifestation, which appears to us to be very wonderful and great, is under the complete control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Krsna)." (BG, Ch 9 text 6 Purport)

Krsna always sanctions free will (allows independent choices and voluntary participation) for the individual jiva-souls in the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, this allows them to choose how they want to contribute (serve) Krsna, or not serve Him if they choose. 

Without free will the individual jiva-souls can never participate in a "two-way" loving contributing relationship with Krsna.

It is important to understand that the individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) can never exist independently from Krsna, even with the expression of their free will, or do anything without Krsna's sanction. 

However, even though they can never be independent from Krsna's energies, they can still express themselves separate from Krsna's Personality.

This is because each individual jiva-soul has their own unique independent personality, even though fully dependent on Krsna, it is always separately expressed as service to Krsna, or expressed by rejecting Krsna. 

Krsna always allows the individual jiva-souls to choose that gives meaning and purpose to what life really is. 

Krsna allows this to happen so there is always diversity and voluntary expression among the individual jiva-souls in their eternal existence.

In other words, the paradox is the marginal living entities (individual jiva-souls) can always voluntary express their own unique independence and individuality even though Krsna is the Supreme Controller, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes. 

As said above, not a blade of grass moves without Krsna's will.

Krsna provides free will for the purpose of encouraging personal contributions in "two-way" loving exchanges.

This means the individual jiva-souls can always voluntary offer to Krsna their personal unique singular offerings, separate from Krsna's influence if they choose.

In the spiritual world's of Goloka-Vrindavana and the Vaikuntha planets, loving devotional service to Krsna or Visnu is never a "one-way or one-sided" impersonal dictatorial affair, no, real love or service is always voluntary, expressed in a reciprocal "two-way" exchange within Krsna or Visnu within their eternal Kingdoms.

Voluntary reciprocal association in the Kingdom of God serving Krsna or Visnu can only be expressed in a genuine loving way based on devotional exchanges, cooperation and personal contributions. 

This can only exist when there are "two" involved in loving exchanges nurtured and encouraged by the will of Krsna.

In the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana, personal voluntary expressions of loving exchanges are only expressed due Krsna allowing the individual jiva-souls to express their free will.

Such free will is always encouraged by Krsna in His relationship with His devotees which adds flavour, variety and mystery to the relationship between the individual jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa.

This means the Kingdom of God (Krsna) is not a one-sided dominating impersonal dictatorial stagnant domain devoid of free will, that does not allow personal voluntary contributions (offerings) to God (Krsna or Visnu), meant to expand, enrich and flavour the relationship.

As said above, love or service is not a "one-sided" affiliate of total supremacy or preeminence, it is always a two-way voluntary exchange.

The fact is, genuine loving relations and service are based on voluntary reciprocal exhanges and contributions between two, and not one!

The individual jiva-souĺs have their choices too, even if that choice means rejecting Krsna! Free will only has meaning when the individual jiva-souls can express themselves in this "two-sided" affair of accepting Krsna or rejecting Krsna.

In other words, loving reciprocation is only possible on a "two-way" street between two, with each contributing to the relationship's expansion of nectarine mellows.

The word "reciprocation" only has meaning when there are two involved, not one!

The impersonalist foolish yogis want to become one with God which is not possible. Love is never one, it is only experienced when there is two. 

To a devotee of Krsna and Viṣṇu this impersonal philosophy is spiritual suicide. 

Srila Prabhupada - ''The impersonalist philosophy is oneness, so how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No. Love means two. There must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (SB Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Unless there are "two persons", where is the question of love? Love means two persons, then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)

The individual jiva-souls can reject Krsna if they choose, which in a sense, proves that "free will" does truly exist.

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly, that is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means we have free will." (Philosophy Discussions with Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada – "So everyone can know that independence (free will) means one can use it properly, or one can misuse it, that is independence (free will). If you make it one way only, that you cannot ever fall down, that is not independence that allows free will, that is force that denies free will!" (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Having free will is the eternal constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (individual jiva-soul) and is the foundation for all relationships with Krsna, that allows them to voluntarily contribute to their relationship with Him in their own way.

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)

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 on BG Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, 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 one, personally. There must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (SB Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Devotee – "Is the original body of the individual jiva-soul a human form?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, human form, God is also human form, "Man is made after the shape of God." I think there is in the Bible is it not? So God is also like the human form, here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."

Hari-sauri dasa – "How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?"

Srila Prabhupada – "[describing material form first]: Yes, they are more covered, just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."

Hari-sauri dasa - "Are they are covered in the spiritual world?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world, there that is always voluntary. Some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there. If I want that, to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna and become flower, voluntarily, and he can change from flower to human body ifcI choose. 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, as flagpole, as chair, as chariot or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB Canto 6 Ch 1 text 1-4, Melbourne, May 20, 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, just like a thief, he knows that his stealing, it is bad, but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will." (Talk about Rene Descartes)

As explained above, the individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) can never exist independently from Krsna even though they can simultaneously express their own independent free will that Krsna provides separately for the purpose of allowing "two-way" voluntary exchanges of loving expressions and encouraging unique (individual contributions) personal offerings.

We must never forget that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, if we properly understand this, then we will understand the following discussion that everything comes from Krsna, including 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 jiva-soul is awarded a portion of independence because each are part and parcel of God, thus he has the quality of independence, but in minute quantity, that is his individuality."

Syamasundara dasa - "But does the individual jiva-soul have that little independence to choose on their own?"

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

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

Srila Prabhupada - "Not without the sanction of Krsna first, without Him we cannot do anything. Krsna is the ultimate cause of all causes."

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

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

Srila Prabhupada here is confirming everything including free will comes from Krsna and He alone is the cause of all causes. 

Everything must first be sanctioned by Krsna because everything belongs to Him including the free will. Nothing can happen without the sanction of Krsna first, eveything comes from Him, therefore, not even a blade of grass can move without first having the sanctioned of Krsna.=÷=.