Hrdayananda, December 6, 1973, Los Angeles: ..But if I say that I’m originally in the spiritual world, but even the potential to fall down is an imperfection in the creation.
Prabhupada: No, potential does not fall down. Just like a child has got the potency to pass the M.A. examination. So he has to be educated. If you don’t educate him, he’ll remain a foolish child. So we are educating to develop that potentiality.
nitya-siddha krsna-prema sadhya kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya [Cc. madhya 22.107]
They, that potentiality is eternal. God is eternal. We are eternal. Our relationship, eternal. Everything is eternal. But because we are small, minute fragments, sometimes we fall down.
Hrdayananda: They say, “God should have, God should have created us so that we we don’t fall down.”
Prabhupada: Why you should dictate God? God has created perfectly. He has given you independence. You fall down. It is your fault. God has made you perfect, given you independence. But if you misuse your independence, you fall down. Just like government gives everyone opportunity. Why do you become criminal and go to the jail? That is your fault.
Hrdayananda: They say that God should have created us so that we don’t fall down.
Prabhupada: Why “Should have created”? He has created already perfect. Because you are perfect, therefore you have got the independence to misuse. You are not a dead stone. That is perfection. Ye yatha mam prapadyante. You can go anywhere, sarva- ga. You can go to the Vaikuntha. Yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg. 9.25] You can go to the higher planets. You can go to the hell. When you go to the hell, it is your choice. God has given you all perfection. Purnam idam purnam adah purnat purnam udacyate [Isopanisad, Invocation], everything is complete, perfect, and because you are perfect, you have got the independence. But misusing that independence, you are imperfect. Again, reviving your independence, you can become perfect, although you are imperfect now. That is Krishna consciousness movement. Krishna consciousness movement means raising the imperfect to the perfect platform. That is Krishna consciousness. Other fools, they say, “We are perfect now.” In a fallen condition also, they’re thinking perfect. That is maya. Asurim raksasim caiva mohinim prakrtim sritah. Krishna has made you perfect. There is no doubt about it. Just like some of our students. All of a sudden, they deviate, go away. So what is that? Our movement is imperfect, or he’s imperfect?
Hrdayananda: He’s imperfect.
Prabhupada: He’s imperfect. Our movement is perfect. But he becomes imperfect by his misuse of independence. He thinks that “This is nice,” and goes to hell. What can be done? That independence is there. That is perfectness.
Hrdayananda: So in other words, these, uh, the people that argue like that, they, they actually are lazy. They don’t want to surrender to God. Then they blame God.
Prabhupada: Yes. Because they have become imperfect, therefore they are blaming God. “God is good;” they forget this. That is their imperfectness. One side, they say, “God is good.” Still, they’re blaming God. What is this nonsense? If He’s God, God is good, how can you blame Him? God is good; in all circumstances, He’s good. That is the meaning of good. Good does not mean that one time you are good and next time you are bad.
Karandhara: Just like the criminals blame the government for being in the prison house.
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes, that is natural. Yes. Surasu-saksimat. Surasu- saksimat. In the liquor shop so there was some trouble. So he went to court. He went to court. So the court asked him, “Where is your witness?” So he brought one witness, drunkard. You see? Surasu- saksimat. So that is maya, aham mameti [SB 5.5.8], misusing power and blaming God, “Why God…?”
God has made everything. Just like here. It is made not to move. Stay. But we are better than this. Is it not? It cannot move. So God has made this also. But because we can move, we are better than this. And if, if, if they say that “God, why he has made me to commit mistake?” This rascal does not understand that that is freedom. You, why don’t you take the right one?
God says, “This is right.” Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Why don’t you take it? And still, how you can say God is bad? What is the argument?
Umapati: If God is so powerful, why does He let me fall. Why doesn’t He save me, save me from my own foolishness. Why doesn’t He…?
Prabhupada: Yes, He’s saving you, but you don’t carry His order.
Umapati: Yes, but it’s not recognized.
Prabhupada: Yes. Just like I say, “Chant sixteen rounds.” If you do not do it. What can I do? That is your fault.
Satsvarupa: If God were to force us, there’d be no love.
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