The Yoga of the Field and the Knower of the Field

Krishna explains the relationship between the Supreme and the three modes of material nature (gunas). 'Ye caiva sāttvikā bhāvā rājasās tāmasāś ca ye'—all states of being—sattvic (goodness), rajasic (passion), and tamasic (ignorance). 'Mata eva iti tān viddhi'—know that they are born from Me. The three modes come from the Supreme. 'Na tv ahaṁ teṣu te mayi'—I am not in them, but they are in Me. The Supreme is not limited by the modes—it's beyond them. But the modes exist in the Supreme—they come from it and exist within it. When you understand this, you recognize that the Supreme is the source of all modes, but it's not bound by them. The field has modes—goodness, passion, ignorance. The knower is beyond modes—it's the source of them, but not limited by them. This understanding helps you see beyond the modes to the Supreme that's beyond them.