In his audio comments on Rāga-vartma-candrikā 11, quoting Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.294 Advaita Dāsa says:
“Following the Vrajavāsīs of “your choice” is an empty shell. There’s a principle of bestowal. Anarpita-carīṁ cirāt. Mahāprabhu came especially to GIVE this amorous love for Kṛṣṇa. If it is given or placed in the heart by mercy of Lord Caitanya or Śrī Guru, we cannot say it is our own choice.”
Also he explains:
“Free will seems another Christian insertion into Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava philosophy so popular with western rationalists. There is Anādi karma (Vedānta-sūtra 2.1.35) and there is no question of free will when there is Anādi-karma. The entry into Bhakti is not due to free will.
The Jīvātma has Kartṛtva (power to act), but that Kartṛtva is granted by God only. It is limited Kartṛtva. An object in darkness cannot get into the sunlight unless the sunlight falls on it. Free will is like the will to see. The eyes can see – that much capacity is there. But the eyes can see only that which is within its field of vision. If the eyes are in darkness, they can only see darkness. They cannot see light. Bhagavān prompts the Jīva according to his Svabhāva, Karma, Saṁskāras etc.
The Jīva always has the capacity to will, feel and act, but what he wills, feels and does is restricted by his own Karma, Svabhāva and the Lord’s sanctions. By free will, one who is under Bahiraṅgā-śakti cannot come under Antaraṅga and vice-versa. His free will under Bahiraṅga-śakti is restricted to acting within Bahiraṅgā-śakti.
Sanātana Goswāmī says there is freedom for the Siddhas in Vaikuṇṭha, but that is freedom compared to this material world – freedom from the Bahiraṅgā-śakti, but not freedom to leave/fall from Vaikuṇṭha. The Jīva is then under the Antarāṅgā-śakti and it will be impossible for him to fall. The Mamatva (possessiveness) has changed from a dead body to Parama-saccidānanda-vastu. It will be impossible for Mamatva to change again. Siddhi is Siddhi – otherwise it is not Siddhi – perfection.
Therefore, the Jīva’s free will is within the limits of his freedom as granted by Īśvara and is bound by his own Karma. If minute independence is not there, then the Jīva would become like Jaḍa (dead matter). Then all scriptural injunctions will become useless and the defect of not following them will come to the Lord.
But that independence is no way called free will. That is not there in the Jīva’s Svarūpa. It is a dependent independence. Like a bird able to fly inside a zoo. And the bird is a turkey or a hen. Not a peacock, eagle or dove”
——- By Advaita Das complied by Prahladesa Das.