Teachings to Sanatan Goswami
51
parcel of the spiritual energy of the Supreme Lord. The material energy is inferior energy, and therefore man has the potency to become uncovered from this material energy and utilize the spiritual energy. It is stated in the  Bhagavad Gita  that the superior energy is covered by the inferior energy. Due to this covering, the living entity is subjected to the miseries of the material world, and, in proportion to the different degrees of obscureness, he suffers material miseries. Those who are a little enlightened suffer less, but, on the whole, everyone is subjected to material miseries, due to being covered by the material energy.
The Lord also quoted from the  Gita , Seventh Chapter, in which it is stated that earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence, and ego all combine together to form the inferior energy of the Supreme Lord. But the Superior Energy is the real identity of the living being. Because of that energy the whole material world functions. The cosmic manifestation, made of material elements, has no power to act unless it is moved by the superior energy, the living entity. So, actually, the conditional life of the living entity is forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme Lord in the superior energy. When that relationship is forgotten, conditional life is the result. Only when man revives his real identity, that of eternal servitor to the Lord, does he become liberated.