# Sense Gratification vs Devotion *On material vs spiritual enjoyment* --- ### Satisfying Kṛṣṇa's Senses > So *vairāgya-vidyā* means not sense gratification, but to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. *Hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanam.*: to satisfy the senses of Kṛṣṇa. Material life means satisfying our own senses, and *vairāgya-vidyā,* or devotional service, means satisfying Kṛṣṇa's senses. That's all. What is the difference between material so-called love and Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa love? The difference is, in the material world, both the parties, they are trying to satisfy their own senses. It doesn't matter. When a boy loves a girl or a girl loves a boy, the motive is his or her own sense satisfaction. — [[spoken/1969/690409le.ny|Śrīla Prabhupāda and Devotees Speak, New York, April 9, 1969]] --- ### Stool, This Side or That Side > Materialistic means that is the ultimate end of materialistic life. Because they want new pleasure, new pleasure, new pleasures, so sometimes this, sometimes that. Sometimes they think the civilized way is better; sometimes the uncivilized way is better. That's all. This way and that way. That is called *punaḥ punaś ca.* And then you'll take again to civilized way of. I think some of the hippies are taking now. Yes. Because the same example: stool, this side or that side, it is stool. So these materialistic persons, they are trying to change from this side to that side, but it is stool. That is the. That they do not know. They are accepting stool as something very sublime, and therefore they are trying to change the position, sometimes this side, sometimes that side. *Hitvā anyathā rūpam.* This is *anyathā rūpam,* a living being, being spiritual, his business is spiritual, but he has accepted material as the platform of his happiness. That is his fault. So material thing, either this side or that side, it is material. — [[spoken/1975/750407mw.may|Morning Walk, Māyāpur, April 7, 1975]] --- ### Enjoy Senses Properly > Yes. If you say sense gratification, senses are there, and senses want satisfaction, but you can know the proper way of satisfaction. That we have to teach. We do not say that "Make your senses blunt," but you enjoy properly. That is stated, *tapo divyaṁ yena śuddhyet sattva hy asmad brahma-saukhyam anantam*. You are wanting sense gratification, but it is being checked up on account of your diseased condition of life. Therefore you purify yourself. Then you enjoy senses perpetually. This is the injunction. We are not stopping sense gratification. But you are trying to gratify senses in your diseased condition. Just like if you are feverish, you cannot enjoy to eat a *rasagullā.* It will be not tasteful. So cure yourself and enjoy *rasagullā.* That is our program. — [[spoken/1975/750405mw.may|Morning Walk, Māyāpur, April 5, 1975]] --- ### Bodily Concept Means Sense Gratification > So as soon as we are in the bodily concept of life, immediately the necessity is for sense gratification. But Kṛṣṇa says to Arjuna that "You are not this body." So therefore my self-interest does not depend on my bodily comforts. They do not know this. Everyone at the present moment, in this age, their only business is how to gratify the senses. The Western countries, they have got little information, but in India, there was cultivation of all kinds of philosophy. — [[spoken/1973/730411bg.ny|Bhagavad-gītā 2.13, New York, April 11, 1973]] --- ### Working for Kṛṣṇa's Cause > So *Bhāgavata* says, *dharmasya hy āpavargyasya nārtho 'rthāyopakalpate*: don't execute religious principles for making your economic problem solved. Then? "We require some money." Yes. "What for?" *Nārthasya dharmaikāntasya kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ.* And even if you get money, that is not for your sense gratification. *Nārthasya dharmaikāntasya.* If you are religious, really, actually a man of religiosity, then your money is not for sense gratification, as we are teaching our boys. They are working hard, they are getting money, and they are spending for Kṛṣṇa. You see? Because they have understood that "My energy spent for Kṛṣṇa's cause is really utilized. And if I utilize my energy for sense gratification, then I am cats and dogs." — [[spoken/1969/690401r1.sf|Conversation, San Francisco, April 1, 1969]] --- ### Bhakti Means Detachment > *Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca.* So if we want to be free from the entanglement of this world, then we should practice. That practice is engagement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. — [[spoken/1976/760601sb.hon|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.33, Honolulu, June 1, 1976]] --- ### Sense Gratification Never Helpful > Sense gratification is never helpful... Otherwise, not for sense gratification... it should be accepted to the minimum extent. That is called *tapasya,* for advancement of spiritual life. — [[spoken/1976/760705r1.wdc|Room Conversation, Washington D.C., July 5, 1976]] --- *7 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on sense gratification vs devotion*