Examination of GBC Resolution on Jiva Fall
to Matter
BY: PARAMPARA DASA
Dec 05, 2011 — INDIA (SUN) — Part Two: The Quote of Srila Prabhupada in the GBC Resolution
In today's essay the main focus will be on the quote of Srila Prabhupada found in the above mentioned GBC Resolution. In the previous Part One entitled, "Examination of GBC Resolution on Jiva Fall to Matter", we examined the GBC composed part of the Resolution.
The GBC Resolution:
"Vaikuntha is that place from which no one ever falls down. The living entity belongs to Lord Krishna's marginal potency (tatastha-sakti). On this we all agree. The origin of the conditioned life of the souls now in this material world is undoubtedly beyond the range of our direct perception. We can therefore best answer questions about that origin by repeating the answers Srila Prabhupada gave when such questions were asked of him:
"The original home of the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the spiritual world. In the spiritual world both the Lord and the living entities live together very peacefully. Since the living entity remains engaged in the service of the Lord, they both share a blissful life in the spiritual world. However, when the living entity, misusing his tiny independence, wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world." (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.54, purport).
Resolution: No ISKCON devotee shall present or publish any contrary view as conclusive in any class or seminar or any media (print, video, electronic, etc.).
Recap of Part One
To recap Part One, though many points were made on the language and construction of resolution, ultimately the resolution comes through quite well because in the resolution there is the sentence:
GBC direct that:
"We can therefore best answer questions about that origin [of fallen jiva] by repeating the answers Srila Prabhupada gave when such questions were asked of him."
The key word is "answers". The fact that "answers" is in the plural grammatical form is the saving grace of the resolution, for it clearly sanctions that all quotes, or all "answers" of Srila Prabhupada may be given by ISKCON devotees.
At the end of the resolution, the GBC are quite categorical: "No ISKCON devotee shall present or publish any contrary view as conclusive in any class or seminar or any media (print, video, electronic, etc.)."
Which devotee of Srila Prabhupada will argue against such a GBC directive? Yes, of course, ISKCON is surely meant for the shelter of Srila Prabhupada's teachings. And, of course, no ISKCON devotee should publish a "contrary view" to Srila Prabhupada's "answers".
Now Famous Srila Prabhupada Quote
Internet readers will surely know that one "answer" of Srila Prabhupada on this subject is now quite famous, purport Sb 3.16.26:
"The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode."
Therefore, by GBC resolution, no ISKCON devotee may publish a "contrary view" to this clear siddhanta, or "conclusion", of Srila Prabhupada.
Furthermore, this "no one falls from Vaikuntha planet" is unequivocally siddhanta, or "conclusion" of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya.
Unequivocally because throughout all Gaudiya sastra of the Six Goswamis, Veda Vyasa, Vaisnava Acaryas, one will never find description of jiva falling from any "Vaikuntha planet" through mundane envy of the Lord. In Gita, Sri Krsna, the Supreme Authority, in numerous statements is quite clear that once jiva has attained His Supreme abode "no one falls".
For example:
Bg 8.21: "That which the Vedantists describe as unmanifest and infallible, that which is known as the supreme destination, that place from which, having attained it, one never returns- that is My supreme abode."
So it is quite unequivocal that, somehow or other, once attained – and all jivas residing there have somehow or other attained that Supreme Abode – therefore "no one falls from Vaikuntha planet".
To deny this "no one falls" is to deny the verdict of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. And if we speak against this verdict, then we surely speak against Sri Krsna, Srila Prabhupada and all the Vaisnava Acaryas.
In this way one's conclusions will be the domain of Sri Maya devi.
GBC Acknowledge No Fall
The GBC acknowledge this no fall position at the start to their resolution:
Yet, this sentence is a useful starting point for our understanding whence the confusion about "jiva falling/not falling from Vaikuntha" arises.
Cause of Confusion
The confusion is based on two seemingly mutually contradictory statements we find in transcendental literature:
1. Jiva doesn't fall from Vaikuntha.
2. Jiva does fall from Vaikuntha.
This confusion has reigned for many years. How to resolve it? Can these opposites be resolved at all? Dare to think – is there a contradiction at the heart of Vedas and Vaisnava Acaryas writings?
Resolution of Confusion
Actually there is no contradiction. Here is the resolution of the apparent contradiction:
1. Jiva doesn't fall from Vaikuntha planet.
2. Jiva does fall from the other regions of Vaikuntha; (a) the brahmajyoti; or (b) the Causal Ocean of Sri Maha Visnu.
This resolution of the apparent contradiction is simple and sublime, and perfectly in line with Vedas and Vaisnava Acaryas.
The confusion and apparent contradiction only arises from these mistakes:
1. When we think that Vaikuntha is one homogeneous area with one homogeneous state of consciousness.
2. We fail to recognize that there are different regions of Vaikuntha with differing respective states of consciousness.
3. Then on the basis of these misconceptions of the Vaikuntha, we mistakenly attribute statements about one region of Vaikuntha to be statements about a differing region of Vaikuntha.
For example, if we attribute statements about the "jiva falling from the Causal Ocean" to be statements about "jiva falling from Goloka". Or conversely, we attribute statements about "jiva doesn't fall from Vaikuntha" to be statements about "jiva not falling from brahmajyoti".
To clarity further, there are three distinct Vaikuntha regions transcendental to gross matter: (a) Vaikuntha planets; (b) Brahma-dhama, the abode of brahmajyoti; and (c) Causal Ocean. Collectively they are known as "Maha-Vaikuntha".
Six Wrongful Attributions
Therefore the wrongful attribution of statements may take six varieties:
1. statements describing the Vaikuntha planets attributed to the Brahma-dhama.
2. statements describing the Vaikuntha planets attributed to the Causal Ocean.
3. statements describing Brahma-dhama attributed to the Vaikuntha planets.
4. statements describing Brahma-dhama attributed to the Causal Ocean.
5. statements describing the Causal Ocean attributed to the Vaikuntha planets.
6. statements describing the Causal Ocean attributed to Brahma-dhama.
These conditions of wrongful attribution generally arise because many sadhakas have an immature realization of these three distinct regions of Vaikuntha. And then, most importantly, when these sadhakas read perhaps the writings of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada uses the generic term "Vaikuntha", then they mistakenly consider that the statement of Srila Prabhupada which is actually a description of one region of Vaikuntha is describing another distinct region of Vaikuntha.
This is particularly the case when statements describing jiva falling from the Causal Ocean are mistakenly applied to the jiva in Goloka Vrndavan.
Source of Confusion
Therein lies the confusion on the "fall of jiva to matter". To put it simply, statements describing jiva falling from the Causal Ocean, or even Brahma-dhama, are being wrongfully attributed to jiva falling from Goloka Vrndavan.
And this is undoubtedly wrongful because Sri Krsna, Vedas and Vaisnava Acaryas, Srila Prabhupada included, are quite unequivocal in their statements that "no one falls from Vaikuntha planet". Therefore, it is contradicting Srila Prabhupada to attribute statements by him which describe "falling from Vaikuntha" to mean "falling from Goloka". One may find many statements of Srila Prabhupada describing "falling from Vaikuntha", yet no unequivocal statements or descriptions of jiva falling from Goloka – that would be a fanciful and contradictory interpretation.
To repeat Srila Prabhupada, purport Sb 3,16.26:
"The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode."
Once the tendency of wrong attribution is understood in the light of the above statement, then it becomes straightforward to understand the confusion that may arise around the quote of Srila Prabhupada supplied by the GBC in their Jiva Fall Resolution. The quote is:
"The original home of the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the spiritual world. In the spiritual world both the Lord and the living entities live together very peacefully. Since the living entity remains engaged in the service of the Lord, they both share a blissful life in the spiritual world. However, when the living entity, misusing his tiny independence, wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world." (Sb. 4.28.54, purport).
This description may be wrongfully understood by sadhakas with immature spiritual knowledge as a description of jiva falling from Goloka Vrndavan – which being a Vaikuntha planet is actually a place from which "no one falls" – when actually it is a description of jiva falling from the Causal Ocean.
To clarify notes are now interspersed with the quote of Srila Prabhupada presented by the GBC in their resolution.
Story of Puranjana is Allegorical
However, first we must understand the context of quote. It is from the purport of Sb 4.28.54, Chapter entitled Puranjana Becomes a Woman in His Next Life. The story of King Puranjana is allegorical. Puranjana is an imaginary person created by Narada Muni in the allegory to educate King Pracinabarhisat. The King is a neophyte in spiritual knowledge and understanding, and so Narada Muni uses many figurative terms in the allegory to educate the King. We would do well to bear in mind, therefore, that Narada Muni's instruction is mean for a neophyte not an accomplished devotee well established in all the realms of Maha Vaikuntha and the nature of those realms and the respective consciousness of the jivas residing in those particular realms:
First Sentence of the Srila Prabhupada Quote
"The original home of the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the spiritual world."
The term "spiritual world" is generic, thereby including all regions of Vaikuntha. Jiva is in essence spiritual, therefore his "home" is the "spiritual world". Furthermore, jiva is actually found in all regions of the "spiritual world" after emanation from Sri Krsna and His personal expansions, Baladeva, Ananta Sesa, and Sri Maha Visnu; therefore everywhere in the "spiritual world" is his "home". It would a prejudicial mistake to immediately interpret this "spiritual world" to mean only and specifically Goloka Vrndavana. Srila Prabhupada does not say Goloka Vrndavana, rather the generic "spiritual world". Jiva is not just living in only Goloka Vrndavana; that is not jiva's only "home". To interpret in that way exclusively displays a detrimental approach.
Furthermore, Srila Prabhupada states the "original home" of jiva is the transcendental "spiritual world". Therefore jiva's origin is transcendental and personal. This usage of "original" denies the conception of jiva as a material product, or an entity that is anadi, or beginninglessly conditioned, in the sense that jiva has never been in the transcendental spiritual world. Anadi actually means that jiva is ‘without a material beginning'. In the same way that nirguna means not ‘without qualities', but rather ‘without material qualities'. Therefore, usage of "original" indicates that jiva is a transcendental entity with a personal origin as an emanation of the Supreme Lord.
Second Sentence of the Quote
This peaceful life together with Sri Krsna and His multifarious transcendental expansions may be applied to all jivas in all the regions of the "spiritual world". Jiva is "peaceful", being free of the agitating material modes, residing in the "spiritual world".
Third Sentence of the Quote
"Since the living entity remains engaged in the service of the Lord, they both share a blissful life in the spiritual world."
One must draw a distinction between active service on the Vaikuntha planets and non-active service in the Causal Ocean, the margin of matter and spirit. Santa-rasa is non-active service devoid of attachment. As stated in Cc Madhya 9.216: "It is the nature of santa-rasa that not even the smallest intimacy exists." On the Vaikuntha planets, affection and attachment for the Lord has fully blossomed, and so the residents of the Vaikuntha planets do not fall down. However that is not case in the Causal Ocean where the tatastha-shakti-jiva, or marginal jiva, is in the weak position of neutrality in relationship to the Supreme Lord. Therefore jiva, situated at the margin may reject service and fall to the material universes.
Fourth Sentence of the Quote
"However, when the living entity, misusing his tiny independence, wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world."
The converse of this sentence would be "However, when the living entity, properly utilizing his tiny independence, accepts the active service of the Supreme Lord, he enter the spiritual world". This corresponds with Srila Prabhupada in his final words in the final purport of the Gita 18.78:
"In other words, the living entity is situated between the two energies of the Lord, and because he belongs to the superior energy of the Lord, he has a particle of independence. By proper use of that independence he comes under the direct order of Krsna. Thus he attains his normal condition in the pleasure-giving potency."
Therefore it is clear that this quote of Srila Prabhupada is not a description of the marginal jiva falling from blossomed krsna-prema in Goloka Vrndavan, wherefrom "no one falls", but rather a description of the marginal jiva falling from santa-rasa in the Causal Ocean. The simple fact is that nowhere in this purport is Goloka mentioned. And nowhere in this purport is falling from krsna-prema in Goloka mentioned. Interpretations along those lines are fanciful, and contradict all Vedas and Vaisnava Acaryas.
Most importantly, such interpretations contradict Srila Prabhupada and to interpret Srila Prabhupada's statements against Vedas and the Vaisnava Acaryas is a great disservice. To imply, directly or indirectly, that Srila Prabhupada gives a different siddhanta from such stalwarts as Srila Bhaktisiddhata Prabhupada and Thakur Bhaktivinoda is a greatly mistaken policy. If a neophyte does so, he displeases Sri Krsna and his intelligence will then enter the domain of Sri Maya devi. Thus, under Sri Maya devi such a neophyte will speak all sorts of illogical conjecture in a stubborn manner. He becomes Sri Maya devi's donkey.
Concluding Words
Wrongful attribution of descriptions of marginal jiva falling from the marginal Causal Ocean, to krsna-prema jiva with an imaginary falling from Goloka is the source of the ensuing confusion around this particular topic of siddhanta.
Here is a full description of the state of marginal jiva falling to matter given by Srila Prabhupada:
Letter to Jagadish dasa LA 25 April 1970:
"Regarding your second question, have the conditioned souls ever seen Krsna? Were they with the Lord before being conditioned by the desire to lord it over material nature? Yes, the conditioned souls are parts and parcels of the Lord and thus they were with Krsna before being conditioned. Just as the child must have seen his father because the father places the child in the womb of the mother, similarly each soul has seen Krsna or the Supreme Father. But at that time the conditioned souls are resting in the condition called susupti which is exactly deep sleep without dream, or anesthetized state, therefore they do not remember being with Krsna when they wake up in the material world and become engaged in material affairs. I hope this will satisfy your questions."
Here is the direct answer of Srila Prabhupada there is no mention of Goloka or the consciousness of krsna-prema. Only susupti, anesthetized state, in the Causal Ocean after emanation from Sri Krsna in His form of Sri Maha Visnu. It is this lila of Sri Krsna that the marginal jiva falls, not goloka-prema-lila. Envious fall from Goloka never happens, only in the fanciful imagination.
Here follows evidence of Sri Krsna as Sri Maha Visnu creating the marginal jivas in the Causal Ocean, known as the Karana Samudra.
Sri Krsna as Sri Maha Visnu Creates Marginal Jivas
Sri Brahma-samhita, 5.11:
sahasra-sirsa purusah
sahasraksah sahasra-pat
sahasra-bahur visvatma
sahasramsah sahasra-suh
Synonym: sahasra-suh—the creator of thousands of individual souls.
"The Lord of the mundane world, Maha-Visnu, possesses thousands of thousands of heads, eyes and hands. He is the source of thousands of thousands of avataras in His thousands of thousands of subjective portions. He is the creator of thousands of thousands of individual souls. "
Sri Krsna and Sri Maha Visnu are non-different aspects of the Supreme Godhead. Thus by cultivating bhakti we go "Back to Godhead".
We finish with a quote from Srila Prabhupada that is as immovable as the Himalayas. And according to the GBC resolution we should give the "answers of Srila Prabhupada" and not those that that are "contrary views".
Immovable Himalayan Quote
Srimad Bhagavatam 3,16.26 purport:
"The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode."
