two sitting in one tree
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This verse is specifically stated to defy the Mayavada conclusion of oneness without differentiation between the individual soul and the Supersoul. The Mayavada conclusion is that the living entity and the Supersoul are one; there is no difference. They proclaim that there is no separate existence outside the impersonal Brahman and that the feeling of separation is maya or an illusion by which one considers a rope to be a snake. The rope and the snake argument is generally offered by the Mayavadi philosophers. Therefore these words, which represent vivarta-vada, are specifically mentioned herein. Actually Paramatma, the Supersoul, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is eternally liberated. In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living within this body along with the individual soul, and this is confirmed in the Vedas. They are likened to two friends sitting on the same tree. Yet Paramatma is above the illusory energy. The illusory energy is called bahiraṅga sakti or external energy, and the living entity is called tatastha sakti or marginal potency. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, the material energy, represented as earth, water, air, fire, sky, etc., and the spiritual energy, the living entity, are both energies of the Supreme Lord. Even though the energies and the energetic are identical, the living entity, individual soul, being prone to be influenced by the external energy, considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be one with himself.
(More...) Remaining within the hearts of all living entities, the Lord bestows remembrance by which the living entities can enjoy certain things. Thus the living entities create their enjoyable honeycombs and then enjoy them. The example of the bees is appropriate because when bees try to enjoy their honeycomb, they have to suffer the bites of other bees. Because bees bite one another when they enjoy honey, they are not exclusively enjoying the sweetness of the honey, for there is also suffering. In other words, the living entities are subjected to the pains and pleasures of material enjoyment, whereas the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knowing their plans for sense enjoyment, is aloof from them. In the Upanisads the example is given of two birds sitting on a tree. One bird (the jiva, or living entity) is enjoying the fruits of that tree, and the other bird (Paramatma) is simply witnessing. In the Bhagavad-gita the Supreme Personality of Godhead as Paramatma is described as upadrasta (the overseer) and anumanta (the permitter).
(More...) In the Mundaka Upanishad it is stated that two birds of the same feather are sitting on one tree. One of them is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other is not eating the fruit of the tree, but is witnessing the activities of the other bird. When the bird eating the fruit of the tree looks on the other bird, he becomes freed from all anxieties. This is the position of the infinitesimal living entity. So long as he is forgetful of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is subjected to the threefold miseries; but when he looks to the Supreme Lord, or becomes a devotee of the Supreme Lord, he becomes free from all anxieties and miseries of material existence.
(More...) That is enquired here, ksetra..., ksetram ksetra-jnam ca. This body is ksetra, field of activities. But the field worker is different. Therefore this is the enquiry. Ksetram ksetra-jnam. We are taking care of this ksetra, this body, but we do not take care of the occupier of the body or the owner of the body. There are two ksetra-jna, you will find in this verse, two living entities. One is called the soul, and the other is called the Supersoul. In this body there are two souls. One is the occupier soul, and the other is the proprietor soul. Proprietor soul... Just like in a house there are two kinds of persons: the occupier and the landlord. The landlord is actually the proprietor of the house, and the tenant is occupier. Similarly, there are two souls within this body. That is stated in the Vedic literature. Just like two birds on one tree. So the living entity, the individual soul, is there. He is also one bird. And the Supersoul, or God, is also there.
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