Category:A Small Particle of Gold is Also Gold
Theme Analysis
The philosophical principle that a small particle of gold remains gold is a powerful analogy used to explain the relationship between the living entity (jīva) and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Throughout his teachings, Śrīla Prabhupāda utilizes this comparison to defeat the misconception of absolute monism, clarifying that while the soul and God are qualitatively one, they are quantitatively vastly different. Just as a drop of ocean water is salty like the entire ocean, the spirit soul is full of eternity, knowledge, and bliss (sac-cid-ānanda), sharing the divine qualities of the Supreme Lord. However, a minute fragment of gold can never equal the value of the entire gold mine. This understanding perfectly establishes the philosophy of simultaneous oneness and difference (acintya-bhedābheda-tattva). By recognizing this constitutional position, the conditioned soul can abandon false claims of being God and instead take up their natural, joyful position of serving the Supreme Whole.
- Qualitative Oneness: The living entity shares the exact same spiritual nature as the Supreme Lord, possessing eternity, knowledge, and bliss in minute quantities.
- Quantitative Difference: Despite sharing the same nature, the individual soul is infinitesimal, while the Supreme Lord is infinite, completely refuting the idea that the soul is equal to God in all respects.
- The Axiomatic Truth of the Part and Whole: It is a fundamental truth that a part can never equal the whole; therefore, the living entity must eternally remain a subordinate part and parcel of the Supreme.
- Refuting False Monism: The analogy of the gold mine systematically dismantles the Māyāvādī philosophy, which falsely claims that the living entity is the supreme controller.
- The Pure Original Position: Because the Supreme Lord is completely pure, the minute spirit soul is also originally pure, but becomes covered by the modes of material nature when it falls into illusion.
- Restoring the Divine Connection: By understanding their true identity as a fragmental spiritual spark, the individual can awaken their dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness and engage in loving devotional service.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Soul Is Like God Just as a Small Particle of Gold Is Also Gold.
Pages in category "A Small Particle of Gold is Also Gold"
The following 28 pages are in this category, out of 28 total.
A
- A particle of gold is also gold, a drop of water from the ocean is also salty, similarly, the living entities, being part and parcel of the supreme controller, isvara, or Bhagavan, Krsna, have all the qualities of the Supreme Lord. BG 1972 Introduction
- A particle of gold is also gold, but that does not mean that the particle of gold is equal to the gold mine. That is the real understanding of philosophy. We are gods, undoubtedly. In which way? Qualitatively. God is gold
- Aham brahmasmi: "I am not this, American, Indian, or this and that. I am brahma-vastu. I am part and parcel of God. God is Para-brahman, and I am also part and parcel. Therefore I am also Brahman." The part and parcel of gold is gold
- Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan (KU 1.2.20). Krsna is mahatah, greater than the greatest, and we are the smaller than the smallest. But the particle is the same, as particle of gold is also gold, but the particle of gold is never equal to the gold mine
- As Krsna is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, similarly I am also sac-cid-ananda, part and parcel. The difference is that I am very minute. As we have several times explained, the minute particle of gold is also gold. That is not different
B
- Because we are all fragmental parts and parcel of the Supreme Being, Krsna, therefore we are also Brahman. Just like particles of gold is also gold, similarly, we are fragmental portions of Krsna. Do not understand that as material fragments
- By nature, the living entity is perfect, but due to the contamination of lust, he becomes vicious. That which is part and parcel of gold is also gold, and whatever is part and parcel of the Complete perfect is also perfect
E
- Either Krsna or we, every one of us are ever-existing, because we are part and parcel of Krsna. Therefore, if Krsna is ever-existing, so we are also ever-existing. A particle of gold is gold, qualitatively
- Every child is the part and parcel of the father. Similarly Krsna, the Supreme Lord, God, we all living entities, we are sons, or part and parcel of God. Qualitatively we are one. Just like a small particle of gold is also gold
K
- Krsna is Para-brahman; therefore we, being part and parcel, we are also Brahman. Just like particles of gold is also gold. So there is no question of becoming Brahman. Brahman we are already
- Krsna is the supreme pure. We are also pure, because we are part and parcel of Krsna. Just like a small particle of gold is also gold. The value is gold. It is not iron or something low-grade metal. The same
P
- Part is never equal to the whole - that is axiomatic truth - but it is equal in quality. Just like little particle of gold is also gold
- Part is never equal to the whole. We are part of the Supreme Brahman, mamaivamsah. So in quality, just like a small particle of gold is also gold - quality is the same. A small drop of seawater is the same quality - salty
T
- The Mayavadi philosophers, they claim that, "I am God." But we do not claim. We claim that we are part and parcel of God. As part and parcel of God, we have got the same quality. Just like minute particle of gold is also gold
- The qualities of Krsna are present in the living entity in minute, atomic quantities. A small portion of gold is certainly gold, but it cannot be equal to a gold mine
- The soul and the Supreme Lord, equal in quality. Krsna says mamaivamsa. The small particle of gold is gold. That is advaita. You cannot say, because it is small particle of gold, you cannot say: "It is iron." It is gold. That is advaita
- The spirit soul is pure; there is no doubt about it, because it is part and parcel of Krsna, or God. So God is pure. Just like gold is gold, and the fragments of gold is also gold, the same quality
- These living entities, they are My (Krsna's) part and parcel, or they are as good as I am, part and parcel. A small particle of gold is gold. It is no other thing. Similarly, we, being part and parcel of God, we are also the same quality
Y
- You may have some qualities, very minute quality of God, but you cannot claim that you are God. The same example: the small spark of fire is also fire. A small particle of gold is gold, but it cannot be compared with the gold mine. That is not possible
- You should know that you are eternal part and parcel of God. God is eternal. Just like gold and a small particle of gold, both of them are gold. A small particle of gold is not equal to the gold mine. That is real understanding