50 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

tion is that you are transcendental. The superior energy of Krishna is spiritual
in constitution, and the inferior external energy is material. You are between
the material energy and the spiritual energy, and therefore your position is
marginal. In other words, you belong to the marginal potency of Krishna.
You are simultaneously one with, and different from, Krishna. Because you
are spirit, therefore you are not different from Krishna. But because you are
only a minute particle of Krishna, you are therefore different from Him.”

This simultaneous oneness and difference always exists in the relationship
between the living entities and the Supreme Lord. From the marginal position
of the living entities, this “simultaneously one and different” concept is
understood. The living entity is just like a molecular part of the sunshine,
whereas Krishna is compared to the blazing, shining sun. Lord Chaitanya
compared the living entities to the blazing sparks from the fire, and the
Supreme Lord to the blazing fire of the sun. The Lord cites in this connection
a verse from Vishnu Purana, in which it is stated that everything that is mani-
fested within this cosmic world is but an energy of the Supreme Lord. For
example, as the fire emanating from one place exhibits its illumination and
heat all around, so the Lord, although situated in one place in the spiritual
world, manifests His different energies everywhere. And the whole world
of cosmic representation is but different manifestations of His energy.

The energy of the Supreme Lord is transcendental and spiritual, and the
living entities are part and parcel of that energy. But there is another energy
called material energy, which is covered by the cloud of ignorance, and thereby
divided into the three modes, or gunas, of material Nature. Lord Chaitanya
quoted from Vishnu Purana that all inconceivable energies reside in the
Supreme Personality of the Lord, and the whole cosmic manifestation acts
due to the same inconceivable energy of the Supreme Lord.

The Lord says that the living entities are also known as Kshetrajna, or
“Knower of the field of activities.” In the Thirteenth Chapter of the Gita,
the body is described as the field of activities, and the living entity as Kshetrajna,
the knower of that field. Although the living entity is constitutionally con-
versant with spiritual energy, or has the potency to understand, he is covered
by the material energy, and he consequently believes this body to be himself.
This is called false ego. In material existence, deluded by this false ego, the
bewildered living entity changes his different bodies and suffers various kinds
of miseries. The knowledge of his true position is present to different extents
in different varieties of living entities.

In other words, it is to be understood that the living entity is part and
