1. Free will and acts of free will are sanctioned by Krishna

    Pancadravida: Srila Prabhupada, what is our fortune that we’ve come in contact with a qualified guru? What have we done to qualify to come in
    contact with you?

    Revatinandana: In other words, why do some come and others not come?

    Prabhupada: It is the ajnata-sukrti, say. Ajnata-sukrti. You might have done something, very pious activities, which you do not know, but on the effect of.

    Madhudvisa: So it seems like it’s up to chance, then.

    Prabhupada: No chance. Just like a sinful man. Some saintly person comes to him and he gives some money to him. He does not know that “I am doing very pious activity,” but because he has given, he becomes pious.

    Revatinandana: If not even a blade of grass moves unless Krsna sanctions it, then why does someone have the opportunity to perform such ajnata-sukrti, another person not?

    Prabhupada: Yes, Krsna wants… Suppose a saintly person comes to a very sinful man. He needs some money. Immediately Krsna says, “Give him some money. He requires.” So he says, “All right, sir, take it.” So Krsna’s desires, he gives. Unless Krsna dictates from within, how he can give?

    Hari-sauri: So then where is the question of free will? If I want to give or not to give…

    Prabhupada: No, no, free will under Krsna. You can become free will and become a big man immediately. Your free will sanctioned by Krsna. You are not so free that whatever you like, you can do.

    Madhudvisa: So even if I want to perform some ajnata-sukrti, it is only by Krsna’s mercy that I will do it.

    Prabhupada: Yes. […]

    Revatinandana: But then the question is why some and not others also?

    Trivikrama: Krsna is in everyone’s heart.

    Gurukrpa: But some are innocent.

    Prabhupada: That is Krsna’s dictation.

    Revatinandana: Yes.

    Prabhupada: Yes. And you cannot bind Krsna to dictate in a similar way. If He likes, He can ask a sinful man, “Do this.” If He doesn’t like, He may not act. That is Krsna.

    Revatinandana: So ultimately it is simply by the mercy of Krsna…

    Prabhupada: Yes.

    Revatinandana: …that he comes back to Krsna.

    Prabhupada: Yes. So it is Krsna’s business where to show mercy, where not to show. You cannot oblige Him that “You show mercy everywhere.” No. Naham prakasah sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtah [Bg. 7.25]. Krsna… You cannot oblige Krsna, “You do this.” That is not Krsna. That is not Krsna. If one is obliged to act to your dictation, then he is not Krsna. Therefore whatever Krsna likes, He’ll do. You cannot oblige Him, that “You have to do it.” No. That is karma-mimamsa, that “If good work gives good result, so why should we care for Krsna? We shall do the good work.” That is… Ordinary people, they think like that. Karma-mimamsa. “If I do good work, Krsna will be obliged to give me good effect. Why shall I care for Krsna?” That is karma-mimamsa. “Work is final. Do good work, that’s all.” They say like that. But we say, even if you do good work, if Krsna does not want it, then it will not produce good result. That is Krsna.”

    Morning Walk Conversation, March 14, 1976, Mayapur