The Origin of the “Jiva” Controversy
First Wave : Siddhantas
“Introduction”
Setting the Scene
This Book is the Result of Controversy. In writing it We Were Advised to Downplay the Controversial Aspect
This Book is the Result of Controversy. In writing it We Were Advised to Downplay the Controversial Aspect
The Above Letter Sets the Stage. We Want Our Readers to Note Some of the Salient Features of This Letter
In Vaikuntha not Even the Leaves “Fall”
Chapters in “First Wave”
Chapter “One”: The Origin of the Jiva According to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Chapter “Two”: More on the Teaching of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Chapter “Three”: e Origin of the Jiva According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada
Chapter “Four”: The Origin of the Jiva According to Srila Prabhupada.
Chapter “Five”: Evidence From Other Acaryas, and From Sruti & Smrti.
Chapter “Six”: Srila Jiva Goswami, No One Falls from Vaikuntha.
Chapter “Seven”: Nitya-muktas Never Contact the Material Energy.
Chapter “Eight”: The Meaning of ‘Anadi’.Part 1
Chapter “Nine”: The Meaning of ‘Anadi’.Part 2
Chapter “Ten”: The Meaning of ‘Anadi’.Part 3
Second to Fifth Waves are Being Edited and Formatted for Posting to Website
The first wave has ten chapters.
Chapters One and Two give the verdict of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura on the origin of the jiva. He says there are three types of jivas: Those in Goloka having their origin from Lord Baladeva, in Vaikuntha from Lord Sankarsana, and those in the material energy from Lord Maha-Visnu. This last type of jiva has always been in the material world and is called nitya-baddha, but they can become nitya-mukta by pure devotional service.
The Third Chapter is based on the works of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. According to him nitya-muktas are never influenced by the material energy.
The Fourth Chapter gives references from the writings of Srila Prabhupada, who sometimes said that no one falls from Vaikuntha and sometimes said that jivas fell from Lord Krishna’s pastimes. We have cited only his statements supporting the first view because the second view is widely known among devotees. Why Prabhupada made contradictory statements on this issue is answered in the Second Wave.
In the Fifth Chapter we give evidence from Sruti, Vedanta Sutra, Govinda Bhasya, Agama, and the Narada Bhakti Sutra all in favor of no fall down from Vaikuntha.
Chapter Six gives evidence from Srila Jiva Gosvami. We also refer to the commentaries by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura on Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Chapter Seven includes evidence from the writings of Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, and Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Thus, in the first seven chapters of the first wave we give the verdict of our prominent acaryas.
Finally, in chapters Eight, Nine, and Ten we discuss the meaning of the word anadi (lit. beginningless). It is the philosophical term most commonly used by our acaryas for describing the conditioned souls. It is a difficult concept to grasp but crucial in understanding the subject of the book. Readers are advised to read these chapters carefully.
Setting the Scene
This Book is the Result of Controversy. In writing it We Were Advised to Downplay the Controversial Aspect
This Book is the Result of Controversy. In writing it We Were Advised to Downplay the Controversial Aspect
The Above Letter Sets the Stage. We Want Our Readers to Note Some of the Salient Features of This Letter
In Vaikuntha not Even the Leaves “Fall”
Chapters in “First Wave”
Chapter “One”: The Origin of the Jiva According to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Chapter “Two”: More on the Teaching of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Chapter “Three”: e Origin of the Jiva According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada
Chapter “Four”: The Origin of the Jiva According to Srila Prabhupada.
Chapter “Five”: Evidence From Other Acaryas, and From Sruti & Smrti.
Chapter “Six”: Srila Jiva Goswami, No One Falls from Vaikuntha.
Chapter “Seven”: Nitya-muktas Never Contact the Material Energy.
Chapter “Eight”: The Meaning of ‘Anadi’.Part 1
Chapter “Nine”: The Meaning of ‘Anadi’.Part 2
Chapter “Ten”: The Meaning of ‘Anadi’.Part 3
Second to Fifth Waves are Being Edited and Formatted for Posting to Website