# Sense Control *On conquering the senses through devotional service* --- ### You Cannot Stop It by Force > So by force you cannot control the senses. That is not... This is... There are many instances. Even great *yogīs,* they have failed. This is artificial way of controlling the senses. The real sense control is that you purify your sense in the activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is real sense control. *Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate*. *Hṛṣīka* means senses and *hṛṣīkeśa* means Kṛṣṇa. When you apply your senses for satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, then it is called *bhakti.* And when your senses are engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa it cannot be engaged otherwise. Otherwise the sense will be engaged in the sense objects. — [[spoken/1969/690212bg.la|Bhagavad-gītā 5.26–29, Los Angeles, February 12, 1969]] --- ### Chant and Associate > This is Parīkṣit Mahārāja's question, that "If these ritualistic ceremonies are the remedy for sinful activities, and a person is again committing sinful activities, then how it will help him?" *Prāyaścittam atho 'pārthaṁ manye kuñjara-śaucavat* [SB 6.1.10]. The same elephant. The elephant goes... That is the nature of the elephant. He enters into water and takes bath very thoroughly. Again, when comes on the shore, again takes some dust and throws over his body. [laughter] Similarly, any type of atonement, if there is no control over the senses, it will be... — [[spoken/1972/720621in.la|Initiations, Los Angeles, June 21, 1972]] --- ### This Is the Duty of a Sane Man > So therefore we are preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness. *Lokasya ajānataḥ,* they do not know what kind of risky life they are conducting. So the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is trying to make them awakened to the consciousness. That is the duty of a sane man or a gentleman. That is the instruction of the *Vedas,* to awaken people. *Uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varān nibodhata* [Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.14]. This Vedic instruction is, to the human society, *uttiṣṭhata:* "Get up." *Jāgrata:* "Don't sleep. Be awakened." *Uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varān nibodhata.* "You have got a boon. Try to understand it." — [[spoken/1975/750621sb.la|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.8, Los Angeles, June 21, 1975]] --- ### Don't Spoil Your Life > *Nibodhata. Prāpya varān. Varān* means benediction. What is that benediction? The benediction is this human form of life. You should understand that you are not cat and dog, simply you shall spoil your life by eating, sleeping and sex and defense. No. This is very valuable life. *Labdhvā su-durlabham idaṁ bahu-sambhavānte* [SB 11.9.29]. This is the instruction of *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.* "No, don't spoil it. You have got this boon, this human form of life, after many, many births' evolutionary process. Don't you see so many different varieties of life? And you had to undergo through all these life. Now you have come to human form of life, so you should utilize it." — [[spoken/1975/750621sb.la|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.8, Los Angeles, June 21, 1975]] --- ### The Prime Problem > They are so dull-headed, this question does not... They are trying to solve so many questions, but this question does not arise in their mind, that "I don't wish to die. Why death is forced upon me?" Inquire. Come on, all philosophers and scientists, come and make an inquiry commission, that "I don't want to die. The death is forced upon me. I don't want to become old man, and it is forced upon me. What is the reason?" Therefore they are rascals. The prime problem they have set aside. — [[spoken/1975/750621mw.la|Morning Walk, Los Angeles, June 21, 1975]] --- ### Life Is Meant for Tapasya > Life is meant for *tapasya. Tapo divyaṁ putrakā yena śuddhyed*. They do not know that our existentional condition is impure. The question does not arise that "I do not wish to die. Why there is death?" — [[spoken/1975/750621mw.la|Morning Walk, Los Angeles, June 21, 1975]] --- ### Real Enjoyment > So this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement means to give them idea of real enjoyment. If... So real enjoyment means that when you are uncontaminated with this material body. Spiritual enjoyment. Now we are trying to enjoy with this body. The body is senses. *Indriyāṇi parāṇy āhuḥ.* Bodily enjoy means the sense enjoyment. *Indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ, manasas tu parā buddhiḥ*. In this way we have to understand that this body is false; therefore the bodily enjoyment is also false. That they cannot understand. This is their misfortune. — [[spoken/1975/750709sb.chi|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.25, Chicago, July 9, 1975]] --- ### Cats and Dogs > Therefore one who does not understand in the beginning of spiritual life that "I am not this body. I am different from body..." Then his spiritual life begins. Otherwise, cats and dogs and everyone is engaged with this bodily enjoyment. So long we shall be captivated by this bodily enjoyment, we are in the groups of animals. That's all. — [[spoken/1975/750709sb.chi|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.25, Chicago, July 9, 1975]] *8 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on sense control*