Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Where is the jiva-soul's original home?

While trapped in the material creation, God is more inclined to help those who first do everything they can to help themselves find a way out and return back home, back to Godhead and be with Krsna.

Only then will Krsna help you when He sees you are trying your very best to do everything you can to help yourself, by sending you a bonafide spiritual teacher or Guru. 

Real love is voluntary, and is never a one-sided or one-way street, where Krsna does everything for you.

Surrender to Krsna's pure genuine devotees does not mean Krsna takes away your freedom, sense of independent self and individuality to be qualified to enter the spiritual world, no, such bogus surrender is impersonalism.  

Srila Prabhupada – "The answer to your question about the marginal energy (having free will) is that the jiva-soul is always called the marginal energy whether he is in the spiritual world or in the material world." (Letter to Rayarama, December 2, 1968).

The marginal living entity has always had freedom (free will) therefore there is no question of the marginal living entity ever not having free will because free will in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana is perpetually part and parcel of all marginal living entities (jiva-tattva souls) make up.

The living entities originate from Goloka-Vrindavana and not the Impersonal Brahman, as Prabhupada explains.

Srila Prabhupada – ''Regarding your questions about how and from where did the conditioned souls fall, your first question if someone has a relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka (Goloka Vrindavana), does he ever fall down? The souls are endowed with minute independence as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at anytime, so there is always a chance of falling down by misuse of one’s independence." (Letter to Jagadisa Prabhu, 4/25/1970)

Srila Prabhupada – "These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha, but in these material worlds, they are taking various grades of bodies according to their material activities. There are no new souls. New and old are due to this material body, but the soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth, how there can be a new 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 - "But his relationship with Krsna is never lost, 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 - "In the broader sense, everyone comes from Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana). 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)

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

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

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is a 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." (Philosophy Discussion Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada - ''Existence in the impersonal brahman (Brahmajyoti) is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness." (Letter to Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

The following conversation took place in Melbourne, Australia, on June 25, 1974, between Srila Prabhupada and his disciples.

Devotee – "When we are in the spiritual sky and serving Krishna, we have a perfect relationship with Krsna, what causes us to fall down in the material world, because we’re already serving Krsna?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Because you desire to fall down. Here, it is explained that - don’t fall down."

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

Srila Prabhupada – "Because you have got little freedom. Why is one not coming here and going to the liquor shop? It is his desire."

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

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, you forced Krsna to allow you to come. Just like sometimes a child forces his father. Father says, "My dear son, do not do this. Do not go there." But he insists, "Oh, I must go. I must go." "All right, you go at your risk. That’s all. And you suffer. What can be done?” Because you are Son of God, you have got independence, full independence, almighty—therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence. If you persist, "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." (Melbourne, Australia June 25, 1974)

Question - Is there a place in the Spiritual World from where we can never fall down from?

Answer - No, it is not based on a place where you can never fall down from that keeps you in Vaikuntha, no, it does not work that way because it is based on free will, which means it is always your choice. 

If you were forced to stay there, then how can there be love? The choice to leave must always be there.

So many so-called Vaisnavas who consider themselves advanced sannyasis and gurus, can not understand what free will really means. They foolishly claim - "Not even the leaves fall from Vaikuntha." 

Such a comment is nonsense because the jiva-souls as those leaves, always have a choice.

To stay in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana is also based on what the jiva-souls want to do; they always have a choice as a unique individual. 

In other words, the jiva-souls can choose to leave the spiritual worlds at anytime, or stay and voluntarily become Krsna's or Visnu's servant. 

The point is they can reject the Lord if they want, even in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. 

Only sentimentalists and those who deny the jiva-souls have free will in Vaikuntha (another expression of impersonalism) can not understand this.

Even with selfless emotions of loving devotion, the jiva-souls never lose their unique ability of free will and independent self expression, where one is personally always aware they can choose how to selflessly serve Krsna in their own unique way as the loving servant of the servant of Krsna.

The fact that one does not again fall from Krsna's personal Kingdom is the jiva-soul's responsibility, too and not just only Krsnas.

It is the jiva-soul's choice as well; it is their free will to choose, and no one else can choose for them, including Krsna.

Although the fact is, 90% of all jiva-souls do not fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana because they "choose not to fall down."

That choice to stay in Vaikuntha or leave is always with the marginal living entities or jiva-souls.

The jiva-souls or marginal living entities have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities, which puts them in the realm of having independence, identity, personality, individuality, and the ability to choose. This means the jiva-souls have the ability to agree or not agree with Krsna. 

The sense of individuality allows the jiva-souls the right to choose Krsna or choose to be separate from Krsna; this is also the meaning of free will.

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

However, free will, individuality, having independence, experiencing a unique sense of individual self, and the ability to express all these qualities, does exist as the constitutional makeup of each jiva-soul in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. 

And if all those abilities are taken away, then we lose the ability to give and accept love; we become no better than dead stones.

Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. Do you want to be stone? Then, you must have free will! But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life." (August 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

Srila Prabhupada - “Because you are Son of God, you have got independence, full independence, almighty—therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence." (Melbourne, Australia June 25, 1974)

No one forces the jiva-souls to stay in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana; that choice always be the jiva-souls; otherwise, what is the point of having free will?

For loving exchanges to truly epxist with the jiva-soul, they must have the right to express themselves and choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana at any time; therefore, returning there is not necessarily permanent.

Srila Prabhupada – “You have got little independence; you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God, God has got full independence, but you have got little independence, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown." (Mayapur, February 19, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "But can we predict that the process (returning back home back to Godhead) will be permanent? Can we predict that? Just like many prisoners leave the prison, but some 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 - "No. There is no question of permanent because he has got independence, he can misuse his independence, and 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)

The jiva-souls have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities; they are minor expansions of Krsna endowed with individuality that allows them to experience an independent personal sense of self that is separate from Krsna. This allows the jiva-souls to make their own decisions and choices.

Therefore, Krsna does not interfere with the jiva-soul's free will because it is part of the eternal constitutional make of all jiva-souls.

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

Free will allows the jiva-souls to experience individuality, loving reciprocation, and independent service and be responsible for their actions.

This, however, does not mean all jiva-soul's are independent from Krsna's control of all things, that is not possible. 

At all times, the jiva-souls are always dependent on Krsna or His expansions even as independent individuals.

So, the jiva-souls always remain independent individual living entities but depend on Krsna and His expansions in both the spiritual worlds and material worlds.

So, even though the jiva-souls are an expansion of Krsna, the jiva-souls are not one with Krsna in personality. Both are independent, having their own unique personality, although Krsna is always in control because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cause of all causes.

On the other hand, the loving expressions between Krsna and all His Visnu-tattva (93.75% of Krsna's qualities) and Visnu-sakti-tattva (also 93.75% of Krsna's qualities) expansions are very different from the individual jiva-soul (78.125% of Krsna's qualities) because they ARE Krsna, they are one with Krsna, they are Krsna playing a different role.

The individual jiva-souls are not one with Krsna but are independent thinking living entities with their own sense of self and individual personality. 

This makes them one in purpose voluntarily serving Krsna when their full potential as Krsna's eternal servant is fully realized.

There is always a choice.*. *.












Monday, March 21, 2022

Where is the jiva-soul's original home, and from where are they all coming from?

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

There are no two types of the jiva-tattvas (jiva-souls) that some other sangas wrongly claim. 

There is only "one" type of jiva-soul who can be either nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned) or nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) due their eternal constitutional quality of free will.

Srila Prabhupada – "The answer to your question about the marginal energy is that the jiva-soul is always called the marginal energy whether he is in the spiritual world or in the material world." (Letter to Rayarama, December 2, 1968).

There are no "two types" of marginal living entities known as nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) and nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned)

There is only one type of jiva-soul that can be either (by choice) nitya-siddha (eternally liberated) or nitya-baddha (eternally conditioned)

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

Srila Prabhupada - "There are two kinds of marginal living entities: nitya-siddha and nitya-baddha. The actual constitutional position of every marginal living entity is nitya-siddha. (CC lecture, July 13, 1976) 

Srila Prabhupada - "By following the rules and regulations and instructions of the spiritual master, he can become again nitya-siddha. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha" (New York Lecture on Caitanya-Caritamrta, July 13, 1976)

Srila Prabhupada - "The Krsna consciousness movement is to make the nitya-baddhas AGAIN nitya-siddha, to bring them to their original position. It is a difficult task." (London lecture on Bhagavad-Gita 13-14, July 14, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "There are three kinds of liberated persons. They are called 1) sadhan siddha, 2) kripa siddha, and 3) nitya siddha. When one is actually on the siddha platform there is no such distinction as to who is sadhan, kripa, or nitya siddha. When one is siddha, there is no distinction what is what. Just like when the river water glides down to the Atlantic Ocean nobody can distinguish which portion was the Hudson River or some other river". (Letter to Mukunda, June 10, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "Nitya-baddhas are within this material world. Beginning from Brahma down to a small ant, insignificant ant, they are all nitya-baddha. Anyone who is in this material world they are nitya-baddha". (Lecture on Bhagavad-Gita 13-14, July 14, 1973)

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

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

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

Srila Prabhupada – "These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha, but in these material worlds they are taking various grades of bodies according to their material activities. There is no new souls. New and old are due to this material body, but the soul is never born and never dies, so if there is no birth how there can be new soul." (Letter to Jagadisa 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 - "But his relationship with Krsna is never lost, 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)

Krsna (God) is more inclined to help those who first do everything they can to help themselves find a spiritual master to teach them spiritual life.

If one is honest with themselves, Krsna sends the Guru (spiritual teacher) who will guide them out of the material creation and return back home, back to Godhead to be with Krsna.

Only then will Krsna help you when He sees you are trying your very hardest to do everything you can to help yourself, only then will Krsna send you a spiritual teacher. 

Srila Prabhupada - "In all the śāstras [scriptures] the guru is described to be as good as God, but the guru never says, ‘I am God.’ 

The disciple’s duty is to offer respect to the guru just as he offers respect to God, but the guru never thinks, ‘My disciples are offering me the same respect they offer to God; therefore I have become God.’ As soon as he thinks like this, he becomes a dog." (From the Book "Science of reealization.")

Real loving exchanges are voluntary and reciprocal, it is never a "one-way" street where Krsna does everything for you.

Surrender to Krsna's pure devotees does not mean you lose your free will, independence and individuality to be qualified to enter the spiritual world, no, such bogus surrender is impersonalism.  

The marginal living entity has always had freedom (free will) therefore there is no question of the marginal living entity ever not having free will because free will in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana is perpetually part and parcel of all marginal living entities (jiva-tattva souls) make up.

The living entities originate from Goloka-Vrindavana and not the Impersonal Brahman as Prabhupada explains.

The reason why a nitya-siddha can become a nitya-baddha or a nitya-baddha can again become nitya-siddha

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

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

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is a 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 - ''Existence in the impersonal brahman is also within the category of non-Krsna consciousness. Those who are in the brahman effulgence are also in the fallen condition, so there is no question of falling down from a fallen condition. When fall takes place, it means falling down from the non-fallen condition. The non-fallen condition is Krsna consciousness." (Letter to Revatinandana, Los Angeles 13 June, 1970)

The following Conversation took place in Melbourne, Australia June 25, 1974 between Srila Prabhupada and his disciples.

Devotee – “When we are in the spiritual sky and serving Krishna, we have a perfect relationship with Krsna, what causes us to fall down in the material world, because we’re already serving Krsna?”

Srila Prabhupada – “Because you desire to fall down. Here it is explained that "Don’t fall down."

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

Srila Prabhupada – "Because you have got little freedom. Why one is not coming here and going to the liquor shop? It is his desire."

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

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, you forced Krsna to allow you to come. Just like sometimes a child forces his father. Father says, "My dear son, do not do this. Do not go there." But he insists, Oh, I must go. I must go." "All right, you go at your risk. That’s all. And you suffer. What can be done?" Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, almighty—therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence. If you persist that "I must go and enjoy independently," so God says, "All right, you can go." This is the position. You have to take sanction. That is a fact. But when you persist, God sanctions. And you come and enjoy." (Melbourne, Australia June 25, 1974)

Question - Is there a place in the Spiritual World from where we can never fall down from?"

Answer - No, it is not based on a place where you can never fall down from that keeps you in Vaikuntha, it does not work that way because of free will, which means there is always choice. 

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

So many so who consider themselves advanced devotees of God cannot understand what free will really means and foolishly claim "not even the leaves fall from Vaikuntha"

It is nonsense to claim no jiva-souls can ever again fall down from Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

Remaining in Vaikuntha eternally based on what the jiva-souls want to do as a unique individual, it is their choice to say or go not Krsnas. 

If Krsna forced His will on the jiva-souls then He destroys their independence, free will and ability to voluntarily express themselves in their own unique way, allowing themselves to choose where they want to be even if returning to the material creation.

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

The jiva-souls never lose their unique ability of free will and independent self expression, where one is personally always aware they can choose how to selflessly serve Krsna in their own unique way as the loving servant of the servant of Krsna.

The fact that one does not again fall from Krsna's personal Kingdom is the jiva-soul's responsibility too and not just only Krsnas.

It is the jiva-soul's choice as well, it is their free will to choose and no one else can choose for them including Krsna.

However, 90% of all jiva-souls do not fall down from Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana because they choose not to.

That choice to stay in Vaikuntha or leave is always with the marginal living entities or jiva-souls.

The jiva-souls or marginal living entities have 78.125% of Krsna's quantities which puts them in the realm of having independence, identity, personality, individuality and the ability to choose. This means the jiva-souls have the ability to agree or not agree with Krsna. 

Their individuality allows the jiva-souls the right to choose Krsna or choose to be separate from Krsna, this is the meaning of free will.

Remember, Maya and the material energy do not exist in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, so Maya is unknown to the jiva-souls in the spiritual worlds.

However, free will and independence allows the jiva-souls to experience a unique sense of individuality with the ability to express oneself in their own way. 

All these qualities are the constitutional makeup of each jiva-soul in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana. 

And if all those abilities are taken away, then the jiva-souls lose the ability to give and accept love and become no better than dead stone.

Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no ''free will, "then you are a stone. The stone has no "free will." Do you want to be stone? Then, you must have "free will!" But don't misuse your ''free will." But don't try to become stone either. That is not life." (August 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

Srila Prabhupada - “Because you are Son of God you have got independence, full independence, almighty—therefore you have acquired the quality of your father. You have got little independence. So God does not interfere with your little independence." (Melbourne, Australia June 25, 1974)

No one forces the jiva-souls to stay in Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavana, that choice MUST "always" be the jiva-souls otherwise what is the point of having free will?

For loving exchanges to truly exist with the jiva-soul, they must have the the right to express themselves and choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana at anytime, therefore returning there is not necessarily permanent.

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

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

Syamasundara - "And some come back?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, otherwise there is no meaning of independence and free will. Independence means you can do this, you can do that. "All right. Whatever you like."

Devotee  "Then he is so many times falling down, again and again, so will he eventually permanently come back?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is no question of permanent because he has got independence, he can misuse his independence, he can fall down. That's why when a man is released from the prison house, that does not mean permanently because he can come back again, the general law is not to come back. but if he likes, he can come back, otherwise what is the meaning of independence? Just like one becomes free from the prison house, naturally he should not go there again." (Discussions with Syamasundara > Henri Bergson)

The jiva-souls have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities, they are minor expansions of Krsna endowed with individuality that allows them to experience an independent personal sense of self separate from Krsna. 

This allows the jiva-souls to make their own decisions and choices. Therefore, Krsna does not interfere with the jiva-soul's free will because it is part of the eternal constitution of all jiva-souls.

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

Free will allows the jiva-souls to experience individuality, loving reciprocation, independent service, and be responsible for their actions.

This however does not means all jiva-soul's are independent from Krsna's control of all things, that is not possible. 

At all time the jiva-souls are always dependent on Krsna or His expansions, even as independent individuals because Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

Therefore the jiva-souls always remain independent living entities, but always simultaneously depend on Krsna and His expansions in both the spiritual worlds and material worlds.

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

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

Both are independent with their own unique personality.

The individual jiva-souls are not one with Krsna but are independent thinking living entities with their own sense of self and personality that makes them one in purpose. 

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

Infact, Krsna, Balarama, Radharani and Lord Caitanya are all the ONE personality as ALL Visnu-tattvas are.

However a small minority of jiva-soul's (independent souls who have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities) can choose to leave Vaikuntha or Goloka-Vrindavan if they like, regardless of how some scholars, sages, devotees have interpreted Vedic texts like Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavat Purana).

Their claim that once reaching Vaikuntha the jiva-soul never fall down is not fully correct. 

Therefore, to say those who enter Vaikuntha will never again fall down is only true for those who choose not to fall down.

In other words, if the jiva-soul wants to leave they certainly can, coming to the material worlds is ultimately the jiva-soul's choice. 

Krsna does not interfere even though He has promised there is no return to the material creation.

The fact, there is return if the jiva-souls wants to return to the material creation. 

Acyutananda – "But in the Gita, it says, “Once coming there, he never returns. He can return?"

Srila Prabhupada – "If he likes he can return."

Guru-kripa – "How is it that one can become envious of Krsna?"

Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence, you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God, God has got full independence, but you have got little independence, proportionately, because you are part and parcel, if he likes, he can return. That independence has to be accepted, little independence. We can misuse that. Krsna-bahirmukha haïä bhoga väïchä kare. That misuse is the cause of our falldown." (Conversation, Mayapur, February 19, 1976)

For those who believe no one can ever fall down from Vaikuntha have not understood the variety of living entities in Vaikuntha of whom the jiva-souls are just one.

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

Many have not understood there are many different categories of living entities in Vrindavana who never fall down, such as the many types of sakti-tattvas who are not jiva-souls but more direct expansions of Krsna (Visnu-tattva), they never fall down because they are Krsna experiencing Himself in another role, like in a play.

So for them, choice is exactly the same as Krsna's choice. And for over 90% of jiva-souls who have the ability to choose, they also never fall down because they choose not to fall down.

Devotee - "Well, I believe you once said that once a conditioned soul becomes perfected and gets out of the material world and he goes to Krsnaloka (Goloka-Vrindavana), there’s no possibility of falling back."

Srila Prabhupada - "No, there is possibility, but he does not come. Just like after putting your hand in the fire, you never put it in again if you are really intelligent. So those who are going back to Godhead, they become intelligent." CC, Adi-lila 7.108-San Francisco, February 18, 1967)

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

Free will is eternal in the spiritual worlds, without having the choice to either forget or remember Krsna, then we would have no independent personality separate from Krsna's Personality and no ability to voluntarily offer love, we would be like dead stone or machines in a factory.

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



   








Thursday, March 17, 2022

Vyasa-puja offering to my eternal Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada who was born on this day in 1896 (126 years ago) celebrated this year on August 20th 2022.

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

​Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatî Gosvâmî. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

​Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivas adi gaura bhakta vrinda.

​Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Again, thank you Srila Prabhupada for bringing the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Krsna to the Western world 58 years ago (1965).

You have taught us that Krsna only comes once as His original Vrindavana form at the end of a Dvāpara-yuga in every day of Brahma (once every 8 billion 640 million human years)

And Kṛṣṇa also comes as the combination of Radharani and Krsna, known as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, also just once in a day of Lord Brahma in the Kali-yuga just after Krsna's appearance at the end of a Dvāpara yuga in Brahma's day.

There are many, many expansions of Krsna from Lord Ramacandra to Lord Narsingadeva, etc, but Lord Krsna and Lord Caitanya have special significance. 

Krsna appears as His original Vrindavana form (via His Visnu-tattva expansion because the original Krsna never leaves Vṛndāvana), and then Lord Caitanya, who is the most merciful Lord, comes to save the most fallen souls in the following Kali-yuga just after Krsna's appearance.

Both come only once every "8 billion 640 million" human years.

In Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 5, text 13, purport, the Lord says (from Bhagavad gītā (4.7) 

yadā yadā hi dharmasya

glānir bhavati bhārata

abhyutthānam adharmasya

tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself." 

Whenever Kṛṣṇa comes, once in a day of Brahmā, He comes to the house of Nanda Mahārāja in Vṛndāvana. Kṛṣṇa is the master of all creation (sarva loka maheśvaram (BG 5.29). 

Therefore, not only in the neighbourhood of Nanda Mahārāja's estate, but all over the universe—and in all the other universes—musical sounds celebrated the auspicious arrival of the Lord."

Srila Prabhupada - "Now is the term of Vaivasvata Manu, during which Lord Caitanya appears. 

First Lord Kṛṣṇa appears at the close of the Dvāpara yuga of the twenty-eighth divya yuga, and then Lord Caitanya appears in the Kali-yuga of the same divya-yuga. 

Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya appear once in each day of Brahmā, or once in fourteen manv-antaras, each of seventy-one divya yugas in duration.

From the beginning of Brahmā’s day of 4,320,000,000 years, six Manus appear and disappear before Lord Kṛṣṇa appears. 

Thus, 1,975,320,000 years of the day of Brahmā elapse before the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa. This is an astronomical calculation according to solar years." (CC Adi 3.10, Purport)

Srila Prabhupāda - "The undifferentiated Absolute Truth, the original Supreme Personality, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, incarnates in this material world once in every day of Lord Brahmā—that is once every 8,640,000,000 solar years—to shower His mercy upon both His surrendered devotees and the atheistic nondevotees. 

He protects His devotees and slays the atheistic demons, thus giving the latter troublesome release, so to speak, in impersonal liberation. The Bhagavad gītā, on the other hand, teaches liberation through devotional service to the Supreme Lord. 

The only way to obtain this devotional service is to take full shelter of the spiritual authority, the guru, who is coming in the line of a proper disciplic succession. 

Those who toil without worshiping the spiritual master will find that all their endeavors are futile." (Renunciation Through Wisdom 4.5)

Srila Prabhupada - "Actually this is exhibited when Kṛṣṇa came. Kṛṣṇa comes here, God in His original form, in one day of Brahmā. These are very long, long narration, but first of all try to understand yourself. 

What is your nature? Then you will understand God automatically. 

Or if you are so advanced that you can understand God, then you can understand your nature also. 

Just like God is gold mine, and I am a gold ring. So the chemical composition of the gold ring and the chemical composition of the gold mine, the same. This is the position.

Qualitatively we are one. Quantitatively we are different. Quantity, God's quantity, God's power, God's opulence, God's riches, God's beauty, God's wisdom, they are very, very, very, greater than ours. That is the difference between God (Visnu-tattva) and us (jiva-tattva or jiva-soul. 

Now try to understand your constitutional position, don't think that after this body is finished, or we meet death, everything is finished, no it isn't finished because there is no death for the jiva-souls. 

This great mistake is going on, they do not know what happens after death. There is no education. There is no department of knowledge in the universities, what is going to happen after death." (Lecture on BG 4.1, Delhi, Nov 10, 1971)

Srila Prabhupada - "Just like we have got a fixed time for the sunrise. Everyone knows that in the morning at 6:30 there will be sunrise. That is certain. 

Similarly, in the śāstras there is description when Kṛṣṇa comes down, descends in this universe. In one day of Brahmā at the end of Dvāpara-yuga... Brahmā's days are described in the Bhagavad-gītā, sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ (BG 8.17). 

Forty-three lakhs of years multiplied by one thousand becomes one day of Brahmā. So forty-three lakhs thousand times, add another forty-three lakhs times thousand—this is the period after which Kṛṣṇa comes."(Lecture on BG 13.3, Hyderabad, April 19, 1974)

Srila Prabhupāda - "So Kṛṣṇa comes after this period, after one day of Brahma, He appears."

Devotee - "Śrīla Prabhupāda, does Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu also appear every day of Brahma?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes, following Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa comes in the Dvāpara yuga. There are four periods of each yuga: Sattva, Tretā, Dvāpara, Kali. So Kṛṣṇa comes at the end of Dvāpara yuga, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu comes in the Kali-yuga." (Lecture on SB 6.1.3, Melb, May 22, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "So Kṛṣṇa comes. Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata, tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham (BG 4.7)

This is the process. Every living entity is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. He belongs to the Kṛṣṇa's family. Kṛṣṇa's family. 

This is our original position. Vṛndāvana means whole Kṛṣṇa's family. Even the birds, beast, trees, plants, water—all belong to the Kṛṣṇa's family.

Therefore anything in Vṛndāvana is as good as Kṛṣṇa. Even the dust of Vṛndāvana is as good as Kṛṣṇa. This is the philosophy, Absolute Truth. 

So Kṛṣṇa, out of His causeless mercy, He comes. At a certain interval during one day of Brahma, He comes. He exhibits His līlā, that "Anyone who desires to go back to home, back to Godhead, they can enjoy with Me like this." This is Kṛṣṇa's mission. 

Why you are playing here and suffering this māyā's play? Come to the real play." This is Kṛṣṇa's mission. Tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti kaunteya (BG 4.9).  (Lecture on SB 6.2.16, Vrndavana, Sept 19, 1975)

Thank you Srila Prabhupada for all this wonderful knowledge all found in your Books, letters, morning walk discussions, and room conversations you gave us when you were physical present.

Thank you for guiding me through different times, and always having faith in you to keep me on the path back home back to Godhead.

All glories to you Srila Prabhupada, my eternal Spiritual Master.

Your fallen servant, yet always aspiring to find ways to serve and please you more, Gauragopala dasa.

Initiated by Srila Prabhupada on the 10th July 1972 Sydney Australia.
























Saturday, March 12, 2022

Krsna devotees from the Soviet Union first arrived in Mayapur India in March 1989 after Moscow allowed the pilgrimage to go ahead.

ISKCON was first registered as an authorised Religion in the Soviet Union on June 19th 1988.

March 1989 was the first time ever that "Soviet" devotees were allowed to travel to the Mayapur Festival in India to celebrate Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's appearance day, and also Vrindavana where child Krsna grew up, and Mathura were Krsna was born.

The Soviet Union still existed in 1989 and Russia and Ukraine were just 2 of its 15 Republics.

I am the third devotee from the right at top with small Narsingadeva around my neck. 

Ananta Shanti, the first Hare Krsna devotee in Russia in 1971, sadly did not come to Mayapur Festival in 1989.

The photo of devotees from the "Soviet Union" is 34 years old taken in Mayapur India.

By your servant Gauragopala Dasa ACBSP.