430 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

atheistic deliberations this manifested cosmic exhibition is attributed to material
nature. The energy of the Absolute Truth is exhibited in three ways: spiritual,
material and marginal. The Absolute Truth is identical with His spiritual energy.
Only when contacted by the spiritual energy can the material energy work and the
temporary material manifestations thus appear active. In the conditioned state the
living entities of the marginal energy are a mixture of spiritual and material energies.
The marginal energy is originally under the control of the spiritual energy, but,
under the control of the material energy, the living entities have been wandering in
forgetfulness within the material world since time immemorial.

The conditioned state is caused by misuse of the individual independence of the
spiritual platform, for this separates the living entity from the association of the
spiritual energy. But when the living entity is enlightened by the grace of the
Supreme Lord or His pure devotee and becomes inclined to revive his original state
of loving service, he is on the most auspicious platform of eternal bliss and knowl-
edge. The marginal jiva, or living entity, misuses his independence and becomes
averse to the eternal service attitude when he independently thinks he is not energy
but the energetic. This misconception of his own existence leads him to the attitude
of lording it over material nature.

Material nature appears to be just the opposite of the spiritual energy. The fact is
that the material energy can work only when in contact with the spiritual energy.
Originally the energy of Krsna is spiritual, but it works in diverse ways, like elec-
trical energy, which can exhibit the functions of refrigerating or heating through its
manifestations in different ways. The material energy is spiritual energy covered by
a cloud of illusion, or mdyd, Therefore, the material energy is not self-sufficient in
working. Krsna invests His spiritual energy into material energy, and then it can act,
just as iron can act like fire after being heated by fire. The material energy can act
only when empowered by the spiritual energy.

When covered by the cloud of material energy, the living entity, who is also a
spiritual energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, forgets about the activities
of the spiritual energy and considers all that happens in the material manifestation
to be wonderful. But a person who is engaged in devotional service in full Krsna
consciousness and who is therefore already situated in the spiritual energy can
understand that the material energy has no independent powers; whatever actions
are going on are due to the help of the spiritual energy. The material energy, which
is a perverted form of the spiritual energy, presents everything pervertedly, thus
causing misconceptions and duality. Material scientists and philosophers conditioned
by the spell of material nature suppose that material energy acts automatically, and
therefore they are frustrated, like an illusioned person who tries to get milk from
the nipple-like bunches of skin on the neck of a goat. As there is no possibility
of getting milk from these bunches of skin, there is similarly no possibility that
anyone will be successful in- understanding the original cause of creation by for-
warding theories produced by the material energy. Such an attempt is a manifesta-
tion of ignorance.

The material energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called mdyd, or
illusion, because in two capacities (by supplying the material elements and by
