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Eating the fruits of the tree

Revision as of 06:07, 16 December 2008 by Laksmipriya (talk | contribs)
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Expressions researched:
"fruit-eater" |"eats the fruit" |"eating the fruits" |"eating the fruit"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is

BG Chapters 1 - 6

BG 2.22, Purport: The Vedas, like the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad, as well as the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad, compare the soul and the Supersoul to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird (Kṛṣṇa) is simply watching His friend. Of these two birds—although they are the same in quality—one is captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply witnessing the activities of His friend. Kṛṣṇa is the witnessing bird, and Arjuna is the eating bird.

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 1

SB 1.2.31, Purport: In the Vedic literatures (śruti) it is said that there are two birds in one tree.* One of them is eating the fruit of the tree, while the other is witnessing the actions. The witness is the Lord, and the fruit-eater is the living entity. The fruit-eater (living entity) has forgotten his real identity and is overwhelmed in the fruitive activities of the material conditions, but the Lord (Paramātmā) is always full in transcendental knowledge. That is the difference between the Supersoul and the conditioned soul. The conditioned soul, the living entity, is controlled by the laws of nature, while the Paramātmā, or the Supersoul, is the controller of the material energy.

SB Canto 3

SB 3.6.9, Purport: The mental speculators cannot understand that the two birds (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad) sitting in one tree are the soul and the Supersoul. The individual soul eats the fruit of the tree, while the other bird does not eat the fruit but only observes the activities of the eating bird. Without attachment, the witnessing bird helps the fruit-eating bird perform fruitful activities. One who cannot understand this difference between the soul and the Supersoul, or God and the living entities, is certainly still in the entanglement of the cosmic machinery and thus must still await the time when he will be free from bondage.

Page Title:Eating the fruits of the tree
Compiler:Laksmipriya, Matea
Created:16 of Dec, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=1, SB=9, CC=1, OB=3, Lec=32, Con=0, Let=1
No. of Quotes:47