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Originally Posted by gauragopala dasa
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Srila Prabhupada rejects the ideas of those who preach the 'impersonal Brahmajyoti origin that claims that the marginal living entity is originally in a dormant state (a plain sheet of consciousness) from where one can develop and then use their free will to choose either Vaikuntha or the mahat-tattva. <o:p></o:p>
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Many today in other Vaishnava sects may follow that misunderstanding however, it appears to me they have incorrectly used the word 'tatastha' to describe the jiva's impersonal dormant origin state after its so called creation from this 'plain sheet of consciousness'.<o:p></o:p>
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They claim the jiva’s originate from the brahmajyoti, which is living and growing claiming that within the brahmajyoti, their stability is somehow disturbed and progress begins. From no separation, separation begins. From a plain sheet of uniform consciousness, individual conscious units grow. And because the jiva is conscious, it is now capable of free will. So, from the marginal position they choose either the side of exploitation in the mahat-tattva or the side of dedication or service to Krsna in Goloka.
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This is precisely what Srila Bhaktisiddhanta preached, as the quotes above clearly show. This is the standard understanding in all Vaishnava sampradayas, based on the Upanishadic (sruti) descriptions. If you say that Prabhupada rejected that, than it means he rejected the teachings of his own guru on that point.
"Vishnu has three energies, one of them is meant for manifestation of His eternal Abode,
another Potency is for creating all human souls who are emanations from His Tatastha-shakti found between the temporal and eternal worlds. By this potency He creates human souls. The human soul has two different predilections. If he desires to serve God-head he is allowed into the Eternal Region. If he desires to lord it over this world he comes down for enjoying in different capacities the products of the Deluding Potency." (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura: Sri Caitanya's Teachings, "Immanent and Transcendent")