Question: 1. Since free will is operating with every soul’s choices, how is Paramatma’s guidance operative in relationship to this free will?
Question: 2. Another dimension is this: Sri Isopanisad says every other choice other than Krishna’s will, is degrading. So how can we exercise a free will choice that is within the realm of non-maya, or the spiritual realm — that may not be a predetermined choice?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Krishna dynamically responds to the free will choices of living entities. As Srila Prabhupada states, ‘matter is static but spirit is dynamic’. Our relationship and service to the Lord is forever dynamic. Krishna is reciprocally respondent to the mood of surrender and intensity of devotion of the devotees, as well as to the specific disposition of His devotees. *ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham.* [BG 4.11]
For example, it is not pre-determined as soon as one joins a vaishnava-sanga that this devotee should become a cook and that devotee should become a book keeper, and so on. Rather, based on one’s natural inclinations and qualifications, based on the interest one shows in a particular activity and the initiative one takes, individuals are encouraged accordingly. Someone may be naturally attracted to cooking for or worshiping the Deities, someone may have strong capacity for studying and understanding scriptures, and so on. All these choices are within the devotional domain, outside the realm of maya, and the Lord is equally happy through whichever way we choose to serve Him. He reciprocates by giving us more and more facilities and guidance how to advance spiritually through that devotional choice.
Krishna’s overall plan for living entities in the material world is to take us back to Godhead, to ‘revive our original consciousness’ — this is His very purpose of creation. Therefore, based on the living entities free will, the Lord orchestrates events in the devotee’s life towards this grand plan. Suppose one approaches Krishna, begins rendering devotional service and abides by His instructions, but still retains strong material desires in the heart. Such a mixed devotee is also acting subordinate to the Lord’s plan to some degree because he is taking shelter of the devotees and the scriptures. But because they are not yet purified, the Lord responds according to the condition of their heart — He may satisfy that desire in order to make the devotee more attached to Him. Or, if someone is very sincere to achieve Krishna but is struggling to give up some attachment, Krishna may block the fulfillment of their plans and orchestrate events in their life to purify those attachments, which is also His special mercy. The individual again has a choice — they could be satisfied with the fulfillment of desire and carry on with their life, or they could become disappointed by the reversals in their life and leave Krishna. Or they could take the Lord’s reciprocation as an impetus to become more serious in Krishna consciousness. And when one simply wants to serve the Lord without any other motive, the Lord again reciprocates accordingly by giving them all necessary facilities.
Thus Krishna’s plan for us is a function of our own disposition towards Him, how much we want to act within our relationship with Him, and that can change from moment to moment!
In the case of the battle between Indra and Vritrasura, Indra was in one sense acting according to the plan of the Lord, under the direct instruction of Lord Vishnu! Lord Vishnu had personally instructed him how to obtain the thunderbolt and defeat Vritrasura. But because Indra’s mind was on his personal victory rather than pure devotional service, the Lord directed him accordingly, whereas Vritrasura who was absorbed in a mood of pure devotion achieved a transcendental result.
In another situation, Lord Caitanya initially refused to meet King Prataparudra, but the more the king became eager to achieve His mercy and the more devotees pleaded on his behalf, the Lord changed His plan and gave His association to the King.
The point is that at every moment the living entity has a choice, and that choice is not so much ‘what’ we do but how much we are looking towards Krishna’s satisfaction or away from Krishna.
Krishna may also change His plans by His own sweet-will, simply because He is a dynamic person! For instance, Priyavrata had renounced the world with all due blessings from his father and his guru, but later on he was requested by them to rule the world. In the spiritual realm, everyone is ever-ready to act according to Krishna’s will. Although they express their choices, they are also ever-dependent and ever-ready to keep aside their preference to satisfy Krishna however He directs. In other words, following Krishna’s plan ultimately means surrendering our false sense of independence and choosing to satisfy Krishna.
To try to understand ‘what’ is the Lord’s will or desire is but natural. A loving servant is naturally looking for indications from the master how to best serve him. But it is not possible for us to try to “discern” Krishna’s plans as you have indicated in the first question. As Bhismadev confirms, even great philosophers fail to understand Krishna’s plan and are bewildered even after exhaustive inquiry. Krishna can be known only by His confidential devotees (See SB 1.9.16-19)
Thus we can know the Lord’s desire through the transparent medium of the spiritual master. In the beginning stages, due to prolonged misuse of free will, even if one wants to serve Krishna, one is not so adept at making right spiritual choices or understand Krishna’s desires. One may not even be sure if their own inclinations are really in a mood of service or born out of personal likes & dislikes in the bodily conception. Therefore one should consult the expert spiritual master and by operating within the boundaries of the instructions of the spiritual master. Initially, there are very elaborate and detailed guidelines. By staying within these guidelines, one can stay out of maya. For example, the spiritual master gives a regulated program of service and might even suggest very specific services based on one’s nature and inclinations; and even within that there are detailed guidelines — for instance in Deity worship, the time for making the offering and the procedure for making the offering is fixed, even the items nd ingredients are fairly standard. But within that service, one has freedom — one could either make rasagulla or sandesh, for instance, and express their individual devotion in multifarious ways within their prescribed realm of devotional activity.
As one becomes more experienced in devotional service by training, the devotee becomes capable of taking wider initiatives in serving Krishna and learns how to exercise spiritual choices all for Krishna’s pleasure that may not at all be what you are calling “predetermined choices”.
Consider the example of Srila Prabhupada. Of course, unlike conditioned souls, such empowered pure devotees are sent to this world by the Lord with a definite mission. But, although in a broad sense it was foretold that he would cross the seas, open temples and preach the Bhagavatam, still things were not all mapped out for him. Even after receiving the order of his spiritual master, Prabhupada was not quite sure how he was going to accomplish it. But he was completely fixed on the two instructions he received from his spiritual master as his mission in life: “Preach in English, and if you ever get money, print books.” Within those instructions, he took unlimited initiative and left no stone unturned, in spite of so many obstacles, setbacks and lack of support. Initially Prabhupada planned to increase his business to fund his preaching, he started Back-to-Godhead, then he tried the League of Devotees in Jhansi, he tried working under his godbrothers, he tried going to Japan…. But one by one all his plans apparently failed. Did that mean he was acting outside of Krishna’s plan? Not at all. On the contrary, because he was fixed on the direction received from his guru, he was confident that all his initiatives were part of the unfolding of Krishna’s will. Prabhupada was always tuned in to indications from Krishna; for example, as soon as he heard from a Mathura businessman that his son was in America, he saw it as an opportunity given by Krishna and took advantage of it. It was not all predetermined. Prabhupada had to make choices — to stay uptown or move to the Bowery, for instance. Whichever choice he made would have been in Krishna’s interest and therefore outside maya.
Just as he was actively planning for Krishna, Krishna was also planning for His pure devotee and was dynamically arranging events around Prabhupada to bring him closer and closer to the fulfillment of his desired mission.
Furthermore, Prabhupada set a perfect example in that he never planned something outside or independent of the instructions he received. Even years later, after attaining great success and fame, he continuously recalled his spiritual master’s instruction to print books, and had made a policy to set aside 50% of all income for printing books. Even when other kinds of preaching opportunities and demands for money presented themselves, he never compromised on keeping 50% exclusively for book-printing based on the words of his spiritual master. But within the framework of that plan given to him, he taxed his brain, took many risks and made many choices how to serve Lord Caitanya’s mission most gloriously.
In summary, when we align all our desires, our intelligence and plans to fulfill the mission indicated to us by a bona fide spiritual master, then we are acting in accordance with Krishna’s plan. Within the boundaries of those instructions, we can exercise our utmost freedom of initiative to serve Krishna, and all those choices will be outside the realm of maya.
