# Self-Control *On becoming dhīraḥ—sober and self-controlled* --- ### One Who Controls the Urges > So these are to be practiced. *Etān vegān yo viṣaheta dhīraḥ* [Upadeśāmṛta 1]: "One who has become successful in controlling the urges of all these things," *pṛthivīṁ sa śiṣyāt,* "now he's free to make disciples all over the world." And they're not, that... I cannot control even my tongue and control my genital, and I become spiritual master? This is nonsense. This is nonsense. You learn first of all. Try to control. Become first-class controller, *dhīraḥ.* That is called *dhīraḥ:* not disturbed by any urges. *Etān vegān yo viṣaheta dhīraḥ. Dhīras tatra na muhyati.* This word is used, *dhīraḥ. Dhīraḥ* means very sober, fully controlled. That is called *dhīraḥ. Dhīras tatra na muhyati.* Unless you become *dhīraḥ,* you cannot understand what is spiritual life. That is not possible. — [[spoken/1974/740116sb.hon|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.20, Honolulu, January 16, 1974]] --- ### Human Civilization Means Control > Human civilization means we have got so many animal propensities, and if we can control them, that is advancement of human civilization. Just try to understand. Not that "Because I have got this tendency, let me increase it without any restriction." That is not human civilization. Human civilization... That is the distinction between animal and human being. *Tapasā brahmacaryeṇa jñānena*. — [[spoken/1974/740117sb.hon|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.21, Honolulu, January 17, 1974]] --- ### Decrease, Not Increase > The physical necessities means we have already got it. But it is meant for decreasing, not increasing. *Pravṛttir eṣā bhūtānāṁ nivṛttis tu mahā-phalā* [Manu-saṁhitā]. We have got general tendency, *loke vyavāyāmiṣa-madya-sevā*. Everything is there in the *śāstra. Nityā hi jantoḥ. Jantu* means living entities. So, it is eternally existing, *loke vyavāya,* sex intercourse; *āmiṣa,* eating non-fruital things. — [[spoken/1974/740120sb.hon|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.24, Honolulu, January 20, 1974]] --- ### Already Intoxicated by Maya > Therefore we say, "No illicit sex, no intoxication." You are already intoxicated. Why you are increasing intoxication? This *māyā* means intoxication. *Piśācī pāile yena mati-cchanna...* [*Prema-vivarta* 1] Just like a person, when he's ghostly haunted, he calls his father by ill names, but he cannot recognize even his father. So all of us, we are already under the clutches of *māyā.* That is the position of intoxication. And again intoxication? So what will be our condition? So therefore it is prohibited. First of all, whatever intoxication you have already got, just try to cure it. Don't increase it. — [[spoken/1974/740120sb.hon|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.24, Honolulu, January 20, 1974]] --- ### If You Can Remain Brahmacārī > So even it is done according to the Vedic principle, still, there are so many sufferings—you have to take care of the children; you have to educate them; you have to see that they are well raised. So many. So that is also botheration. But if you can remain *brahmacārī,* oh, you avoid this botheration. — [[spoken/1976/760301sb.may|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.23, Māyāpur, March 1, 1976]] --- *5 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on self-control*