Letter to: Caturbhuja
--
Los Angeles
9 May, 1973
73-05-09

My Dear Caturbhuja,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter
dated April 27, 1973. Thank you very much.

In answer to your several questions, first; what is meant by conditioned
soul? Conditioned soul means one who has accepted something illusion as
reality. Conditioned means that due to imperfect desires the spirit soul
becomes dependent on material conditions for his satisfaction.

Your second question; how does he become conditioned when the jivatma is
eternal full of bliss and knowledge? The answer is that it is not the soul
itself that becomes mixed with matter but it is his consciousness that
becomes absorbed in trying to enjoy the matter. Out of desire to lord it
over, the jiva soul forgets that he is eternal, full of knowledge and full
of bliss and identifies with the material energy. So it is the
consciousness of the conditioned soul that is affected.

Your third question is: does the soul ever become weak or strong on
account of its association and contact with material nature? It is not the
spirit soul that becomes weak or strong but it is his determination to
become Krsna Conscious that me become weak or strong. By the influence of
the modes of passion and ignorance he becomes weak and by the influence of
the mode of goodness he becomes strong. But by the association with the
pure devotee he becomes strongest.

Your fourth question: "Whether or not it is possible for the soul to exist
without having this external gross and subtle body covering it? So if the
bird is existing within the cage and someone takes away the cage does that
mean that the bird can no longer exist? No. This body is illusion. It is
only because of out attachment for this body that we have to remian within
it. But as soon as one transfers his attachment to Krsna then no more is
there any need for this body.

Your fifth question is, "Bhagavad-gita says that the conditioned soul is
subjected to four defects. Does that refer to the body or the soul?" The
defects are there in the living being when he is acting on the material
platform. As stated in Bhagavad-gita chapter 15 verse 17: "dvavimau
purusau loke, ksaras caksara eva ca, ksarah sarvani bhutani, kutastho
'ksara ucyate:" "There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the
infallible. In the material world every entity is fallible, and in the
spiritual world every entity is called infallible." So the defects are
there only on the material platform. One who is acting in Krsna
Consciousness is beyond those defects.

Your nest question: "The Bhagavad-gita says that Lord Brahma is a
conditioned soul. Then how was it possible for him to impart the Vedas to
a
non-conditioned soul--Narada Muni?" So, Lord Brahma is a conditioned soul
means that due to his desire to become the creator of the material
manifestation he had to take birth within the material world. But although
he was conditioned by such desire, still he is a great devotee of Lord
Krsna. He has written Brahma-samhita which is pure Vaisnava literature
describing the Supreme Personality of godhead. Lord Brahma was the first
created being within the universe and the first spiritual master, as he
received knowledge from within his heart from Lord Krsna. Narada appeared
as the son of Brahma and therefore he had to accept Lord Brahma as his
spiritual master.

Your last question, "How is the sould degraded (by lust, anger and greed)
when it is transcendental to the body? Doesn't that imply that the sould
has changed?" No. The soul never changes, but due to his tinyness he may
become forgetful of his relationship with Krsna. The spiritual quality of
the spiritual spark has not changed but he has forgotten his spiritual
nature, bewildered by the imperfect desire to become equal or greater than
Krsna.

I hope you are able to understand all these points. As you know, I am
translating so many books into English from the Sanskrit, therefore, I am
very busy. Now, I have representatives, the GBC and the temple presidents
who are qualifies to answer your questions. Of course if you ask me I am
obligated to reply because I am your spiritual master. So please direct
your question to my representatives.

I may be coming to London in June, and I will be pleased to see you at
that time.

Hoping this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
.................................................. ........................

Srila Prabhupada answers seven questions in detail. And these certainly
are questions that could be answered by reading the books. Having done
that, he certainly has the right to conclude:

>Now, I have representatives, the GBC and the temple presidents who are
>qualifies to answer your questions. Of course if you ask me I am
>obligated to reply because I am your spiritual master. So please direct
>your question to my representatives.


Another quote on this topic:

Letter to: Ranadhira
--
Los Angeles
24 January, 1970
70-01-24

>All the devotees who desire to know may ask their questions to the
>elderly members but still they are open to write me for all their
>questions and there should not be any hesitation. I reply each and every
>letter that I receive, but sometimes it may be a little late due to
>pressure of work. But they should write; there is no checking. But it is
>better if simple questions are solved amongst yourselves in the
>Istagosthi class. Every one of you must regularly read our books at least
>twice--in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will
>be answered.