626
Bhagavad-gītā  As It Is
[Ch. 13]
three modes of material nature according to our different  karma . As such, some are on higher levels, and some are in the lower nature. The higher and lower natures exist due to ignorance and are being manifested in an infinite number of living entities. But the Supersoul, which is infallible, is uncontaminated by the three qualities of nature and is transcendental.” Similarly, in the original  Vedas , a distinction between the soul, the Supersoul and the body is made, especially in the  Kaṭha Upaniṣad .
There is a manifestation of the Supreme Lord's energy known as  annamaya  by which one depends simply upon food for existence. This is a materialistic realization of the Supreme. Then there is  prāṇamaya ; this means that after realizing the Supreme Absolute Truth in foodstuff, one can realize the Absolute Truth in the living symptoms, or life forms. In  jñānamaya  the living symptom develops to the point of thinking, feeling, and willing. Then there is Brahman realization and the realization called  vijñānamaya  by which the living entity's mind and life symptoms are distinguished from the living entity himself. The next and supreme stage is  ānandamaya , realization of the all-blissful nature. Thus there are five stages of Brahman realization, which is called  brahma puccham . Out of these the first three— annamaya ,  prāṇamaya , and  jñānamaya —involve the fields of activities of the living entities. Transcendental to all these fields of activities is the Supreme Lord, who is called  ānandamaya . In the  Vedānta-sūtra  also the Supreme is called  ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt . The Supreme Personality of Godhead is by nature full of joy, and to enjoy His transcendental bliss, He expands into  vijñānamaya ,  prāṇamaya ,  jñānamaya , and  annamaya . In this field of activities the living entity is considered to be the enjoyer, and different from him is the  ānandamaya . That means that if the living entity decides to enjoy, in dovetailing himself with the  ānandamaya , then he becomes perfect. This is the real picture of the Supreme Lord, as supreme knower of the field, the living entity, as subordinate knower, and the nature of the field of activities.
TEXTS 6-7
महाभूतान्यहङ्कारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च ।।
इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः ॥६॥
इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं सङ्घातश्चेतना धृतिः ।।
एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम् ॥ ७ ॥