Lord Krishna: Personal Nature of Lord Krishna

Q. I wanted to know about the concept of transmigration of soul which is preached in the Bhagavad-Gita, but this transmigration is no where mentioned in the Vedas. In fact, the Vedas also say that God has no form; please clarify on the same.

Bhagavad-gita is integral part of Vedic literature; in fact it is popularly called Gitopanisad, for it summarizes the essence of all Vedas, and has emanated directly from the lotus mouth of the Supreme Lord, as do all of the Vedas.

Q. 1. I have a question regarding a statement I heard in the past and remembered recently:

Q. You said that the holy name is very personal. What does that really mean? Everybody is chanting the same Hari nam. Then how can it be personal?

The Holy Name is non-different from Krishna Himself. Padma Purana confirms "abhinnatvan nama-naminoh" (cf Cc Madhya 17.133).

And Krishna is a person. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13) In Sri Brahma Samhita, the invocation mantra states "isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah/ anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam."

Put these two understandings together and what do you get?

Q. What if someone is God conscious, but doesn't call God as Krishna or worship Him as the Indian-looking God?  What if they think of Him differently in their mind looks-wise, they have never heard of Vrindavan, tilak, etc.  But what if they seriously devote their entire life to God consciousness?  Let's say a Christian monk?  What happens to them when they leave their bodies? An elevated life next time around, perhaps a more elevated planet?  But no Godhead right? But how could that be? 

Q. On Sunday a few hours after leaving the temple I was involved in a single car roll over accident. The police, EMS and firemen all said I shouldn't have walked away from the accident, let alone with only a few bruises on my right side.

My question is, does Krishna protect us from physical harm too? To me, Krishna's mercy is the only reason I am still alive but I want to know if that's possible. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. Hare Krishna.

Q. I have taken to Krishna consciousness as a last resort. I have looked into many religions and philosophies, but was not happy with any of them. Nor am I happy here, my spiritual practice seems simply like yet another source of misery. But I am afraid I have nowhere else to go, no other religion or philosophy that would seem worthy enough to me to even just give it a try. After distancing myself from Buddhism, I have come up with a list of criteria of what "my ideal religion" would be like, and Gaudiya Vaishnavism seems to fit best. Am I aiming too high, should I try to settle for a lesser religious philosophy?

Q. Does Krishna have a very specific plan for each living entity, and deviating from this plan causes one to be in maya?  I'm wondering mainly whether it's a very specific plan, all mapped out, with every other path being maya, and we do best by trying to discern it and adhere to it, or are there a few options?

Q. 1. Since free will is operating with every soul's choices, how is Paramatma's guidance operative in relationship to this free will?

Q. 2. Another dimension is this: Sri Isopanisad says every other choice other than Krishna's will, is degrading. So how can we exercise a free will choice that is within the realm of non-maya, or the spiritual realm -- that may not be a predetermined choice?

Q. On page 32 of Isopanisad Mantra 3, Srila Prabhupada talks about the word atma-sambhavita. Do devotees who have approached Krishna Consciousness with materialistic desires (for fame and recognition), and therefore fall from this path eventually, also have the same destination as the asuras?