# Detachment *On vairāgya and renunciation of material attachments* --- ### Practice and Detachment > The mind can be controlled only by practice and detachment. This is Kṛṣṇa's prescription. If you practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness and become detached from material things, then your mind will be controlled. There is no other way. — [[spoken/1968/680816jm.mon|Janmāṣṭamī Lecture, Montreal, 1968]] --- ### Higher Taste > Unless you get a higher taste, you cannot give up the lower taste. Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. When one gets a higher engagement, automatically the lower engagement is given up. So unless you are engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service, you cannot give up sense gratification. — [[spoken/1969/690510r1.col|Room Conversation, Columbus, 1969]] --- ### By Serving Kṛṣṇa > Vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ, janayaty āśu vairāgyam. If you are engaged in devotional service, automatically you become detached from material things. This is the test. If you are advancing in spiritual life, your material attachment will be reduced. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Real Renunciation > Real renunciation means to accept everything for Kṛṣṇa. Not that you artificially give up everything. No. You accept everything for Kṛṣṇa's service. That is real renunciation. Yukta-vairāgya. — [[spoken/1970/700508ip.la|Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 6, Los Angeles, 1970]] --- ### Nivṛtti-mārga > So Vedic civilization means they have left their home. They have understood that this home life will not save me. Nivṛtti-mārga. There are two kinds of life: one is called pravṛtti and one is called nivṛtti. We are now in this material life in pravṛtti-mārga. Pravṛtti means we are attracted by the material enjoyment. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Leaving Home > Therefore his household life also continues Kṛṣṇa conscious. Naturally, at the age of fifty he leaves the family connection and accepts the vānaprastha. And then, when he is fully trained, he accepts sannyāsa. — [[spoken/1970/701215sb.ind|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.27, Indore, 1970]] --- ### Return to Kṛṣṇa > Best thing is to return everything to Kṛṣṇa. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And you will not be a loser; you will be gainer, just like Bali Mahārāja. Actually, if you think, everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Nothing belongs to you. This is māyā. Kṛṣṇa's property you are thinking "mine." — [[spoken/1969/690510r1.col|Room Conversation, Columbus, 1969]] --- ### Real Meaning > Real renunciation does not mean to give up everything. Real renunciation means to engage everything in Kṛṣṇa's service. That is real renunciation. Nirbandhāḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Test of Advancement > The test of spiritual advancement is vairāgya, detachment. If you are advancing spiritually, your material attachment will diminish. And if you are becoming more attached to material things, then you are not advancing. That is the test. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Not Dry Renunciation > Simply to renounce material things is not sufficient. There must be positive engagement in Kṛṣṇa's service. Otherwise, dry renunciation will not stand. Artificially you may renounce, but again you will come back. — [[spoken/1970/700508ip.la|Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 6, Los Angeles, 1970]] --- *10 quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on detachment* [[wiki/quotes|Back to Quotes]]