Finally taṭastha-sakti (a name among many for the marginal living entity) is correctly understood.

Taṭastha-sakti is another name among many, describing a particular condition of the marginal living entity (jiva-soul).

The marginal plane is the category the individual jiva-souls are part of, it is inbetween the Spiritual energy (Internal potency) and the material energy (external potency)

Srila Prabhupada - "Krsna has three main energies

1 - external energy

2 - internal energy,

3 - marginal energy.

The external energy is this material expansion, manifestation.

Similarly, there is internal energy, the spiritual world manifestation, and in between them there is another energy called marginal energy, taṭastha, that we are, we living entities. 

We are His marginal energy.

Marginal energy means we can live either in this external energy or in the internal energy, in between.

So at the present moment we are living in the external energy. But this external energy is also Kṛṣṇa's energies, God's energy. It is not different from Him.

But the external energy means we are captivated by the external energy. But the external energy is not permanent.

The internal energy is permanent. The spiritual world is permanent, and we are also permanent, jīva-bhūta. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). (Lecture on BG 9.4 -- Melbourne, April 23, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your question about our relationship with Srimati Radharani, She is the internal energy, we are marginal energy. 

Marginal means sometimes internal, sometimes external. 

When we are under the internal energy, that is our normal life, and when we are under the external energy, that is our abnormal life. 

Therefore, we are called marginal energy; we can be either this way or that way. 

But being qualitatively one with the purusa, our tendency is to remain in the internal energy. Being in the external energy is our artificial attempt. (Letter to Lilavati, Allston, Mass 25 April, 1969)

What is the meaning of tatastha-sakti?

Srila Prabhupada - "So this material world is the taṭastha (conditioned characteristics), and the Spiritual Worlds are the "personal" (Vaikuntha characteristics). So our effort is to get out of this taṭastha (conditioned characteristics) and to enter the permanent characteristics (Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana). 

That is called spiritual elevation". (Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.354-358 — New York, December 28, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because the individual soul is apt to fall down sometimes under the clutches of māyā, it is called Taṭastha-śakti. 

Just like in the seaside the shore, the beach, sometimes you see it is covered by water and sometimes it is land; similarly, when we are covered by māyā, that is our jīva-bhūta stage, and when there is no more covering, that is brahma-bhūta stage. 

When we are Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we are brahma-bhūta (SB 4.30.20), and when we are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, we are materially conscious, that is māyā". (Lecture on BG 7.4-5 -- Bombay, March 30, 1971)

It is said by some religious groups that the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are generated from a clear (impersonal) state of consciousness called tatastha-sakti (which is also the marginal plane), but this should be more clearly understood.

Tatastha-sakti is a terminology that means the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) who are in a category in-between the internal potency and external potency of the Lord, are in the material conditioned state.

Krsna's marginal living entities are a universal collective of individual jiva-souls that are part and parcel of Krsna whose full potential is living in the internal potency or energy (spiritual realm) of Kṛṣṇa.  

When the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are covered by the external energy (matter) only then are they called tatastha-sakti. 

Each jiva-soul has 78.125% of Krsna's 100% qualities.

This 78.125% means each individual jiva-soul or marginal living entity can possess 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes.

Srila Prabhupada - "The spiritual world is expansion of Kṛṣṇa's internal energy, and this material world is Kṛṣṇa's expansion of external energy, and we living entities, we are expansion of marginal energy.

So three energies. Krsna has got multi-energies. All the multi-energies grouped in three headings:

1 - antaraṅga-śakti,

2 - bahiraṅga-śakti,

3 - taṭastha-śakti.

1 - Antaraṅga-śakti means internal energy,

2 - bahiraṅga śakti means external energy,

3 - taṭastha-śakti means these living entities.

We are śakti; we are energy. (jiva-tattva) We are not the energetic (Visnu-tattva)

The Māyāvādī philosopher says that because the energies are not outside Brahman, therefore they're all the same. This is monism.

Our Vaiṣṇava philosophy is that energy (is) simultaneously one and different.

When you perceive heat, we understand, "Oh, there is fire." But that does not mean that because I am getting some heat, I am on the fire

Try to understand this philosophy.

Therefore here it is said vijānataḥ - "one who knows."

So their ekatvam, Māyāvāda philosophy's ekatvam, oneness, and our ekatvam of oneness—a little different.

They say that the energy's false; the Brahman is real. Brahmā satyaṁ jagan mithyā.

We say that because Brahman is truth, therefore His energy's also truth. That is the difference between Vaiṣṇava philosophy and Māyāvāda philosophy. We cannot say that energy is false. Energy is temporary; this external energy is temporary, not false.

Although, suppose we have got some trouble. There are so many kinds of troubles pertaining to the body, mind, external affairs. But that trouble comes and goes. But when the trouble is there, it is true. We feel the consequence. We cannot say it is false.

The Māyāvādī philosophers say that it is false. But when he's troubled, why he's so much disturbed? So that is not false. Therefore this very word is used: vijānataḥ, "one who knows."

Perfect knowledge must be there, vijānataḥ. When one is actual knower of the things, tatra ko mohaḥ, then there is no illusion.

Illusion is for him who does not know things. But one who knows, there is no illusion.

Tatra ko mohaḥ kaḥ śoka. No lamentation. When you are perfectly in conviction that there is nothing except Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa's energy, the same, then there is no moha—moha means illusion—and śoka (Lecture on Sri Isopanishad Los Angeles, May 10, 1970)

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are therefore ALWAYS found throughout the entire Spiritual Sky in four different realms-

1 - From associating with Krsna in Goloka-Vrindavana as a friend and four other different ways.

2 - Serving Visnu who is known as the Supreme God on the Vaikuntha Planets.

3 - Being embodied (covered) in a temporary material bodily vessel in the material creation.

4 - And attempting to cease or extinguish one's existence by merging into the dormant inactive impersonal Brahmajyoti.

Entering the Impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman to Vaiṣṇavas, is considered Spiritual suicide.

However, such merging is also only temporary even though the jiva-soul can stay in that dormant inactive condition for a very, very very long time.

These dormant (inactive) jiva-souls eventually falls out of the impersonal Brahmajyoti because the nature of the jiva-soul is to be ALWAYS active and have a reciprocal personal relationship with Krsna in Goloka-Vrindavana, or with Visnu on the Vaikuntha Planets.

In fact, the jiva-souls can stay there hovering in the impersonal Brahmajyoti for so long that when they again awaken from their impersonal inactive slumber, they wrongly believe the impersonal Brahmajyoti is their origin.

They forget they fell to that dormant condition in the first place a long, long, long time ago that can equal quadrillions of life times of Lord Brahma who lives for 311 trillion and 40 billion human years.

Therefore the "jiva-souls" (marginal living entities) did NOT originate from some impersonal inactive place or plane some call a clear sheet of consciousness or tatastha-sakti because ORIGINALLY all jiva-souls were with Krsna.

However, at sometime a small minority of jiva-souls fell to the material creation from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, then again, after sometime in the material creation trapped in the cycle of repeated birth and death, fell further to the impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman attempting to escape the frustration of repeated birth and death in the decaying material creation. 

The marginal plane is also called tatastha-sakti but that particular word is used more to describe the jiva-souls who are in the material creation and impersonal Brahmajyoti as Prabhupada explains.

Srila Prabhupada - "So this material world is the taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics, and the spiritual world is the "personal" characteristics. So our effort is to get out of this taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics and to enter the permanent characteristics (Vaikuntha). That is called spiritual elevation". (Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.354-358 — New York, December 28, 1966)

The term tatastha-sakti is generally not used to describe souls in the Spiritual world, as said above, it is used to describe those in the material worlds and the impersonal Brahmajyoti.

Tatastha-sakti is also known as the marginal plane or energy however, it is important to understand the marginal living entities in the Spiritual Worlds are NOT referred to as tatastha-sakti even though they are ALWAYS "marginal living entities".

The idea that the jiva-souls originate from some place called tatastha-sakti (marginal plane) is NOT technically correct because the "marginal living entities" are a collective of eternal jiva-souls without any beginning or origin point spread throughout the Spiritual Sky.

Therefore in the impersonal Brahmajyoti and material creation, the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are known as tatastha-sakti.

As said above, tatastha-sakti is a "conditioned" designation describing those jiva-souls in the impersonal Brahmajyoti and material creation, and NOT those jiva-souls (marginal living entities) who are in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

This is important to try and understand as the marginal living entity has many different names describing their position and condition, and tatastha-sakti is just one of those names.

The jiva-souls (marginal potency) were NOT created from a "clear (inactive) sheet of consciousness" or tatastha-sakti because they have ALWAYS existed everywhere (sarva-gatah means life is everywhere).

The jiva-souls may fall to an "inactive" dormant state in the impersonal Brahmajyoti as said above, but they certainly did NOT originate from there, nor did they originate from tatastha-sakti.

Even entering the impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman is also only temporary relief for the jiva-souls who entered there to escape the suffering and pain of being embodied in the material creation.

Although they can stay in the impersonal Brahmajyoti for a very, very, very long time, so long a time that some foolishly believe it is where they originated from after emerging from there. The dormant inactive aspect of the Brahmajyoti is NOT the origin of the jiva-soul, it is actually a fallen condition.

The fact is, as emphasised, the individual jiva-souls are NOT literally generated from any origin including the impersonal Brahmajyoti 

As explained above, this is because they have ALWAYS existed as part and parcel of the "marginal plane of Krsna's energies who are individual jiva-souls spread throughout the entire Spiritual Sky (material and Spiritual Worlds).

The jiva-souls or marginal living entities (as individual persons) are throughout the Spiritual Sky that includes Vaikuntha, Goloka Vrindavana, the material creation and the dorment impersonal Brahmajyoti.

The marginal living entities are a unlimited number of individual PERSONS (jiva souls) who in their full potential are as follows-

sat,

chit,

ananda,

vigraha.

This means in English the individual jiva-souls are-

Eternity,

Knowledge,

Bliss,

Bodily form.

This ORIGINAL eternal form of the jiva-soul is a bodily form like Krsnas Prabhupada has said, two arms, two legs etc like Krsna has in Vṛndāvana.

All of Krsna's marginal so called 'sparks' and so called 'atoms (souls) in the effulgence that impersonalists claim are bodiless and dormant, are in that conditioned state because they are fallen and have forgotten their original two armed spiritual bodily form in Goloka Vrindavana.

Only in the conditioned fallen state can the marginal living entity (jiva-souls) merge into the impersonal Brahmajyoti.

As said above, the marginal living entities or jiva-souls are not called tatastha sakti in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana as Prabhupada has explained above.

Revatīnandana - "Srila Prabhupāda you very clearly explained to me once in a letter that if the spirit soul then goes into the brahmajyoti, he is considered still fallen. Still fallen. 

Does that means the whole brahmajyoti is composed of fallen souls?

You see my question? If I go there, I'm a jīva-soul, and I go to the brahmajyoti I'm still fallen".

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes".

Revatīnandana - "That means all jīva-souls there are also fallen souls?".

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes". (Room Conversation August 17, 1971, London)

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. (Letter to: Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - ''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)

In the jiva-souls original state, they have the same bodily features like Krishna - sat-cit-ananda-vigraha.

The full potential and original feature of all marginal living entities is a two arm human looking form.

Devotee – “Is the original body of the spirit 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 human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs”.

Hari-sauri – “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 - “They are covered in the spiritual world?”

Srila Prabhupada - “Not in the spiritual world. There that is 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, then he become flower, voluntarily, and he can change his, from flower to human body. 

That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. 

If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact". (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.1-4 - Melbourne, May 20, 1975)

Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11].

That is Krsna's all-powerfulness, spiritual life."

The English word "generated" can be misleading if not properly understood because that word can also mean a beginning point, or an origin point.

However, the jiva-souls have no origin or beginning point. 

This is because they have ALWAYS existed and were NEVER created as Bhagavad Gita teaches us. (BG 2.12)

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) were always originally a bodily PERSON first, but sometime later, due to fall down from the Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, they eventually entered the dormant impersonal Brahmajyoti, an inactive dormant almost dead condition of consciousness.  

They can also enter into the material atom in a dormant inactive consciousness state as Prabhupada explained to Tamal Krsna Maharaj that the jiva-soul and Visnu (Paramatma) are in every atom too.

Tamala Krsna - "Srila Prabhupada, someone asked a question the other day about the atom which I couldn’t give the answer to. His question is that if we say that within the atom the living entity, the jiva, is present, and life symptoms means six symptoms of birth, growth"

Srila Prabhupada - "That’s all right. Their life symptoms has not yet come. But there is".

Jayadvaita - "Potential".

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes".

Tamala Krsna - "His question was, it was sort of a dual question. At what time, or what…? Just like at the time of disintegration of this body, the living entity leaves this body and the body disintegrates, so does the atomic body also disintegrate when the living entity leaves it and moves to a higher body?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Atomic body? Atomic body means material body. Unless you are free from this material body, the atomic body will go on with you. That means unless you are mukta, the atomic body will go on. Mind, intelligence, ego — they are also atomic, finer atomic body (subtle body)".

Tamala Krsna - "But within each atom the living entity is present?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes. God is present; therefore living entity is present".

Tamala Krsna - "So the living entity is present within the atom just as I am present within this body. When I leave this body, my body breaks apart".

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, you leave this body, enter another body".

Tamala Krsna - "Right".

Srila Prabhupada - "By nature’s law".

Tamala Krsna - "And when I leave this body, the body breaks apart".

Srila Prabhupada - "Eh?"

Tamala Krsna - "When I leave this body, the body dis…"

Srila Prabhupada - "The body is already atomic combination".

Tamala Krsna - "Yes".

Srila Prabhupada - "So it remains atomic combination. You leave the body".

Tamala Krsna - "Yes. It remains…"

Srila Prabhupada - "You leave the house. That does not mean the house is finished".

Tamala Krsna - "Right, I can understand that".

Hamsaduta - "He’s asking that if the soul leaves the atomic particle, then does the particle break apart. Isn’t it?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No, no. You have not left atomic particle".

Tamala Krsna - "No, but you, you’re… I think you were saying that within the atom there’s also a living entity. So when that living entity leaves the atomic particle does the particle break apart? Or doesn’t it? I mean what…?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Just try to understand. From the sastra, you understand that andantara-stham: “God lives within the atom.”

Tamala Krsna - "Yes".

Srila Prabhupada - "And when the God is there, living entity’s also there. This… This much you try to understand. Because God and living entity, they remain together, as two friends. God is trying to save this fallen friend. That is the information from Upanisad. So when God is there, the living entity is also there". 

Rupanuga - "So Paramatma and jiva-soul are always together?". 

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes". 

Pancadravida - "The jivas inside the atom, are they like impersonalists who are in the Brahman?" 

Srila Prabhupada - "That you consider. He has not developed his consciousness. Practically, it is like dead". (Morning Walk April 4 1975, Mayapur)

Srila Prabhupada – "There is no new soul. 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 can there be new souls?''. (Letter to Jagadisa 7/9/1970)

The use of this word "generated" really means the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are part and parcel of a category called the 'marginal energy, potency or plane', who are a collective of unlimited individual jiva-souls who are eternal, meaning they have ALWAYS existed in all the Spiritual Sky but are ONLY called tatastha-sakti while conditioned in the material creation and impersonal Brahmajyoti.

As said above, the jiva-souls were NEVER created from any origin (starting point) because there is NO origin of the jiva-souls, they have ALWAYS existed without beginning or end.

The jiva-souls are always known as the marginal living entities in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana AS their perpetual Svarupa bodies of their choice, and NOT known there as tatastha-sakti (even though they are always marginal living entities as said above)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because the individual soul is apt to fall down sometimes under the clutches of māyā, it is called taṭastha-śakti. 

When we are Kṛṣṇa conscious, then we are brahma-bhūta (SB 4.30.20), and when we are not Kṛṣṇa conscious, we are materially conscious, that is māyā". (Lecture on BG 7.4-5 -- Bombay, March 30, 1971)

Srila Prabhupada explaining the marginal living entities (jiva souls) and tatastha-sakti.

Srila Prabhupada - "The Lord remembers all, but His associates, although liberated souls, forget due to their being taṭasthā-śakti (when conditioned in the material atmosphere or impersonal Brahmajyoti), or (a feature of the) marginal potency of the Lord.

That is the difference between the viṣṇu-tattva and jīva-tattva. 

The jīva-tattvas are infinitesimal potential particles of the Lord, and therefore they require the protection of the Lord at all times.

And to the eternal servitors of the Lord, the Lord is pleased to give all protection at all times. 

The liberated souls never, therefore, think themselves as free as the Lord or as powerful as the Lord, but they always seek the protection of the Lord in all circumstances, both in the material world and in the spiritual world.

This dependence of the liberated soul is constitutional, for the liberated souls are like sparks of a fire that are able to exhibit the glow of fire along with the fire and not independently.

Independently the glow of the sparks is extinguished, although the quality of fire or the glowing is there.

Thus those who give up the protection of the Lord and become so-called lords themselves, out of spiritual ignorance, come back again to this material world, even after prolonged tapasya of the severest type. That is the verdict of all Vedic literature". (SB 1.14.32-33, Purport)

This material creation is the taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics, and the spiritual world is the "personal" characteristics, so our effort is to get out of this taṭastha (conditioned) characteristics and to enter Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, this is called spiritual elevation.

Srila Prabhupada - "Twenty-five percent of Krsna's personal radiation (effulgence) comprehends the entire expansion of the material universes.

This is also explained and stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.42). Thus the seventy-five percent expansion of His radiation is called His internal energy, whereas the twenty-five percent expansion is called the external energy of the Lord.

The living entities, who are residents of the spiritual as well as the material expansions, are His marginal energy (in that conditioned state known as taṭastha-śakti), and they are at liberty to live in either of the energies, external (material) or internal (Spiritual).

Those who live within the spiritual expansion of the Lord are called liberated souls, whereas the residents of the external expansion are called the conditioned souls". (SB 2.6.17, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "According to Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Bhagavad-gītā and all other Vedic literatures, the living entities are generated from the taṭasthā energy (are the ETERNAL marginal living entities) of the Lord, and thus they are always the energy of the Lord and are not the energetic. (SB 3.7.9, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "Paramātmā, the Supersoul, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is eternally liberated.

In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living within this body along with the individual soul, and this is confirmed in the Vedas.

They are likened to two friends sitting on the same tree. Yet Paramātmā is above the illusory energy.

The illusory energy is called bahiraṅgā śakti, or external energy, and the living entity is called taṭasthā-śakti, or marginal potency.

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, the material energy, represented as earth, water, air, fire, sky, etc., and the spiritual energy, the living entity, are both energies of the Supreme Lord.

Even though the energies and the energetic are identical, the living entity, individual soul, being prone to be influenced by the external energy, considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be one with himself". (SB 4, 22 38, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Supreme Personality of Godhead has three primary energies, or potencies.

1 -The first is called antaraṅga-śakti, or the internal potency.

2 - The second is called taṭastha-śakti, or the marginal potency.

3 - The third is called bahiraṅga-śakti, or the external potency.

The living entities constitute the marginal potency, and they are situated between the internal and external Potencies.

Being subordinate as eternal servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the jīvātmās, or atomic living entities, must remain under the control of either the internal or external potency.

When they are under the control of the internal potency, they display their natural, constitutional activity—namely, constant engagement in the devotional service of the Lord". (Nectar of Instruction 2, Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Vaikuṇṭha planets are a product of the spiritual energy of the Lord.

The marginal living entities belong to this spiritual energy, but because they can reside in either the spiritual world or the material world, even though they are originally spiritual they are designated as taṭastha-śakti because they belong to the marginal plane.

The Vaikuṇṭha planets are a manifestation of the Lord's internal potency, while the material world is a manifestation of His external potency.

Since the Supreme Lord is the master of all energies, it is an irrefutable fact that He is in full control of both the spiritual and material worlds. (Renunciation Through Wisdom 2.8)

Prabhupada also explains above the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) do not originate from the impersonal Brahmajyoti or Maha Visnu within His material creation.

The Sanskrit word "sarva-gatah" means life (individual jiva-souls) are EVERYWHERE.

However there are many different categories of sakti.

The "marginal plane or potency" is NOT a place where souls are created from, or originate from because they have no origin as clearly explained above.

The jiva-souls have ALWAYS existed as the marginal living entities that have no origin point because they are eternal, so the word generated means they are part and parcel of the marginal energy and does NOT literally mean they originated from anywhere.

The marginal living entities or jiva-souls did NOT originate from a fallen condition in the impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman. 

Long, long before that, the jiva-souls fell down (chosen leave) Vaikuntha or Goloka.

As Prabhupada explains above, in Goloka Vrindavana and Vaikuntha, the marginal living entities are not called tatastha-sakti because tatastha-sakti is the "conditioned state" of the marginal living entities describing their existence ONLY in the material creation and impersonal Brahmajyoti.

Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana are the marginal living entities (jiva souls) original homes. 

The jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Krsna as flower; they become flower there if they want. 

Everything is voluntarily in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana and one can change their rasa from being Krsna's friend in Goloka Vrindavana to serving Visnu in the Vaikuntha Planets too if they want, 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.

The impersonal Brahmajyoti or Brahman is NOT the origin of the marginal living entities, in fact as said above, tatastha-sakti is the FALLEN condition state of the marginal living entity (jiva-soul).

The jiva-souls fall to that conditioned state in both the material worlds and the impersonal Brahmajyoti. 

In both conditioned states above, the marginal living entity (jiva-souls) are called tatastha-sakti.

The individual jiva-souls ARE marginal in two different categories.

1 - As the marginal living entity in the condition state known as tatastha sakti ONLY in the material creation and impersonal Brahmajyoti.

2 - As the marginal living entity as their Svarupa Spiritual bodily form in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan (where the marginal living entities are not know as tatastha-sakti)

The jiva-souls are ALWAYS the marginal plane or potency, be it in the material creation, impersonal Brahmajyoti or the Spiritual Worlds of Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

Yet the marginal living entities have different names describing their position.

There are 160 other names for the marginal living entity in the material creation, impersonal Brahmajyoti and Spiritual Worlds and tatastha-sakti is one of those names.

The fact is, on the Spiritual platform there is no creation of more individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) because they were NEVER created, they have ALWAYS existed just like Krsna has.

In other words, the Sun-disc maintains the sun-rays therefore the sun-rays CANNOT exist without the Sun-disc similarly Krsna cannot exist without His parts and parcels especially Srimati Radharani.

Krsna and the jiva-souls cannot exist without each other which means Krsna has no meaning without His devotees, just like the Sun-disc has no meaning without the Sun-rays.

The jiva-souls were NEVER created, explained here Chapter 2 Text 20 Bhagavad Gita As It Is-

"For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain". (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Text 20)

The jiva-souls are unique individual PERSONS who are independent parts and parcel of Krsna, yet dependent on Krsna like the sunrays are dependent on the Sun-disc.

So it is clear the jiva-souls are eternal without beginning or end and were NEVER generated (created) from some origin point like the impersonal Brahmajyoti as some other sangas (religious cults) wrongly believe.

Each of Krsna’s devotees (jiva-souls) interacts with Krsna by their "free will" and CHOOSES one of five primary relationships.

All jiva-souls are EQUALLY intimate with Krsna because in the Spiritual World all relationships with Krsna are voluntary and equally blissful, just like one may like a carnation flower while others choose to like a rose flower.

Loving ,"voluntary" relationships with Krsna number from one to five.

These five are -

1 - Neutrality,

2 - Servitude,

3 - Friendship,

4 - Parental affection,

5 - And conjugal love.

First, let's understand what "Bhu-Mandala" is in Vedic teachings.

To begin with, Bhu-Mandala is NOT our small earth globe; it is way too expanse and big to be our small earth global sphere (planet)

In the Bhagavat Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam), islands do not only mean land in the sea; the word island also means global planets in the ocean of outer space.

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)

Bhu-Mandala is our entire single 4 billion mile diameter sized material universe according to Srimad Bhagavatam and NOT our earth planet.

Sometimes Bhu-Mandala is called a planetary system, but it is really our entire 4 billion mile sized material universe that houses all the 14 different planetary systems.

Srimad Bhagavatam's 5th Canto describes our universe that is deep inside our surrounding Brahmanda universe, as 500,000,000 yojanas (4 billion miles) in diameter. 

In other words, our small earth globe known as Bhuloka, along with all the 14 planetary systems, are within our 4 billion diameter material universe that can be also called "the Bhu-Mandala universe."

Although some scholars consider "4 billion miles in diameter" as a code because according to NASA, just our Solar System is said to be 24 billion miles in diameter. 

And it takes 4 light years to reach the nearest Solar System Alpha-centauri which equals "24 trillion miles away!"

But, modern science are NOT seeing everything; they are limited to their mundane material senses and speculation however, our material universe being only 4 billion miles in diameter does not seem right either.

As said above, our 4 billion Bhu-Mandala material universe is supposed to situated deep inside the greater outer surrounding Brahmanda universe that surrounds it.

The outer Brahmanda our secondary universe is encased in,  is made up of 7 or 8 layers of material energy (gross and subtle) that are quadrillions of miles thick in diameter.

The seven layers of the Brahmanda is 44 quadrillion, 444 trillion, 444 billion miles in diameter, or twice that size if only measured from the inner edge of secondary universe inside the Brahmanda.

Our massive Brahmanda comes from the body of Maha-Visnu along with billions of other "brahmandas" or cosmic eggs that are almost spherical balls.

This means within each Brahmanda greater universe, there is a secondary smaller universe inside it, as said above, ours is called Bhu-Mandala, it is sometimes called the greater earth Mandala (not to be confused with our small earth globe we live on)

Our Bhu-Mandala universe is an expanse that houses our 14 planetary systems that all together in outer space look like a flat disc of planets.

This is the real meaning of the Bhu-Mandala universe as being flat

Remember, Bhu-Mandala is NOT our earth globe, as some scholars wrongly believe.

Our Bhu-Mandala universe with its 14 planetary systems, is just one material universe out of billions of universes all existing deep inside their surrounding Brahmanda universe as well.

And our small earth globe (Bhuloka) we live on is just a spec within a planetary system within our Bhu-Mandala universe.

Once again, Bhu-Mandala IS this single inner universe we are in that houses all 14 planetary systems.

It is important to understand that Bhu-Mandala is NOT our small Earth globe we live on.

In vaniquotes, Prabhupada tells us that the "small earth" (Our earth planet) fell into the Garbhodak ocean and NOT our entire universe, also known as the larger earth called Bhu-Mandala.

The seven islands of the Bhū-Maṇḍala's 4 billion diameter material universe can be difficult to understand.

One thing is certain: our earth home is a round global sphere in outer space and only fools think it is flat.

As said above, modern Cosmologist do not agree that our material universe is 4 billion miles in diameter when just our solar system alne is said to be 24 billion miles in diameter. 

Some sentimentally claim we are only interested in describing our material universe according to Srimad Bhagavatam.

No, I will question the conclusions of sastra as well if it does not seem right as in this case regarding our universe is just 4 billion mile diameter. 

This needs to be questioned because it may include dimensional realities beyond our vision, but must also be properly answered without speculation and sentimentality, or told to just accept sastra without inquiry or proof-

1.  The definition of Bhū-Maṇḍala and its seven islands or dvīpas meaning planets in outer space.

2. Defining Jambūdvīpa the center realm Bhū-Maṇḍala's universe of 14 planetary systems.

3. Division of Jambūdvīpa into Nine Varṣas (planets in outer space) or Regions

4. Definition of Bhārata-varṣa (our small Earth global sphere) as one of the nine regions in outer space of Jambūdvīpa.

5. The Nine Varṣas or planetary systems are different as the influence of Jambūdvīpa

6. The math and dimensions of Jambūdvīpa that are in the centre of the Bhu-Mandala universe.

7. New Puranic Maps of Jambūdvīpa in relation to the 4 billion diameter.

1. Defining Bhū-Maṇḍala and its seven islands (planets) or dvīpas

The definition of Bhū-Maṇḍala and its centre island Jambūdvīpa has been given in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as follows-

"The planetary system known as Bhū-Maṇḍala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven planets (Dvipas) in outerspace resemble the whorl of that flower. 

The length and breadth of the planetary realm known as Jambūdvīpa, is situated in the middle of the whorl in our 4 billion miles diameter material universe (Bhu-Mandala)

Jambudvīpa has TWO meanings.

1 - India on this "earth planet."

2 -  The greater "earth," our entire 4 billion mile diameter universe called Bhu-Mandala.

The word Jambudvīpa literally refers to "the land of Jambu trees," where jambu (also known as jamun) is the Indian Blackberry.

Dvīpa has two meanings, "island" or "continent" and "planets" situated in the ocean of outer space.

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)

Our earth planet is not flat that some foolish ignorant devotees wrongly believe. 

The "world" (the word "world" here means our Bhu-Mandala universe) is divided into seven concentric island continents (planets in outer space)

(sapta-dvipa vasumati) separated by the seven encircling oceans of solar winds in outerspace, each double the size of the preceding one (going out from within)

The seven continents (planets) of the Puranas are stated as Jambudvipa (which is also India on this plane, 

Plaksadvipa, Salmalidvipa, Kusadvipa, Krouncadvipa, Sakadvipa, Pushkaradvipa.

Seven intermediate oceans on the planets above existing in outerspace consist of 

salt-water, 

sugarcane juice, 

wine, 

ghee, 

yogurt, 

milk, 

water. 

The mountain range called Lokaloka is on the outer edge of our Bhu-Mandala universe.

The Bhu-Mandala universe is also called Earth and means "world-no-world."

Bhu-Mandala stretches across the sea, which means the ocean of outer space. 

There are also different types of oceans on the many planets in outer space that exist in our Bhu-Mandala universe that houses the 14 planetary systems..***..

As living spiritual 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.

Srila Prabhupada - "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.

This transcendental vibration of chanting - 

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

This is the sublime method for reviving our Kṛṣṇa consciousness. 

As living spiritual 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. 

In this polluted concept of live, we are all trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in her complexities. 

This illusion is called māyā, or hard struggle for existence over the stringent laws of material nature. 

This illusory struggle against the material nature can at once be stopped by revival of our Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original energy of the living entity. 

When we hear the transcendental vibration, this consciousness is revived. And the process is recommended by authorities for this age. 

By practical experience also, we can perceive that by chanting this mahā-mantra, or the Great Chanting for Deliverance, one can at once feel transcendental ecstasy from the spiritual stratum. 

When one is factually on the plane of spiritual understanding, surpassing the stages of sense, mind and intelligence, one is situated on the transcendental plane. 

This chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare is directly enacted from the spiritual platform, surpassing all lower states of consciousness namely sensual, mental and intellectual. 

There is no need of understanding the language of the mantra, nor is there any need of mental speculation nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this mahā-mantra. 

It springs automatically from the spiritual platform, and as such, anyone can take part in this transcendental sound vibration, without any previous qualification, and dance in ecstasy.

We have seen it practically. Even a child can take part in the chanting, or even a dog can take part in it. 

The chanting should be heard, however, from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effect can be achieved. 

As far as possible, chanting from the lips of a nondevotee should be avoided, as much as milk touched by the lips of a serpent causes poisonous effect.

The word Harā is a form of addressing the energy of the Lord. Both Kṛṣṇa and Rāma are forms of addressing directly the Lord, and they mean "the highest pleasure, eternal." Harā is the supreme pleasure potency of the Lord. 

This potency, when addressed as Hare, helps us in reaching the Supreme Lord.

The material energy, called mayā, is also one of the multipotencies of the Lord, as much as we are also the marginal potency of the Lord. 

The "marginal living entities" (jiva-souls) are described as a superior energy than matter. 

When the superior energy is in contact with inferior energy, it becomes an incompatible situation but when the supreme marginal potency (jiva-souls) are in contact with the spiritual potency, Harā, it becomes the happy, normal condition of the living entity.

The three words, namely Harā, Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, are transcendental seeds of the mahā-mantra, and the chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His internal energy, Harā, for giving protection to the conditioned soul. 

The chanting is exactly like a genuine cry by the child for the mother. Mother Harā helps in achieving the grace of the supreme father, Hari, or Kṛṣṇa, and the Lord reveals Himself to such a sincere devotee.

No other means, therefore, of spiritual realization is as effective in this age, as chanting the mahā-mantra,

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa,

Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare,

Hare Rāma Hare Rāma,

Rāma Rāma Hare Hare 

(Purport to Hare Krsna Mantra - as explained on the cover of the "Happening Record Album" Dec 1966 New York City, USA)

What does "surrendering" to Krsna (God) really mean?

Having "free will" ALWAYS allows the jiva-souls to voluntarily offer their own unique contributions to Krsna in loving service.

Surrender does NOT mean giving up your "free will" by allowing Krsna to take over your individual personality and controlling your actions and thoughts.

Such "mindless" surrender is impersonalism, which means spiritual suicide because if one gives up their intelligence, freedom of expression and voluntary participation in the name of surrender, then such "impersonal" surrender will extinguish one's unique spiritual enthusiasm, one's individual identity, voluntarily contributions and unique personality, making the jiva-soul no better than dead stone.

We must understand the real meaning of "surrender" instead of the blind naive following going on today. 

There is an obvious reason Krsna always allows "free will" in the Vaikuntha planets and in Goloka-Vrindavana. 

It is to do with having the ability to voluntarily express with your own loving emotions and contributions, and then experience the mystery of loving exchanges with Krsna that even suprise Him because it is not just Krsna doing all the thinking.

In actual fact, real loving exchanges that are the foundations of "surrender" can only happen in a two-sided relationship and NEVER in a one-sided dictatorship.

Without "free will," that includes contributions,  loving voluntary exchanges with Krsna are NOT possible.

How can a "lifeless puppet" in a puppet show express loving emotions when it is ALWAYS controlled and manipulated by the strings in the hands of the puppet master?

Similarly, how can the jiva-souls express loving emotions in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana if Krsna does not allow freedom of spiritual  expression ("free will") and individual independence which is the real meaning of being a contributing  spiritual individual PERSON in God's Kingdom of Goloka-Vrindavana or on the Vaikuntha planets?

Surrendering to Krsna and His pure devotee is NOT impersonal. You will always be a contributing person.

As said above, surrender to Krsna does not mean giving up your personality, intelligence, free will, individuality and the awareness of being an independent unique contributing free thinking PERSON you are eternally.

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 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 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." (Lecture on SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "The impersonalist philosophy is oneness. So how there can 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 on SB, Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

Devotee – "Srila Prabhupada, I can’t understand why we can have impure desire when we are already serving Krsna."

Srila Prabhupada – "Because you have got little freedom, it is one's desire."

Devotee – "But 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 here, 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 and suffer. What can be done? So because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, therefore you have acquired the quality of your father,  so God does not interfere with your independence. 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." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

The spiritual worlds of  the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana, are NOT a dictatorial domineering impersonal places where everyone is forced to do what ever Krsna and Visnu only want, without the jiva-souls having the right to voluntarily offer their own personal contributions.

For genuine love to exist with Krsna, there must be a voluntary "two-way" relationship based on reciprocation and loving exchanges.

Therefore, the Kingdom of God (Goloka-Vrindavana) is NOT an impersonal mindless stagnant place where everyone is just told what to do. 

No, the fact is both the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana are spiritual abodes where loving exchanges are eternally going on, based on voluntary cooperation, reciprocation, self expression and personal contributions.

That Impersonal mayavadi version of God's Kingdom, where the mislead jiva-soul MUST give up their free will in order to enter Krsna's abode, only leads to a loveless impersonalism and spiritual suicide.  

The jiva-souls are not dead mindless stone, the jiva-souls are ALWAYS endowed with their own unique free will so they can voluntarily choose to be the contributing PERSON they eternally are.

Having "free will" is the constitutional make up of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) that is ALWAYS part and parcel within their eternal character and personality in the spiritual world.

This means the jiva-souls can choose to leave the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka-Vrindavana if they want, this is also what "free will" allows and if it didn't, then they have no free will and are no better than dead stone.

This is why it is foolish and sad that big, big sannyasi and gurus claim once entering the spiritual world, the jiva-souls can never fall down again because they surrendered their free will and right to again fall down.

Such nonsense guru's and sannyasis masquerading as devotees of Krsna, are actually impersonalists and do not even know it.

The fact is, the jiva-souls CAN fall down again and again and again if they choose to do so. 

This proves they have free will

And such fall downs have nothing to do with Maya (material energy), it is simply free will because Maya or material energy does NOT exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana.

The choice to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana is possible because Krsna allows love to be a "two-way" street, this means one can accept or reject Krsna if they choose to do so.

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, 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." (Excerpt from: Philosophy Discussions with Srila Prabhupada – Rene 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)

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. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We CAN misuse that." (Conversation, Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)

HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE

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. 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." (Discussions with Syamasundara > Henri Bergson)

If Krsna forced you to love Him in a "one-way" totalitarian dictatorship, then how can such an impersonal existence freely express genuine loving affection when the jiva-souls are denied their own freedom of choice?

Loving relationships can only work in a "two-way" exchange based on reciprocation and loving selfless service with two involved in sharing loving exchanges.

In this way, the Kingdom of God is NEVER a domineering "one-way" bullying dictatorship run by a forceful so called God.

No! Krsna is not like that at all.

The fact is, such a "one-way" impersonal master/servant dictatorship is actually a loveless relationship that only destroy one's real freedom of expression (free will) and having a sense of individual self and unique personality independent from Krsna's Personality.

The fact is, the jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana can choose how to serve Krsna in their own unique way, or even reject Krsna if they choose.

Such freedom to do good or bad MUST be there if love is to truly exist. 

There must ALWAYS be the "free will" to reject Krsna too if one choose, otherwise there is no meaning to having loving exchanges with Krsna.

Each individual jiva-soul ALWAYS has their "marginal right" to make their own unique personal contributions to Krsna that they can choose to offer as the perpetual independent servant they are eternally.

No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individual personality and character eternally  in their loving exchanges with Krishna.

Srila Prabhupāda - ''Unless there are two persons, where is the question of love? Love means two persons, then there is exchange. Giving something, taking something, feeding something and to eat something, and speaking everything, no secrecy, and to know everything of the other person. When these things are transacted, 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." (Evening Darsana, Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)

The jiva-soul NEVER lose their free will, which is their individual ability of self expression, when offering their own personal contributions of service that are unique to each individual jiva-souls 

Each jiva-soul (marginal living entity) has this eternal marginal quality, which is part and parcel of there perpetual make up or constitution as the marginal living entity they are eternally.

In this way, each jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, character and personality separate from Krsna's Personality, and being a unique one of a kind in the Spiritual Sky different from all other jiva-souls as part of their marginal make up.

Again it is important to understand this means that no two jiva-souls are the same.

This eternally existing spiritual social code, that includes free will and an independent personal sense of individual self, make up the character and personality of each jiva soul who is without any beginning or ending point.

These qualities are part and parcel of every marginal living entities (jiva-souls) eternal constitution.

This allows the jiva-soul to personally always be aware that they are a unique individual independent PERSON while serving Krsna, being different from all other living entities in the Spiritual Sky.

Free will means it is the jiva-soul's choice of how to they want surrender and serve Krsna also, or even NOT surrender if they choose.

Although that is rare, the fact is, more than 90% of jiva-souls NEVER choose to foolishly reject Krsna, only less than 10% choose to reject Krsna and therefore enter the material creation Prabhupada has told us.

If the jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana reject Visnu or Krsna, then they obviously cannot stay there in the Spiritual Worlds.

The only place available to them is the temporary material creation meant for those who CHOOSE to reject Krsna also.

Maya or material energy does NOT exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana.

If the jiva-souls choose to stay in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, or choose to enter the material creation, it is THEIR free will that allows them to make that choice and nobody elses including Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling, then there is love. Not by force! Krsna does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!"(Washington DC July 8, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "Because you are son of God you have got independence, so God does not interfere with your little independence. If you persist that “I must go and enjoy independently'', God says, “All right, you can go and enjoy." (Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada says in "Nectar of Devotion", that just like the Sun-disc cannot be separated from the sun-rays, similarly Krsna has no meaning without the association of His loving devotees.

In Krsna Book Prabhupada further explains-

Srila Prabhupada - "As the sun disc and the sunshine cannot be separated, similarly Kṛṣṇa and His bodily rays, the brahmajyoti, cannot be separated." (Krsna Book, 89)

The relationship between Krsna and His jiva-tattva expansions (marginal living entities) is NEVER one-sided.

Marginal potency also means the jiva-souls, "who are the marginal potency,"  have free will.

The jiva-souls are never forced to surrender and therefore the relationship is never impersonal.

One's eternal relationship with Krsna is ALWAYS based on respectful reciprocation, nurturing and voluntary service based on free will executed in a two-way exchange, ONLY then can there be REAL love in the relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

In this way Srila Prabhupada explained to us many years ago-

“If you love me, then I will love you”

Love therefore is based on the reciprocation between two individuals. Love does NOT exist if there is only one, there must be two.

Even Krsna divided Himself into two, (Radharani and Krsna), just so He can experience loving exchanges and reciprocation in a "two-way" exchange.  

Srila Prabhupada has given us the example that there must always be loving cooperation, exchanges and reciprocation, and responding with each other with selfless kindness.

In other words, love can NEVER exist with just ONE, there MUST always be loving exchanges and cooperation between TWO.

The fact is more than 90% of all living entities (jiva-souls) choose to NEVER fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana, because that is THEIR choice and has nothing to do with Maya or material energy.

That expression of "freedom" or "free will" in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, is always eternally part and parcel of the marginal living entities natural constitution and has always existed in their individual nature eternally.

HERE HERE HERE 2 

The jiva-soul or marginal living entity has 78.125% of Krsna's quantities, which is 50 of His 64 qualities.

This puts the marginal living entity in the realm of having their own ability to express themselves, having their own sense of independent self, identity, individuality, unique character and personality separate from Krsna's Personality, allowing them to choose for themselves.

This means the jiva-souls have the freedom to agree, or not agree with Krsna if they choose.

This quality of individuality and independence allows the jiva-souls the ability to choose Krsna, or choose to be separate from Krsna and enter the material creation.

Remember, Maya and the material energy do NOT exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, so MAYA is unknown to the jiva-souls in both the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana.

However, having "free will" and an independent personality separate from Krsna's Personality, gives the jiva-soul a unique sense of individual responsibility and ability to make their own choices.  

This allows the jiva-souls to express themselves in their own unique way as an individual person independent from Krsna's control over them in the spiritual world.

These qualities are eternal, and are the constitutional makeup of all marginal living entities (jiva-souls) in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

The Visnu-tattva (direct expansions of God) and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva expansions (different direct Personalities of Krsna who are Krsna's internal energy headed by Radharani and associated including many family members) of Krsna have 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities (93.75%)

Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattva are all "one" with Krsna, playing an unlimited variety different roles.

Only the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are separate individuals who  can express themselves in "seperate way" from Krsna, including disageeing with Him if they choose, which means they have free will.

As said above, the Visnu-tattva personalities and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas ARE Krsna just playing unlimited roles in Krsna's own pastimes.

An example of Visnu "sakti"-tattva is Mother Yasoda, she is not a jiva-soul, she is a direct expansion of Krsna. 

In other words, just like Krsna is also Balarāma, and Radharani is also Krsna but in a different mood, Mother Yasoda is also an expansion of Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "Nanda and mother Yasoda are the eternal father & mother of Krsna. This means that whenever Krsna descends, Nanda and Yasoda, as well as Vasudeva and Devaki, also descend as the Lord's father and mother. Their personalities are expansions of Krsna's personal body." (SB, Canto 10.8.48)

There are no new jiva-souls being created by Krsna, Maha-Visnu, or the impersonal brahmajyoti. 

Srila Prabhupada – "There are no new souls, new and old are due to this material body, but the jiva-soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth, how can there be new souls?" (Letter to Jagadisa dasa, 7/9/1970)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 20 explains the jiva-souls have existed for “infinity”

This means, just like Krsna, they are beginning less and endless, and were NEVER created-

Bhagavad Gita - “For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” (BG, Ch 2 text 20 “corrected” 1983 edition)

Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 text 12 also confirms the jiva-souls were NEVER created because they have no origin and have existed for infinity like Krsna has, as Krsna explains-

Bhagavad Gita - “Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” (BG 2.12)

Being "marginal" means having the choice to be influenced by the spiritual energy or the material energy-

1 - The jiva-souls nature position and full potential in the spiritual world is always being connected to the spiritual energy.

2 - Or by the material energy which is an unnatural or incompatible "conditioned state" the jiva-soul is in.

As said above, the real meaning of "marginal" means the jiva-souls can choose to be influenced by either the spiritual energy, or the material energy, based on the expression of their free will.

The jiva-souls (marginal living entities) were NEVER created, they are beginningless and endless and have ALWAYS existed over infinity.

But sadly, many foolish gurus, sannyasis, scholars and teachers of Vedic knowledge cannot understand these facts.  

Srila Prabhupada - "Even in Vaikuntha you can choose not to serve Krsna if you want."

Vipina Purandara - "Why doesn’t Krsna protect us from that desire?"

Srila Prabhupada - "He is protecting. Krsna says, "You rascal, don’t desire like that, surrender unto Me." But you are rascal; you do not do this."

Vipina Purandara - "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 it love? You love me, otherwise I will kill you! Is that love? So Krsna does not want to become a lover like that." (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.)

They are different expressions of Krsna's Personality playing another role in His own pastimes, they ARE Krsna in another role unlike the jiva-souls who each have their own unique identity and personality totally separate and independent from Krsna's Personality.

If "free will" is taken away from the marginal living entities (jiva-souls), then they lose the ability to give and accept love, the jiva-soul becomes no better than dead stone Prabhupada has told us, or just a mindless robot, slave or drone.

For love to truly exist, the jiva-souls MUST have their free will that is part and parcel of their marginal constitutional make up.

As said above, free will allows the jiva souls to choose for themselves how they want to serve Krsna with voluntary contributions in a selflessness mood (the real meaning of surrender) in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana at all times.

Sadly, a small minority do choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan (less than 10% Prabhupada has explained above), regardless of how some Sangas claim no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana once there.

This is not true, the fact is the jiva-soul CAN leave the Spiritual World any time they want to.

To say those in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana will "never ever fall down IS true, but ONLY for those who CHOOSE NOT to fall down. 

In other words, if the jiva-soul wants to leave they certainly can.

To make the blanket nonsense comment that "not even the leaves fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana" does NOT take into consideration the "free will" of the jiva-souls and is nonsense.

They should try and understand what Prabhupada said, that over 90% of jiva-souls have NEVER entered the material creation.

To leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana and end up in the material creation is ultimately the jiva-soul's individual right and choice, and Krsna does not interfere with that choice.

Even though Krsna has promised there is no return to the material creation, the fact is there IS return if the jiva-souls wants to return as Prabhupada explains here-

Acyutananda – "In the Bhagavad Gita it says once coming to the spiritual world, he never again returns to the material world, so 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 independence too, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, so if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown." (Conversation, Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)

Returning home back to Godhead is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains as follows, that choice to stay or go is also the jiva-souls choice too.

It is not just a one way decision that Krsna makes, no, real loving exchanges can NEVER exist without free will.

For loving devotion to truly exist with the marginal living entity, the jiva-soul MUST have the right to choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana at anytime if they want, therefore returning there is not necessarily permanent Prabhupada explains here.

For those who believe no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, have NOT understood these clear points explained by Prabhupada.

Many also do not understand the variety of living entities in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, and that it is only a very small minority of jiva-souls who do choose to leave.

The majority do not even know the material creation exists not care.

The fact is, there are many different other inhabitants of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana too who are NOT jiva-soul and never fall down by choice because they are more direct expansions of Krsna, such as the Visnu-tattva and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas who are Krsna Himself just playing another role in His own pastimes.

Therefore, they NEVER fall down because they ARE Krsna and NOT jiva-tattva or jiva-soul.

They are simultaneously His eternal associates and Krsna Himself experiencing Himself in unlimited different ways.

So for the Visnu-tattvas, and Visnu-"sakti"-tattvas, they choose just like Krsna does because they ARE Krsna just playing a different role in His pastimes.

Just like the Pancha-tattva where only one out the the five is jiva-tattva, all the rest are a variety of different expansions from Krsna's Personality.

And for over 90% of the jiva-souls, who ALWAYS have the ability to choose as an independent person, they also NEVER fall down or leave either because they NEVER "choose" to do so but can if they want too, that free will is ALWAYS there.

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, there’s no possibility of falling back."

Srila Prabhupada - No! There IS possibility, but he does not come IF he is intelligent. Just like after putting your hand in the fire, you never put it again. So those who are going back to Godhead, they must become intelligent. Why going back to Godhead? Just like we are in renounced order of life. So we have renounced our family life after thinking something. Now, if somebody comes, “Swamiji, you take thousand millions of dollars and marry again and become a family man,” I’ll never become, because I have got my bad experience. I’ll never become." (Discussions with Syamasundara Dasa)

Note, Prabhupada says above, "if he is intelligent" indicating there will be some who are NOT intelligent and again will fall down to the material world.

Srila Prabhupada has explained there will ALWAYS be a very small minority of only the jiva-souls, less than 10% (not the Visnu-"sakti"-tattva or Visnu-tattva "direct expansions"of Krsna)

Dr. John Mize – "Did all the jiva-souls that were in the spiritual sky (the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavan) fall out of the spiritual sky at once or at different times, or are there any jiva-souls that are always good, they’re not foolish, they don’t fall down?"

Srila Prabhupada – "No, there are majority, 90%, they are always good. They never fall down."

Dr. John Mize – "So we’re among the 10%."

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, or less than that. In the material, whole material world all the living entities they are… Just like in the prison house, there is some population, but they are not majority. The majority of the population, they are outside the prison house. Similarly, majority of living being, part and parcel of God, they are in the spiritual world. Only a few fall down."

Dr. John Mize – "Does Krsna know ahead of time that a jiva-soul is going to be foolish and fall?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Krsna? Yes, Krsna may know because He is omniscient."

Dr. John Mize – "Are more jiva-souls falling all the time?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Not all the time. But there is the tendency of fall down, not for all, but because there is independence. Everyone is not liking to misuse the independence. The same example, just like a government constructing a city and constructs also prison house because the government knows that somebody will be criminal. So their shelter must be also constructed. It is very easy to understand. Not that cent percent population will be criminal, but government knows that some of them will be. Otherwise why they construct prison house also? One may say, "Where is the criminal? You are constructing." Government knows, there will be criminal. So if the ordinary government can know, why God cannot know? Because there is tendency."

Dr. John Mize – "The origin of that tendency (to fall from Goloka) is?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes."

Dr. John Mize – "From where does that tendency come?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Tendency means the independence. 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." (BG, As It Is. lecture, Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Only the jiva-souls can misuse their free will and "choose" to leave if they want.

"Free will" for the jiva-souls is eternal in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan, and without this freedom to be able to choose to either forget or remember Krsna, then the jiva-soul would have no individuality, no independent personality, and no ability to love, the jiva-soul would simply be mindless ''yes men and woman'' like machine drones in a factory, or like a dead stone Prabhupada has tells us here.

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)

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 you cannot 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)

In Bhagavad-Gita As It Is Krsna promises the jiva-souls they will NEVER fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana to the material creation, and yes, Krsna will always keeps His promise, but Krsna's promise of NEVER falling down to the material creation once there, is from Krsna's point of view, so does the jiva-soul also have to accept His promise as final?

In other words, does this mean the jiva-souls have no choice and can NEVER "choose" to leave Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana even if they want to leave?

Krsna's promise, confirmed in Bhagavad-Gita As It Is says that once reaching Vaikuntha the jiva-soul will never again fall down to the material World, is true for most souls, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM simply because some jiva-souls choose to reject Krsna's promise.

Those great souls who quote Krsna's promise from Bhagavad Gita ARE right for the majority of jiva-souls, which is about 90% in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana who NEVER do fall down or leave to enter the material creation, but NOT all jiva-souls!

This is because each jiva-soul has THEIR own free will and independent thinking, this means it is THEIR choice if they stay or leave and NOT just Krsnas.

In other words, Krsna's promise is NOT binding or absolute law with all marginal living entities because the jiva-souls have their own free will to make THEIR own choices.

Srila Prabhupada explains Krsna's promise and gives the proper explanation in full saying a small minority of jiva-souls do choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana AGAIN and puts that figure at less than 10%.

So why do some jiva-souls fall down?

To understand this one must realize that ultimately LOVE is not just a one-way, one-sided affair or dictatorship, real love is based on reciprocation and loving exhanges between two, not just one, meaning NOT just Krsna.

Therefore we must NOT forget the jiva-soul's right of expression too, the jiva-souls ALSO have THEIR choices and say too expressed from THEIR point of view.

This is because love is always based on reciprocation, a two way street between two.

Only impersonalists preach that "surrender" means giving up free will, individuality, and that everyone should become "little Krsna imitaters".

It is a fact Krsna can do anything He wants to do however, if Kṛṣṇa forced His will and complete dominance on the jiva-souls, then they would be no better than dead stone Prabhupada tells us.

Such absolute one way control by this kind of God will only totally destroy the jiva-soul's independent expression of individuality and there natural eternal constitution right of self expression and free will (freedom).

And if Krsna DID FORCE the jiva-souls to love Him, then how can that be real genuine love as Prabhupada explains above.

By promising He will NEVER let the jiva-souls fall from Vaikuntha again by forcing the jiva-souls to comply and stay IS seen as interfering with the free will and individuality of the jiva-souls.

Being marginal means free will.

This is because, they too are entitled to THEIR choice of serving or even not serving Krsna if they choose.

The fact is Krsna will NEVER make that decision for the jiva-soul, otherwise one's sense of free will is violated, and there can be no question of love if the jiva-soul has no right to choose for themselves.

Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada why did Krsna give us free will if He knew we would miss use it?"

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)

"Free will" or freedom is something never acquired, nor ever given up or surrendered in the Spiritual World as ignorant fools believe.

Free will is eternally part and parcel of the jiva-souls (marginal living entities) natural constitution and therefore ALWAYS exists without beginning or end in the Spiritual Planets.

However, free will in its full potential, is ONLY fully experienced in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan, which is the jiva-souls original perpetual home.

Ultimately in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, it is also the jiva-soul's choice of how to serve and NOT just Krsna's dictates because He ONLY wants loving servants who "choose" to be with Him through their own free will and personal offerings of service.

Krsna only wants the jiva-souls to serve and love Him voluntarily and will NEVER force then to serve Him by saying 

"Once you are in Goloka Vrindavana, NEVER again will you leave here or fall down".

No, that is NOT Krsna's m call because it is NOT only His choice, a loving relationship can only exist when there are two consenting personalities.

Therefore it is also the jiva-soul's choice to REMAIN there as servant of the servant as weĺl, or even leave Goloka Vrindavana if they want too.

Only fools and sentimental ignorant so called Vaishnavas do not understand the fact that jiva-souls can leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana anytime they like.

The jiva-soul's independent nature actually allows them to make their own choices, including leaving the Spiritual World if they choose.

The relationship between servant and Master is NEVER oneway, never impersonal, it is a perpetual relationship based on "reciprocation", based on loving exchanges between TWO.

The promise by Krsna that the jiva-soul will never again fall down into the material world, is from Krsna's point of view as explained above that the jiva-soul CAN reject if they choose.

Ultimately it is NOT only Krsna's will and complete control, no, it is a joint decision between the jiva-souls and Krsna.

This is what loving exchanges are.

The spiritual worlds are NOT a dictatorships where one is a yes man or women, denying their free will and personal contributions or offerings.

And yes, over 90% of jiva-soul's do "choose" to accept Krsna's promise and NEVER leave the spiritual worlds. 

As said above this means less than 10% "do choose" to leave, and that is their right.

The fact is, each jiva-soul is an independent unique individual with 78.125% of Krsna's qualities and attributes with their own personality, sense of self and unique identity.

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, why are we here?"

Srila Prabhupada - "That means you lose your independence. That is force, in Bengali it is said, ‘If you catch one girl or boy, ‘You love me, you love me, you love me.’ ” Is it 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.)

The jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana are forever expanding their expression of individuality with personal offerings based on free will and selfless loving reciprocation with Krsna, it is NEVER a one sided master/slave relationship with the God.

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, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!"(Washington DC July 8, 1976)

Real love or Bhakti is reciprocal, as said above, it is NEVER a one way street where surrender to Krsna takes away one's sense of self, individuality and personal contributions.

This is important to understand because each individual jiva-soul has their own independent personality, sense of self and unique personality and characteristics that THEY only have, that is part and parcel of each individual marginal living entities make up as the independent unique "person" they are eternally.

Srila Prabhupada - "Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. "So God does not interfere with your independence." (Conversation Melb, Australia June 25, 1974)*^*^