Spirit Soul: Constitutional Position

Q. What is praying? Why do we have to pray? When should we pray? How should we pray?

Prayer is an address to a superior in supplication. Of all those who are worshipable, the Personality of Godhead is the most worthy object of one's prayers, and so are His pure devotees who are His direct and confidential representatives.

Q. I was wondering if it is the official view of ISKCON that Srila Prabhupada is Nitya Siddha?

There is no such official view. By studying the life of Srila Prabhupada and on the basis of scriptural evidence, however, we can see that Srila Prabhupada was an exceptionally empowered representative of the Lord and a perfected soul, siddha.

I have read that all living entities are generated from tatastha- shakti (SB 3.7.9). Living entities can be influenced by the internal or external potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Q. Please explain how do living entities behave while under the influence of Tatastha-sakti. Is the marginal potency an intermediate state between Pradhan and Prakriti? How long they belong to this region of marginal energy of Lord? What is the characteristic of marginal potency with regards to Internal and external potencies?

Q. Why do people often get frustrated with life?

Q. 1. I have heard the concept that the body changes, but what makes us eternal and who we really are, the soul, never does. I accept this as fact, of course. However, I am uncertain about the soul never changing. I am 38 years of age now and I am not the same person I was spiritually, mentally, emotionally, as I was when I was 28 or 18.

Q. 2. I understand that a lot of that has to do with life's experience and conditioning; but if that is the case, then how do we determine who we are as a soul as opposed to who we are based on maya's influence?

Q. In the loving association of devotees, I am very slowly developing an "unmotivated" love for the wonderful devotees. But somehow I am also simultaneously realizing, that there is a lot of impersonal attitude towards others who are not devotees of Krishna.

Q. I have learned that "To surrender unto the Lord through the transparent medium of the spiritual master is to attain complete freedom of life".

What exactly is freedom of life? Why do we all seek freedom of life? It is true that we all have to face a stark reality in the form of DEATH! But, what about duties while we are alive  and towards those who are alive around *us*? Is performing our duties, in any role not good enough?

Q. Lord Krishna said that the relationship between individual soul and the Super Soul is eternal. That can be friendship, parenthood or conjugal relationship. Does that mean we have an eternal body long time ago in the spiritual world? Or the body and relationship with Lord will be decided by the devotional practice of all the lifetimes?

I am going to give you a short answer now, and a longer answer after some time.

There is an eternal connection between the individual soul (or atma) and the Supersoul (Paramatma), much like a spark is related to the fire from whence it comes.

Q. In one of Bhakti-vriksha [cell] edification material, I read the following line: "UNLESS YOU TAKE TO KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, YOU CANNOT BE HAPPY." Can you please let us know, what is sastric or sloka reference for this emphatic statement?

Q. I have a query, which I want to humbly put forward to you for clarification. The Lord is supreme and complete, "purna". So anything emanating from `purna' will also be `purna'. Like 1+1=1, or 1-1=1. My question is - why are the jivas and material energy not complete or as powerful as the Lord? I know that this point is not linked with the `purna' analogy so the question is foolish. But still I am not able to convince myself. Can you kindly clarify this foolish doubt of mine?