56 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

serpent swallowing up the smaller serpent. From practical experience we see
sometimes that a big serpent swallows up a smaller one, and the merging
into the spiritual existence of the Supreme is analogous. The small serpent is,
therefore, searching after perfection, and he is swallowed by the big serpent.

Digging on the western side is compared to the hidden treasure protected
by Yakasa, the evil spirit that protects it. The idea is that hidden treasure can
never be delivered by one who asks the favor of the Yakasa for attaining it.
The result is that he will simply be killed. The Yogins who practice meditation
are analogous to the small serpents. The speculative process of self-realization,
or Jnana, is also suicidal in this case.

Actually, one has to dig for the hidden treasure from the eastern side,
which is called devotional service in full Krishna Consciousness. That is the
perpetual hidden treasure, and when one attains to that achievement, he
becomes perpetually rich. One who is poor in devotional service and Krishna
Consciousness is always in need of material gain. Sometimes he suffers the bites
of poisonous things, and sometimes he is baflled; sometimes he follows the
philosophy of monism and therefore loses his identity, and sometimes he is
swallowed by the big serpent. By giving up all these things and becoming
fixed in Krishna Consciousness, or devotional service to the Lord, he achieves
the perfection of life.
