Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Who is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and what are his teachings?

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada the founder Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON) established on July 13th 1966 in New York City, USA

Born -

Abhay Charan De

1 September 1896

Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India.

Died -

14 November 1977 (aged 81) Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India

Resting place -

Bhaktivedānta Swami's Samadhi, Krsna Balarama Mandir Vrindavan

Religion -

Sanātan Dharma,

Vaishnavism,

Street Sankirtan (chanting Hare Krsna) all over the World - The Yuga Dharma.

Lineage -

Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.

Sect -

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

Notable work -

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Caitanya Caritāmṛta

School -

Scottish Church College, University of Calcutta (B.A.)

Monastic name -

Abhaya Caraṇāravinda Bhakti-vedānta Svāmī

Temple -

Gaudiya Math then started ISKCON on July 13th 1966

Philosophy -

Achintya Bheda Abheda (Simultaneously one and different philosophy of Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu) 

Teacher (Spiritual Master) -

Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur 

Predecessor -

Srila Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur 

Initiation -

Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Diksa

1933 by Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thakur. 

Ordination -

Gaudiya Sannyasa, 1959, by Bhaktiprajnāna Keśava Gosvāmī.

Srila Prabhupada's basic enlighting teachings-

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

The individual jiva-souĺs have THEIR choices too, EVEN if that choice means rejecting Krsna!

Free will only has meaning when the jiva-souls can express themselves in a "two-sided" affair.

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.

This also means 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 free will." (Philosophy Discussions with Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada – “So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence. That is force.” (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Having "free will" is the eternal constitutional make up of EVERY "marginal living entity", and is the foundation for ALL jiva-soul's relationship with Krsna.

The jiva-souls in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavan ALWAYS have their own independent "free will" that is part and parcel of their unique individual marginal identity (As jiva-soul)

This "freedom" of having free will, allows the jiva-souls to each make their own unique personal offerings and voluntary contributions to Visnu or Krsna, where each jiva-soul can offer or serve Krsna in their own unique personal way.

This is REAL freedom.

In this way each individual jiva-soul has their own special unique (personal) association and relationship with Krsna that no other jiva-soul has like theirs.

These loving exchanges are based on a "two-way" relationship between Krsna and the jiva-souls.

However, in the temporary material creation, it is different because those who have entered the material creation have previously chosen to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan by rejecting Visnu in Vaikuntha or Krsna in Goloka Vrindavana.

So why then does Krsna allow the jiva-souls to have their independent freedom to even leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan if they choose?

Devotee – "In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, it says that Krsna did not want us to come to this material world. If Krsna did not want us to come, why are we here?” 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, ‘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)

First of all we read from above by Prabhupada, Krsna gives the jiva-souls "free will" in the Spiritual Worlds that allows them to make their own choices there. 

Having free will also makes the jiva-souls fully responsible for all their choices and actions. 

Rejecting Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan and therefore having to enter the material creation, (but only less than 10% make such a choice) was a mistake by those jiva-souls because the material creation is NOT the real home of the individual jiva-souls.

It is unnatural for the individual jiva-souls to be covered by a temporary material bodily vessel or container that they are given when they enter the material creation.

It must be clearly understood for love to truly exist, each jiva-soul MUST have their "free will" to make their own choices, even if it means leaving Krsna if they choose, otherwise there can be no question of genuine love or service.

This quality or attribute of free will is part of the jiva-soul's marginal constitutional nature, as an independent free thinking part and parcels expansion of the Krsna.

Krsna allows this freedom that all jiva-souls have because without free will loving exchanges and reciprocation can NEVER exist.

Srila Prabhupada – “You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, therefore if he likes he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We CAN misuse that. (Mayapur, February 19, 1976)

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

This means the jiva-souls can even choose to leave the Vaikuntha Planets or Goloka-Vrindavana if they want.

Free will always allows this and if it didn't then there is no question of loving exchanges.

This is why it is foolish that big, big sannyasis and gurus in some other sangas (religious cults) claim once entering the Spiritual Worlds the jiva-souls can never leave or down again.

No, they CAN fall down again and again if they choose to do so!

And as said above, such choices or fall downs have nothing to do with Maya (material energy) because Maya does not exist in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

It is simply the misuse of free will that is the cause of fall down.

The choice to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana is possible because Krsna allows a "two-way" relationship, 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. (Talk with Rene Descartes)

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". (Talk with Syamasundara and Henri Bergson)

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Love means a relationship between "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". (August 9, 1976, Tehran)

The Sun-disc and the sun-rays CANNOT exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His living entities (parts and parcels) and the living entities CANNOT exist without Krsna.

Each "jiva-soul" (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind independent individual with their own unique personality and character different from other personalities including Kṛṣṇas.

No two individual jiva-souls are the same, and no jiva-souls can EVER become God (Krsna or Visnu).

Loving devotional service to Krsna is ALWAYS based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings manifesting as loving acts of reciprocation between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) of devotional service to Him as the real act of surrendering to Krsna's will that does not deny the "free will" of each jiva-soul.

On the other hand, actions expressed in a "one-way" domineering forceful mood from a "so called God" in His Kingdom that does not allow personal voluntary contributions from the individual jiva-souls in a "two-way" exchange of feelings, is dangerous impersonalism.

Personalism means a "two-way" relationship that includes voluntary loving exchange of feelings that expands, enriches and multiplies loving affection, sentiment and exchanges between the jiva-souls and Krsna.

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!" (August 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 Chapter 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 by 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 Chapter 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

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 Chapter 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

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 becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact". (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.1-4 - Melbourne, May 20, 1975).









Monday, December 20, 2021

"Sakti" is the energy of Krsna however, there are different categories of sakti.

For example the Visnu "sakti" tattva living entities are in the category of "Visnu-tattva" who are direct expansions of Krsna playing multiple roles in His own pastimes.

Like Visnu, Narayana etc on the Vaikuntha Planets and Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu and Paramatma in the material creation.

Whereas "sakti" as the jiva-tattva living entities like us are independent expansions of Krsna endowed with free will in the Spiritual Worlds, who have their own individuality, sense of self and unique personality separate from Krsnas.

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways: 

1 - Viṣṇu-tattva, 

2 - Viṣṇu-śakti-tattva,

3 - jīva-tattva, 

like that". (Lecture on SB 6.2.7 -- Vrndavana, September 10, 1975)

As said above, "Sakti" means the different categories of "energies" of Krsna, living and non-living as Srila Prabhupada explains. 

Srila Prabhupāda - "Sakti means “energy.” There are many types of energies of the Supreme Lord, and all of them are auspicious. 

Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara are called guṇa-avatāras, or incarnations of material qualities. 

In the material world we compare these different incarnations from different angles of vision, but since all of them are expansions of the supreme auspicious, all of them are auspicious, although sometimes we consider one quality of nature to be higher or lower than another. 

The mode of ignorance, or tamo-guṇa, is considered very much lower than the others, but in the higher sense it is also auspicious. 

The example may be given herein that the government has both an educational department and criminal department. 

An outsider may consider the criminal department inauspicious, but from the government’s point of view it is as important as the education department, and therefore the government finances both departments equally, without discrimination". (Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 6 text 43 Purport)

Within Puranic literatures and general Vaiśnava philosophy the word tattva is often used to denote certain categories or types of being or energies such as-

Kṛṣṇa-tattva.

The Supreme personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes. Meaning the causative factor of everything including other Tattvas.

Viśnu-tattva.

Any incarnation or direct expansion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Śakti-Tattva. 

The multifarious energies of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. It includes his internal potency, Yoga Maya and prakṛti (material energy)

Yogamaya.

Yogamāyā means that which connects you. Yogamāyā, the original yogamāyā, is Kṛṣṇa's internal potency. That is Rādhārāṇī.

Jiva-tattva.

The individual marginal living entities (jiva-souls).

Śiva-tattva.

Śrī Śiva is not considered to be a jiva-tattva or Visnu-tattva.

Mahat-tattva.

The total material energy (prakṛti)

Devotee - "In the material world, we are bound by māyā, mahā-māyā. In the spiritual world, is there another relationship of yogamāyā?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yogamāyā".

Devotee - "Could you explain a little bit about that?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yogamāyā means... Here, this is also Kṛṣṇa's exhibition of māyā, but it is temporary. In the another, spiritual world, that is also exhibition of Kṛṣṇa's māyā, but it is permanent. Here is a perverted reflection, we say. 

Just like shadow, shadow, the shadow of the tree in the water—everything is perverted, opposite. So that shadow is not the substance. The substance is there. On the bank of the river, that is really. 

Similarly the spiritual world is there also, everything is there. There are trees, there are fruits, there are flowers, there are men—everything is there, birds, beasts, everything. But they are all real. 

Here, bahu-rūpa. Bahu-rūpa means, which it is not reality. That, this bahu-rūpa is also reflection, but it is not real. 

That is the difference.

Ivābhāti, therefore it is called ivābhāti - It appears like that, actually it is not". (Lecture on SB 2.9.2 -- Melbourne, April 4, 1972)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa - "Srila Prabhupada the devotees want to know how we may recognize yogamāyā, how we may know".

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yogamāyā? Yogamāyā means that which connects you. Yoga means connection. 

When you are being gradually advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, that is the action of yogamāyā. And when you are gradually forgetting Kṛṣṇa, that is the action of mahāmāyā. 

Māyā is acting upon you. The one is dragging you, and one is pushing you opposite way. Yogamāyā. 

So, just like the example, that you are always under the laws of government. You cannot deny. If you say, "I don't agree to abide by the laws of government," that is not possible. 

But when you are a criminal, you are under the police laws, and when you are gentleman, you are under the civil laws. 

The laws are there. In any situation, you have to obey the laws of government. If you remain as a civilized citizen, then you are always protected by the civil law. 

But as soon as you are against the state, the criminal law will act upon you. 

So the criminal activities of law is mahāmāyā, threefold miseries, always. Always putting in some sort of misery. 

And the civil department of Kṛṣṇa, ānandāmbudhi vardhanam. You simply go on increasing the, I mean to say, depth of the ocean of joy.

Ānandambudhi-vardhanam. That is the difference, yogamāyā and mahāmāyā. 

The original yogamāyā is Kṛṣṇa's internal potency. That is Rādhārāṇī". (Lecture -- Seattle, October 18, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your questions: Your first question, "Are great sages put under yogamaya or maya? Also are all the eternally liberated souls under yogamaya?" 

Yogamaya means the mercy of the Supreme Lord which connects a devotee in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

And mahamaya means the external potency of the Lord which puts a conditioned soul into illusion that he will be happy by material adjustment. 

So great sages who are impersonalists are also under the spell of mahamaya, because a conditioned soul in the material world wants to improve his material position as exalted as possible, and the concept of becoming one with the Supreme Lord is the greatest illusion for them. 

Because it is a fact that nobody can be equal or greater than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such, anyone desiring to become one with the Supreme means that he is still in the trap of maya. 

On the other hand, a humble devotee who may not be a great sage, but simply by his implicit acceptance of the Lotus Feet of the Lord as the goal of his life means that he is under the protection of yogamaya". (Letter to Aniruddha -- Los Angeles 14 November, 1968)

Loving devotional service to Krsna is ALWAYS based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings, manifesting in loving acts of reciprocation between Krsna and His devotees, where His devotees voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) of devotion to Him. 

This is the real meaning of surrendering to Krsna's will that NEVER denies the "free will" (freedom of individual expression) of each jiva-soul.

So there are different categories of sakti-tattva "living entities".

So yes, we are the jiva-tattva souls known as the marginal living entities who have their own independence and free will, yet simultaneously ALWAYS dependent on Krsna in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana, or Maha Visnu in the material creation.

While other living entities are more direct expansions of Krsna called Visnu-tattva and Visnu-sakti-tattva expansions.

Then there is Siva-tattva who is neither a jiva-tattva soul, Visnu-tattva or Visnu-sakti-tattva. 

Lord Siva is in a league of his own.

The Visnu-sakti-tattva and Visnu-tattva expansions are Krsna playing another role in His own pastimes, whereas the jiva-tattvas are independent thinking living entities endowed with free will in the Spiritual Worlds who have their own personality, sense of self and unique individuality as explained above.

The majority of jiva-tattva souls are perpetually situated in either Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana and choose NEVER to fall to the material mundane temporary creation.

Where as the Visnu-sakti-tattva and Visnu-tattva Personalities are eternal inhabitants of Vrindavana who NEVER fall down, or choose to forget Krsna because they ARE Krsna playing a different role in His own eternal pastimes and affairs.

THEY are direct expansions of Krsna Himself and are permanently part of His internal energies or potency that ARE all direct and full expansions of Krsna as varied Personalities.

For example, the Pancha-tattva are a combination of Visnu-sakti-tattva, Visnu-tattva, Siva-tattva and jiva-tattva Personalities with only one being jiva-tattva (Srivasa)

1 - Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, The Supreme Person (Svayam Bhagavan).

2  - Nityananda is Krsna's first personal expansion with the combined power of Balarama

3 - Advaita Acharya is the combined power of Lord Visnu and Lord Siva (Harihara).

4 - Gadadhara Krsna's internal energy Srimati Radharani Herself who is none different from Krsna.

5 - Srivasa is Krsna's jiva-tattva pure devotee and symbolizes devotion.

Srila Prabhupada - ''Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Śrī Nityānanda, Śrī Advaita, Śrī Gadādhara, and Śrīvās. 

Śrīvās is jīva-tattva (marginal living entity). 

The jīva-tattva, śakti-tattva, viṣṇu-tattva, these are all tattvas. So Pañca-tattva. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is the supreme tattva, Kṛṣṇa. 

Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya, rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya. We are worshipping Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. So Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combined''. (Lecture on CC Adi-lila 7.5, Mayapur, March 7, 1974)

The correct understanding is that ALL the different grades of Krsna’s living energies (living and none living) are under the broad category of Sakti-tattva that means "the energies of Krsna".

Sakti-tattva (energies of Krsna) also includes ALL expansions of Krsna-

1 -Visnu-tattva,

2 -Visnu-sakti-tattva,

3 - Siva-tattva,

4 - Jiva-tattva (marginal living entities endowed with free will).

Visnu-tattva (1) and Visnu-sakti-tattva (2) are direct expansions of Krsna who are Krsna Himself playing a different roles in His own pastimes, having 60 of Krsna's 64 attributes which is 93.75% of Krsna's qualities.

Where as Siva-tattva and jiva-tattva tattva are NOT Krsna. Siva and the jiva-souls have their his own unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality as said above.

And each individual jiva-tattva soul ALWAYS have their own unique personality, character and independence separate from Krsna's Personality and Identity,  but simultaneously dependant of Krsna's energies because Krsna IS the cause of all causes.

Srila Prabhupada - ''There are Viṣṇu-tattva, Jīva-tattva and Sakti-tattva. Viṣṇu-tattva is the Supreme Absolute Truth, jīva-tattva is part and parcel, and Sakti-tattva is the energy of God''. (Lecture on SB 1.5.15, New Vrindaban, June 19, 1969)

All personalities or living entities are the Sakti (energy) of Krsna.

The Visnu-sakti-tattvas and Visnu-tattvas have 93.75% of Krsna's qualities, which is 60 of Krsna's 64 attributes.

The jiva-tattva souls (marginal living entities) as said above, are independent expansions of Krsna endowed with "free will" and have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities, which is having 50 of Krsna's 64 attributes.

Because of free will the jiva-tattva souls have their own separate identity, individuality, personality and character that allows each jiva-soul to have their own unique way of expressing themselves separate from Krsna, yet simultaneously ALWAYS dependent on Krsna.

This means the jiva-souls do NOT share Krsna's personality like the Visnu-tattva and Visnu-sakti-tattva Forms do because the jiva-souls are NOT God (Krsna), as said above, each have their own unique independent personality that allows them to express themselves in their own unique way.

Visnu-sakti-tattva expansions of Krsna are eternally engaged in their service to the Lord because such expansions have only the desire to please Krsna or Visnu, and can NEVER be covered by Maya BECAUSE they ARE Krsna playing a different role within His own pastimes.

Unlike the jiva-souls who have their own free will and separate identity with their own personality and an independent sense of self.

Therefore obviously the Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-sakti-tattva's concept of free will and independence is only to please Krsna or Visnu BECAUSE they ARE direct expansions of Krsna.

As said above, Visnu-tattvas are direct expansions of Krsna and Visnu-sakti-tattva are often expansions in cognito playing a different role in Krsna's pastimes.

This is important to understand, and explains why Visnu-tattva and Visnu-sakti-tattvas living entities can NEVER fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan.

Many living entities in the Spiritual Worlds are Viṣṇu-tattva and Visnu-sakti-tattva expansions expansions of Krsna playing many different roles.

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana are made up of many Visnu-sakti-tattvas servants who appear as ordinary inhabitants of Vrindavana all playing different roles, such as gopis, gopas and many, many others there.

There are also unlimited jiva-tattvas in the Spiritual Worlds playing many different roles in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrndavana as well, as servants and friend of the Krsna.

Some roles in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana are very difficult to know if the pastimes are played out by a Visnu-sakti-tattva, Visnu-tattva or Jiva-tattva entities.

Visnu-tattvas ARE Krsna's direct stand-out expansions such as Balarāma, Narayana, Visnu, Ramachandra, Narsinga deva etc, but there are other expansions too who maybe just simple cowherd boys (gopas) or gopis (women).

In Goloka Vrindavana, no one knows who is who except Krsna, who is jiva-tattva, who is Visnu-sakti-tattva or who is Visnu-tattva.

In fact the inhabitants in Vrindavana do not even know this little boy Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cause of ALL causes, nor do they care.

As already explained, Visnu-sakti-tattva and Visnu-tattva expansions, can never fall down because they ARE Krsna playing another role and in His own pastimes, and may not even outwardly show they are Visnu-tattva or Visnu-sakti-tattvas in the play they are in.

And yes, in some Visnu-tattva and Visnu-sakti-tattvas roles, the Lord outwardly seems to forget they are Krsna's expansion in that role (play) or pastime they are in.

After all, Krsna can do ANYTHING He likes, He is not bound by even His own rules.

Krsna is the ORIGINAL Form of God from whom ALL His Visnu/Narayana and Visnu-tattva forms expand from, and that number is in the Trillions.

The only difference between Srimati Radharani and Krsna, and Lord Balarama and Krsna, is Lord Krsna IS the ORIGINAL Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

Krsna ALWAYS has 4 MORE qualities or attributes than both Radharani (Visnu-sakti-tattva expansion) and Balarama (Visnu-tattva expansion) who only partly exhibit those qualities, yet both ARE none different than Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes.

However, because they are not the original (first) form of God with ALWAYS the full 64 qualities, then not even Srimati Radharani, Krsna's eternal consort, or Balarama, Krsna's older brother are equal to Krsna in that sense because both originated from Krsna and Krsna is the first.

But only in that sense, in all other ways they ARE equal to Krsna.

Srila Prabhupada - "In the category of Visnu-tattva there is no loss of power from one expansion to the next, any more than there is a loss of illumination as one candle kindles another. Thousands may be kindled by an original candle, and all will have the same candle power. In this way it is to be understood that although all the Visnu-tattvas, from Krsna and Lord Caitanya to Rama, Narasimha, Varaha, and so on, appear with different features in different ages, all are equally invested with supreme potency. (Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 3.71, Purport)

One different is the original Kṛṣṇa never kills demons because He never leaves Vṛndāvana whereas Balarama already an expansion of Krsna does leave the Spiritual Worlds Vrindavana and enters the the facsimile Vrindavana in the material creation.

Let's make this easy to understand that Krsna is the original Lord of all-

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways: 

1 - Viṣṇu-tattva, 

2 - Viṣṇu-śakti-tattva,

3 - jīva-tattva, 

like that". (Lecture on SB 6.2.7 -- Vrndavana, September 10, 1975)

Lord Krsna has 64 qualities which is 100% of His own unique qualities.

1 - Visnu-tattva has 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities (the full 100%) which is 93.75%

2 - Visnu-sakti-tattva also has 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities (the full 100%) which is 93.75%

3 - Siva-tattva has 54 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 84.375% of Krsna's full qualities.

4 - Jiva-tattva souls have 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities which is 78.125% of Krsna’s full qualities.

Also the jiva-soul's 78.125% of Krsna's qualities can NEVER become Visnu-sakti-tattva or Visnu-tattvas 93.75% they have of Krsna's qualities

Or become Siva-tattva who has 84.375% of Krsna’s 64 qualities, which is 54 qualities of Krsna's 64 attributes.

And the jiva-tattva souls can never lose their separate individual unique personality, "free will or independence" that they have eternally (given by Krsna)

All living entities are "Sakti-tattva" because they are expansions of Krsna and are part of His energy (Sakti). 

This means they are simultaneously fully dependent on Krsna and independent from Krsna (meaning personality) just like the sun-rays are fully dependent on the Sun-disc.

The sun-rays emanate from the Sun-disc and depend on the Sun-disc for their existence.

The Sun-disc has no meaning without the sun-rays, and the sun-rays have no meaning without the Sun-disc.

Similarly as explained in "Nectar of Devotion" the living entities mentioned above have no meaning without Krsna, and Krsna has no meaning without the living entities.

Being part and parcel of the Lord, as explained above, the marginal living entities (jiva-tattva souls) ALWAYS have "their own"  independence, personality and sense of self separate from Krsna's Personality, making them an independent free thinking individual that expresses their own unique character serving Krsna in a "two-way" exchange of mutual respect.

Srila Prabhupada - ''The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Kṛṣṇa the maintainer of all and cause of all causes. We are "separate and none separate" from Krsna simultaneously. 

There are many tattvas, such as viṣṇu-tattva, jīva-tattva and śakti-tattva, but above everything is the viṣṇu-tattva, which is all-pervading. 

This all-pervading feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (10.42), wherein the Lord says-

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

Thus Kṛṣṇa says that the entire material world is maintained by His partial representation as Paramātmā. 

The Lord enters every universe as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and then expands Himself as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu (Paramatma) to enter the hearts of all living entities and even enter the atoms.

Aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham (Bs. 5.35). Every universe is full of atoms, and the Lord is not only within the universe but also within the atoms. 

Thus within every atom the Supreme Lord exists in His Viṣṇu feature as Paramātmā, but all the Viṣṇu-tattvas emanate from Kṛṣṇa.

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.2)-

aham ādir hi devānām -

Kṛṣṇa is the ādi, or beginning, of the devas of this material world—Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara. Therefore He is described here as bhagavate bṛhate. (Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 3 text 17)

The jiva-tattva soul has 78.125% of Krsna's qualities and are called the ''marginal energy or marginal living entities''.

The jiva-tattva souls are different living entities than the more direct fuller expansions of the Lord that are the Visnu-sakti-tattvas and Visnu tattvas however, all can play the part of gopi and cowherd boy in Krsna lila.

Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana have so many expansions of Krsna that it is mind boggling.

As said above, the individual more independent jiva-souls can also play the role of a gopa (Cowherd boy) or gopi (Cowherd girl) just like a Visnu-sakti-tattva and Visnu-tattva direct expansions of Krsna do however, the jiva-souls can NEVER become Visnu-sakti-tattva or Visnu-tattva.

This is because the Visnu-sakti-tattva and Visnu-tattva ARE Krsna Himself who can expand as multiple personalities playing different roles in His own pastimes.

The jiva-souls ALWAYS have the ability to make their own choices of how to serve the Lord in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan as themselves (their spiritual identity svarupa) or not serve the Lord if they choose.

And can also play other roles including Brahma in the material creation too.

The marginal living entities (jiva-tattva souls) ALWAYS remain jiva-tattva with ONLY 78.125% of Krsna’s 100% qualities, and can NEVER become God, whom are Visnu-tattva or Visnu-sakti-tattva, or even Siva who is in a league of his own being neither Visnu-tattva or Jiva-tattva.

The jiva-tattvas, unlike Visnu-sakti-tattva and Visnu-tattvas, can 'choose' to forget Krsna if they desire and therefore enter the material creation of Maha Visnu and foolishly think they are an independent god.

The Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-sakti-tattva ARE direct expansion of Krsna who only act out the will of Krsna because they ARE an expansion of Krsna's Identity. 

Krsna actually plays out different roles, like Maha Visnu and Garbhodakashayi Visnu who create and manage the material creation on behalf of Krsna.

Our eternal constitution position and eternal spiritual body is in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana situated in the "eternal presence" of the Spiritual world.

We just have to wake up from this temporary material dream and return back home back to Godhead, our real home.

Just like Jaya and Vijaya's eternal position as gatekeepers of Vaikuntha is always there waiting for their return from falling down into the material creation.**^




























Sunday, December 19, 2021

In Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana there is no concept of past or future time because only the "eternal presence'' of Krsna exists there.

And there is the realization that all jiva-souls are independent unique PERSONS who voluntarily serve Krsna.

This is how we know mayavadi impersonalism is a lie. 

They claim the universe is an ''all-one" consciousness, meaning an all pervading life force that plays out different roles as an individual only when contained in individual bodily vessel container.

Although Krsna and His unlimited Visnu-tattva expansions ARE technically "all one," this is NOT the case with the individual jiva-souls.

All the individual jiva-souls are NOT one consciousness, each have their own "unique" independent character, bodily form and personality separate from Krsna's Personality eternally.

And no individual jiva-soul is the same as another individual jiva-soul.

Therefore, the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) never lose their independent identity and unique personality as an individual "PERSON"

Even a blade of grass, leaf, tree, clouds, rain drops, grains of sand and chair are "individual Persons" in Goloka-Vrindavan and Vaikuntha, all voluntarily serving Krsna.

Everything in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana is alive as both separated individual personalities and direct expansions of Krsna!

Of course in the material worlds the jiva-souls become greatly covered by the many different material bodily vessels that make up the 8 million 400 thousand species of material life.

Only in the very  rare 400 thousand human species does a very small minute amount of free will exist, while in the other 8 million species there is no free will at all, only the instinct of eating, sleeping, mating and defending.

This is why no karma is created in the lower species of life, only in the human species is karma created.

Also no karma is created in both the heavenly and hellish planets, both places is where one experiences the result of the karma, good and bad, created while in the human form of life on this Earth planet (the Bhurloka planetary system)

It is very important to understand the jiva-souls have their independence and free will in their full potential in both Goloka Vrindavana and Vaikuntha.

And this is what "marginal" means, that makes the jiva-souls unique individual "persons" they are eternally.

To say you can never leave Goloka once there is true for most, but not all, this is because of free will, the jiva-souls can ALWAYS choose to miss use their free will at anytime Prabhupada has told us.

Without having that choice, we are no better than dead stone that can never experience love, or receive love.

And yes, many devotees find this very difficult to understand and accept.

Many naive devotees get around things they cannot understand by calling them inconceivable which is a cop-out rather than attempting to understand a difficult situation with all available evidence.

Many devotees also believe in something just because Prabhupada does. They claim it must be true if Prabhupada believes it.

However, in rare cases it's not true.

For example he has said the Apollo missions to the Moon were all faked.

Today in 2023 we know his opinion on the Apollo maned Moon missions between 1969 and 1972 was incorrect, or more clearly, he was wrong.

Because of the deep love devotees have for Prabhupada, it hurts them to hear this, for them Prabhupada knows everything because of their love for him. 

 

HERE HERE HERE


understood and has clearly explained.

Like the fact that each jiva-soul is able to ALWAYS make their own "choices" and "decisions" in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

Technically such freedom (free will) to choose allows the jiva-soul to increase their “unique” individual expression of love for Krsna.

Such freedom, free will and ability to choose is ALWAYS with the marginal living entity (jiva-soul) in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

Therefore to take that free will and sense of individual self away from the marginal living entity in Goloka-Vrindavan and Vaikuntha, the jiva-tattva soul would also lose their individual ability to “give and accept love”.

This is because without "free will" we lose our sense of independence as a person who has a unique separate identity from all of other individual jiva-tattva souls, Visnu tattvas, and Krsna Himself.

It is a fact Krsna NEVER forces His will on the marginal living entities (jiva-souls)

These are very important points to understand.

The jiva-tattva souls are independent free thinking souls eternally in Goloka-Vrindavan and Vaikuntha, yet simultaneously part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krsna the cause of all causes meant to please the Lord as the unique “PERSONS ” they are eternally.

Therefore, no one can force the jiva-soul to stay in Vaikuntha, that choice MUST be eternally theirs (the jiva-soul) eternally.

Only Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-sakti-tattvas NEVER fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana because they ARE direct expansions of Krsna.

As already explained, they are playing unlimited different roles in Krsna's pastimes and have 93.75% of Krsna’s qualities, which is 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities, yet are full expansions of Krsna and none different from Him.

Visnu-sakti-tattvas are not just only Radharani but are also gopis, gopas, parents, etc and many, many other different direct personalities that are all Krsna playing another role in His pastimes.

Krsna’s brother Balarama is Visnu-tattva, Srimati Radharani is Visnu-sakti-tattva expansion of Krsna and many others are too, playing different parts in Krsna Lila (pastimes).

Just like in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes where many are Visnu-tattvas and Visnu-sakti-tattvas playing many of His devotees.

It is ONLY these residents of Vrindavana who NEVER fall down into forgetfulness while the jiva-soul residents can choose for themselves.

In Goloka Vrindavana all jiva-souls are eternally liberated until they choose not to be.

Only then is a jiva-soul called eternally conditioned.

All jiva souls where originally nitya siddha, it is only when they choose to give up serving Krsna do they then become nitya baddha.

There are NOT two different jiva-tattva souls, one (nitya baddha) existing in the material world and impersonal Brahmajyoti, and the other (nitya siddha) existing and serving eternally in Goloka-Vrindavan and Vaikuntha.

No, this idea is nonsense because ALL nitya-baddhas are originally nitya-siddha as Prabhupada has explained to us.

Srila Prabhupada - “Originally everyone (all marginal living entities) are nitya-siddha which means eternally liberated” (Srimad-Bhagavatam Class 7.9.4- Mayapur, February 18, 1977)

Srila Prabhupada - ''The actual constitutional position of every living entity is nitya-siddha, because God is eternal and His part and parcels, the living entities, they are also eternal. So that is nitya-siddha. Nitya-siddha, sädhana-siddha, krpa-siddha-there are different grades. They are all described in The Nectar of Devotion. So one can become sadhana-siddha. (Caitanya-caritamrta, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - ''By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can also become siddha. He can become AGAIN nitya-siddha. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them. It is a difficult task'' - (New York lecture on Caitanya-caritamrta, July 13, 1976)

And the fact is, more than 90% of jiva-tattva souls also “choose” to stay in Vaikuntha and NEVER fall down, which means entering the material creation seeking selfish desires.

To be in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana does NOT always guarantee the jiva-soul will stay there forever and never enter the material world again once returning there.

Although as already explained 90% never choose to forget Krsna because that is their desire and expression of free will, sadly some jiva-souls DO choose to leave or fall from Vaikuntha however, Prabhupada explains it is only a very small minority who foolishly make that choice, less than 10%.

Dr. John Mize – “Did all the souls that were in the spiritual sky fall out of the spiritual sky at once or at different times, or are there any 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”. (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Let's clear one thing up, falling into the material world has absolutely nothing to do with maya or the material energy because maya does not and can not exist in Vaikuntha.

The jiva-souls do not even know Maya or the material energy exists, however, they do have "free will and the ability to choose" and are aware that this quality is “eternally” part and parcel of the jiva-tattva’s makeup and exists in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

We do not lose our independence and sense of individual identity once we enter Vaikuntha, we are eternally independent living entities even in Vaikuntha.

However, we always depend of Krsna in Vaikuntha, or His many Visnu-tattva expansions like Maha Visnu and Garbhodakashayi Visnu who provide all facilities in the material creation.

We can never be truly independent because everything, all that is, belongs to Krsna.

In other words we are always independent living entities but always depend on Krsna for our existence, just like the Sun-rays cannot exist without the Sun.

The fact is because we CAN "choose to be with Krsna or reject Him", then there can be increasing endeavors of loving exchange and reciprocation due to “choice”.

This is one of the reasons why the material universe was created - to give "reality" to that choice of rejecting and forgetting Krsna, just so the living entity can go to another place outside Vaikuntha and try to enjoy life without being Krsna conscious.

The marginal living entity or jiva-tattva souls MUST have that free will to choose to be with Krsna, or not be with Krsna, if they want, instead of just being in Vaikuntha without having no choice or free will at all as some believe.

Such mentality that denies "free will" is actually impersonalism.

The point made here is the position of the jiva-soul in Vaikuntha must be voluntary. Who you love and who you choose to serve MUST be voluntary.

Many cannot understand these facts about the importance of free will, individuality, identity and the sense of self worth of being a unique person who can give selfless ever increasing love or service in their own way to Krsna.

These qualities are based on the importance of the individual's ability to have "choices" within their experiences as a individual person.

Once again to be truly free there must be the choice of Vaikuntha or its so called opposite where Krsna can be forgotten, the "material creation"

Without the jiva-tattva souls being able to choose Krsna or not, there can NEVER be love, Prabhupada has said to force love is called rape.

Srila Prabhupada - ''So, even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that ‘Why shall I serve Krsna? Why not become Krsna?’ I immediately fall down. That is natural. A servant is serving the master, but sometimes he may think that, “If I could become the master.” They are thinking like that; they are trying to become God. That is delusion. You cannot become God. That is not possible. But he’s wrongly thinking”.

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

Srila Prabhupada - “He’s protecting. He says, “You rascal, don’t desire. 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, ‘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.)

By misusing one's free will causes the jiva-soul to live separately from Krsna by entering the material creation.

And this choice has nothing to do with maya or material energy as explained above.

As Prabhupada has explained, it is one's free will that allows the jiva-souls to reject Krsna.

This is because each jiva-soul is an independent individual persons, who can make their own choices, and includes rejecting Krsna if they want that instantly places them in the material creation.

After making that choice, the rebellious jiva-soul is given material bodies by Maha Visnu, both subtle and gross material vessels that covers the eternal anti-material spiritual bodily form.

In the material world the jiva-souls are confined to a gross material bodily vessel that is always in a state of decay and decline, and in need of constant maintenance.

Eventually the jiva-soul, trapped within a decaying material body, is forced to take another gross material body when their present one decomposes and wears out.

Everything in the material creation perishes due to decay caused by the temporary nature of the material creation.

Also once in the material creation, the jiva-soul is on their own path directed by their own pious and impious actions.

This is because they are responsible for their actions good and bad and are punishment or rewarded according.

Therefore karma begins as soon as the jiva-soul leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana.

No jiva-souls originate from the dormant Brahmajyoti or Brahman effulgence, or the Body of Maha-Visnu because they ALL come (originate) from Vaikuntha as Prabhupada explains.

Srila Prabhupada - “We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago.” - (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita on August 6, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - ''These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha”. (Letter to Jagadisa das, 1970)

Although many jiva-souls fall to impersonal Brahman or Brahmajyoti AFTER being in the material creation.

However, NEVER did the jiva-souls originate from that impersonal Brahmajyoti Prabhupada explains-

Srila Prabhupada - ''The next question, about the living entities falling down in this material world are not from the impersonal brahman.

Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence they are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition.

When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness.

So long one can maintain pure Krsna consciousness he is not fallen down. As soon as he becomes out of Krsna consciousness immediately he is fallen down’’. (Letter to: Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - “As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krsna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness has now become polluted by the material atmosphere.”(Original Hare Krsna "Happening record album" New York December 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - ” So, even in the Vaikuntha, if I desire that ‘Why shall I serve Krsna? Why not become Krsna?’ I immediately fall down.” (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.)

Srila Prabhupada - 'This material world is created by the dreaming of Mahā-Viṣṇu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the jiva-soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation”. (SB 4.29.83 Purport)

A devotee once ask Srila Bhaktisiddhanta why was the jiva-soul granted free will when they could also misuse it?

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta answered -

“You are fighting for freedom. Don’t you know the value of having free will? Devoid of freedom the soul is only matter".

Furthermore freedom (free will) offers one the alternative to do either right or wrong Gandhi once told the British authorities.

”We want our freedom too.”

The British authorities replied -

“You are not fit to have self-government or your freedom. When you are fit, we shall give it to you.”

Gandhi replied,

“We want the freedom to do wrong too.”

So, freedom does not guarantee only acting in the right way; and that choice must be there to do wrong too.

Freedom means being able to choose "right or wrong".

The possibility of also rejecting Krsna must ALWAYS be there even in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana because of free will.

And this is always the case in the Spiritual Planets too.

Our first choice AFTER rejecting Krsna in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, is to dominate and imitate Krsna, therefore it is that choice that causes the jiva soul to enter the material world of domination.

And such choices have nothing to do with the influence of Maya or the material energy that does not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana.

As a result of this "choice", everything else in the material creation has developed.

So Srila Prabhupada has explained  that the "original position" of the jiva soul is with Krsna in a servitor relationship of voluntary loving exchanges.

As explained above, Maya can NEVER be blamed for the fall down of the jiva-soul from Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana in any way because Maya, in her role as the personification of material energy, does NOT exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, nothing material can exist there.

But "free will" does eternally exist there and has ALWAYS existed in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana!

Therefore the jiva-souls are always responsible for their choices and actions in both the Spiritual Planets and the material creation.

Srila Prabhupada on the other hand chose to come to the material creation to serve Krsna's plan and attract the fallen jiva-souls back home back to Godhead.

Many other devotees also choose to come here to be in Krsna's pastimes as preachers or even play the role of a demon who fights Krsna.

There are three ways the jiva-souls can come here to the material creation.

1 - As a devotee who preaches God Consciousness.

2 - As a devotee who plays the part as a great demon like Jai and Vijayi the gatekeepers of Vaikuntha.

3 - And those who "choose" to just forget and give up Krsna's association and do their own thing in the material creation.

Also one can never have "material desires" in Vaikuntha because Maya does NOT exist there.

In the Spiritual Planets only being always aware of the eternal presence of Krsna exists there perpetually, and as soon as the jiva soul rejects that (because they always have a choice) they are immediately transferred to the material creation.

Maya cannot be blamed for tempting us and causing our fall down from Vaikuntha in any way because She, in her role as the personification of material energy, does NOT exist in Vaikuntha as explaineda above.

Nothing material (Maya) can exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana.

However, free will, the independence of the jiva-soul, and their individuality and unique personality, does and always has existed in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

The jiva-souls therefore leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana because of free will that allows them to choose to either accept or reject Krsna.

As an individual ''person'' with independent thoughts and unique personality, the jiva-souls are ALWAYS able to make their own choices.

What does the majority of devotees think being a "PERSON" really means after you surrender to Krsna?

1 - Do they think it is becoming some "yes man or women" by extinguishing their free will and sense of independent self? Or does serving in Krsna's Kingdom means one becomes a mindless none thinking denier of the "individual self", including denying their unique qualities that makes them a contributing individual?

2 - Do they think surrender to Krsna means giving up their individuality?

Sadly, so many have no idea what real "personalism" or "surrender" really means.

The idea of "don't think, just do what your told" is an impersonal dictatorial nonsense saying

This is because it denies the jiva soul to explore their own individuality and use their own God given abilities and talents to contribute and offer something unique to their own personality and character, that no other jiva-soul has.

So no, "you" DO NOT give up your independence or individuality, including one's sense of self worth and self esteem, in order to be fully surrendered and "dependent" on Krsna.

This nonsense idea of giving your individuality and free will is the meaning of surrendering is impersonalism.

And those who foolishly pray to be just an atom in Krsna's lotus feet are also impersonalists because is attempting to extinguish their spiritual bodily svarupa identity be merging into Krsna.

To a Vaisnava this act of trying to cease all activity and become one with God is spiritual suicide.

In fact in Goloka Vrindavana your individual independence and dependence on Krsna go together side by side ETERNALLY increasing one's loving exchanges with Krsna.

And simultaneously at the same time, is always forever expanding in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

It takes spiritual intelligence to understand what real surrender is, and that includes understanding the jiva-souls are eternally an independent individual person with their own sense of "individual self" that is separate from all other individual jiva-souls and even Krsna.

Although Krsna always accompanies all jiva-tattva souls as a friend and witness to the jiva-souls individual choices and actions because the jiva-souls are eternally parts and parcels of the Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes.

The jiva-tattva is not part of an all one programmed none thinking impersonal collective within God's Kingdom, no, that is a description of what an impersonal hell is like.

Impersonalism also means believing that in Vaikuntha we must give up our free will, independence and individuality, and become part of an "all one collective consciousness" as part of our so called surrender.

Such an impersonal existence is to be devoid of individual thought that does not allow personal contributions that makes ''you'', who you really are, as a unique PERSON as Krsna's eternal servant who can contribute the best of ''their'' individual abilities.

On the other hand personalism means the individual jiva-soul must be able to grow and flourish as an independent living being giving their own personal contributions of devotional service to Krsna.

To deny the jiva-soul's individuality and having their own independent sense of identity is the hell to a "real" Krsna devotees.

Without free will we are no better than dead stone Prabhupada has taught us.

Many have an impersonalist idea about what Vaikuntha is like and do not even know it. Only when the living entity desires not to be with Krsna do they enter the material world and realize Maya's existences.

Paramahamsa - “But ultimately if we come to Krsna, there’s no return.

Srila Prabhupada - “There is return, that is voluntary. Return there is”.

Paramahamsa - “If we want”.

Srila Prabhupada - “Yes”.

Paramahamsa - “So we can come to the spiritual world and return?”

Srila Prabhupada - “Yes”.

Paramahamsa - “Fall down?”

Srila Prabhupada - “Yes. As soon as we try, “Oh, this material world is very nice,” “Yes,” Krsna says, “yes, you go.” Just like nobody is interested in Krsna consciousness. So, they want to enjoy this material world.

Otherwise what is the meaning of free will? Every living entity has got a little free will. And Krsna is so kind, He gives him opportunity, "All right, you enjoy like this."

Just like some of our students, Krsna conscious, sometimes go away, again come back. It is free will, not stereotyped.

Just like one goes to the prisonhouse, not that government welcomes, "Come on. We have got prisonhouse. Come here, come here." He goes out of his free will; again comes out, again goes. Like that.

Krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare, nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare.

The police is there. Just like the police car was there. We have nothing to do with it. But if you do anything criminal, immediately you will be arrested, under police custody.

The maya may be there, but maya captures him who is not a devotee of Krsna. That’s all. Therefore, mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te: "Anyone who surrenders unto Me, maya does not interfere anymore."

Paramahamsa - ''So our desire to enjoy, we achieve these bodies; and our desire to achieve Krsna brings us to our natural position''.

Srila Prabhupada - ''Yes. (Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course--May 13, 1973, Los Angeles)

Therefore the jiva-souls are responsible for their choices and actions. And in the material creation, free will "almost" does not exist because one is binded by their own reactions to their pious and impious deeds (karma)

Srila Prabhupada – ''Regarding your questions about how and from where did the conditioned souls (jiva-souls) fall, your first question if someone has a relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down?

The jiva-souls are endowed with minute independence as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at anytime, so there is always a chance of falling down by misuse of one’s independence''. (Letter to Jagadisa Prabhu, 4/25/1970.)

Srila Prabhupada – Regarding your several questions: Where are the jiva-souls coming from that are taking microbe bodies? It is not a matter of any particular body.

These jiva-souls and all jiva-souls are coming from Vaikuntha, but in these material worlds they are taking various grades of bodies according to their material activities.

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, so how there can be new jiva-soul?''. (Letter to Jagadisa 7/9/1970)

Srila Prabhupada - “Regarding your questions concerning the spirit souls falling into Maya’s influence, it is not that those who have developed a passive relationship with Krsna are more likely to fall into nescient activities.

Usually anyone who has developed his relationship with Krsna does not fall down in any circumstance, but because the independence is always there, the soul may fall down from any position or any relationship by misusing his independence. (Letter to Jagadisa 02/27/1970)

Srila Prabhupada - “The relationship with Krsna is never lost, it is simply forgotten by the influence of maya, so it maybe regained or revived by the process of hearing the Holy Name of Krsna and then the devotee engages himself in the service of the Lord which is his original or constitutional position.

The relationship of the living entity with Krsna is eternal as both Krsna and the living entity are eternal; the process is one of revival only, nothing new'' (Letter to Jagadisa 02/27/1970)

Srila Prabhupada - “The answer to your question about the marginal energy is that the jiva-soul is always called marginal energy whether he is in the spiritual world or in the material world.

There are instances where marginal energy jiva-souls have fallen from the spiritual world, just like Jaya and Vijaya. So the potency to fall under the influence of the lower energy is always there. And thus the individual jiva-soul is called as Krsna’s marginal energy.” - (Letter to Rayarama, December 2, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - “Every living being has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally, That is called svarupa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarupa, and that stage is called svarupa-siddhi-perfection of one’s constitutional position. (Bhagavad-Gita as it is, Introduction.)

Srila Prabhupada - "So to go to Krsna means you will have to acquire your original, spiritual body. The spiritual body is already there, but we are now covered by this material body". (Germany, June 22, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada – “In the Padma Purana, wherein it is said that there are two kinds of spiritual entities; one is called the jiva (jiva-tattva), and the other is called the Supreme Lord (Visnu-tattva)”. (87th Chapter of Krsna Book, Prayers by the Personified Vedas.)

Full conversation in the heading quotes reveals what Prabhupada means when he says less than 10% fall down Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

Dr. John Mize – “Did all the souls that were in the spiritual sky fall out of the spiritual sky at once or at different times, or are there any 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 soul is going to be foolish and fall?”

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

Dr. John Mize – “Are more 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.” (Bhagavad Gita as it is. lecture, Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "In the broader sense everyone comes from Krsna Loka. When one forgets Krsna he is conditioned, when one remembers Krsna he is liberated". (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "We cannot say therefore that we are not with Krsna. As soon as we try to become Lord, immediately Maya covers us. Formerly we were with Krsna in His lila or sport. But this covering of Maya may be of very, very, very, very long duration; therefore many creations are coming and going". (Letter to Madhudvisa Swami June 1972 Australia)

Acyutananda - ''So what made the soul take birth in the first place?''

Srila Prabhupada - ''In the first place?''

Acyutananda - ''What is the first birth? What is the cause of the first birth''.

Srila Prabhupada - ''Yes. That is stated in the Prema-vivarta:

krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare
nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare

We are eternal servant of Krsna. As soon as we want to become master, that is the beginning of our first birth in the material world. We have got independence. Krsna says, mamaivamso jiva bhutah—we are part and parcel of Krsna—so Krsna has got full independence, but we are minute; therefore we have got minute independence. Our business is to serve Krsna, but as soon as we give up this idea, we want to become master. That is the beginning of our material birth''. (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.2--Hyderabad, April 11, 1975)

Acyutananda - ''But in the Bhagavad Gita, it says, "Once coming there, he never returns."

Srila Prabhupada - ''But if he likes, he can return''.

Acyutananda - ''He can return?''

Srila Prabhupada - ''That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha hana bhoga vancha kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown''. (Morning Walk--February 19, 1976, Mayapur)

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura - ''When the marginal living entity has contact with matter, the imprisoned jiva-soul loses the memory of his original spiritual form in Vaikuntha, material rasas (tastes and desires) are perverted reflections of the jiva-souls original spiritual rasas. (Prema-pradipa, p. 83)

Devotee - "Srila Prabhupada, why did Krsna give us free will if He knew we could fall down into the material world?"

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". (August 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

Loving relationships and expressions of love are always a "two way street" based on reciprocation and loving exchanges, it is NEVER a slave domineering master relationship that only destroys one's free will and independence to express yourself as a unique individual.

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 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 text 2-5, New York, November 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed only by one, there must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love''. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 2 text 6, Delhi, November 12, 1973)

Love means two.

Srila Prabhupada - ''The impersonalist philosophy is oneness but 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 Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 1 text 3 -- Paris, June 12, 1974)

The jiva-soul in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, NEVER lose their free will, which means their own individual ability of self expression when choosing to offer their own personal contributions that is unique to each of the individual jiva-souls.

Each jiva-soul in their full natural ''svarupa'' potential in the Spiritual Worlds of Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, has this eternal marginal quality of free will, which is part and parcel of there perpetual constitutional makeup.

In this way, each of jiva-soul has their own individual sense of self, character, personality, likes and dislikes by being one of kind in the Spiritual Sky unlike any other jiva-soul.

No two jiva-souls are the same, each has their own unique individuality, personality and character.

This eternally existing makeup of each jiva-soul, is without any beginning or ending point, and is part and parcel of every marginal living entities (jiva-tattva souls).

This allows the jiva-soul to "personally" always be aware of their own individuality and independent nature of voluntary contributions while serving Krsna in THEIR very best way, that is different from all other living entities in the Spiritual Sky.`

This is a very important point to understand as we progress and mature in our Krsna Consciousness.

The relationship between Krsna and the jiva-tattva (soul) is NEVER one-sided, never forced, never impersonal, it is ALWAYS reciprocal, nurturing, personal and voluntary, in a mood of good exchanges and feelings, ONLY then can there be REAL love.

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

So the conclusion is Srimad Bhagavatam explains the fall down of the jiva-soul from Vaikuntha found in the 4th Canto Chapter 28 text 53 of Srimad Bhagavatam where the Supreme Lord is disguised as a brahmana;

''The brāhmaṇa continued: My dear friend, even though you cannot immediately recognize Me, can't you remember that in the past you had a very intimate friend? Unfortunately, you gave up My company and accepted a position as enjoyer of this material world''.*