We Cannot Control Māyā but We Can Serve Kṛṣṇa
The desire to control is one of the deepest illusions of material life. In these teachings, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the conditioned soul cannot control the senses, the mind, society, destiny, or māyā by independent effort. If one does not serve Kṛṣṇa, one inevitably becomes servant of māyā and the senses. Kṛṣṇa consciousness gives the real solution: not false mastery, but voluntary service to Kṛṣṇa, by which the mind and senses become purified and properly guided.
We Are Controlled, Not Independent Controllers
Material life is built on the false idea that the living being is the controller. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that even a president or leader may appear powerful, but he is controlled by votes, circumstances, and higher laws. No one can control māyā because the conditioned soul is always subordinate. The real choice is whether one will serve Kṛṣṇa willingly or serve māyā under compulsion.
- If the popular votes are against him (a president), he cannot control any more. So here, you just analyze anyone; he may be controller, but at the same time he is controlled. Not that absolute controller.
- I am controller of my disciples within the Krsna conscious society, but I cannot control the whole world.
- You cannot control maya. That is not possible, because you are servant. If you don't become servant of Krsna, you must become servant of maya.
Uncontrolled Senses Drag the Soul Down
The senses are powerful when they are not governed by spiritual intelligence. Materialistic persons become servants of the senses, pushed by the tongue, lust, family attachment, and bodily enjoyment. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that those who cannot control their senses are driven toward darker material existence and cannot become steady in spiritual life. The problem begins in daily habits, but its consequences extend to the soul's entire future.
- Adanta means unbridled, uncontrolled. Go means indriya or senses. Materialistic persons, they cannot control their senses. They are servant of the senses, godasa. Go means indriya, and dasa means servant.
- Because we cannot control our senses, we are driving, we are being pushed towards the darkest region of material existence, very hard to leave.
- Materialists who are overly attracted to the material body, material world and material enjoyment, who cannot control their material senses, are carried to the darkest regions of material existence.
- One who cannot control the senses cannot be steady in his determination.
Human Life Means Tapasya and Restraint
The ability to control oneself distinguishes human life from animal life. Animals follow impulse, but civilized human beings are meant to accept tapasya and regulate the senses for higher realization. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a sannyāsī or spiritual master who cannot control the tongue and genitals is not genuine. Discipline is therefore not a secondary matter; it is the basis of real spiritual culture.
- Control... That is the distinction between animal and human life. Animal cannot control. The human civilized man must be, must have the capacity to control. That is human civilization. That is called tapasya.
- A sannyasi means he has ceased all material desire. There is no material desire. And the concentrated material enjoyment is sex. So if one could not control his sex life, then how he is swami? He's cheater.
- I cannot control even my tongue and control my genital, and I become spiritual master? This is nonsense.
- The distinction between an animal and a man is that the animal cannot control himself and has no sense of decency, whereas the human being has the sense of decency and can control himself.
The Tongue Opens the Way to Sense Control
Sense control becomes practical when the tongue is engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service. The tongue is difficult to restrain because it demands both taste and speech, but prasādam and the holy name purify its activity. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that if one cannot control the tongue, one cannot control the other senses. By offering vegetarian food to Kṛṣṇa, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, and honoring prasādam, spiritual discipline enters ordinary home life.
- Everyone becomes a servant of the senses just beginning from the tongue. They cannot control the tongue. They eat anything and everything. Therefore they cannot control others senses also.
- If you cannot control your tongue, you cannot control your senses. Taste prasadam and become spiritually advanced. You can have this process at your home: offer vegetarian foods to Krsna, chant the Hare Krsna mantra and offer obeisances.
- In materialistic life we cannot control our senses and mind. The mind is dictating, "Enjoy your senses in this way," and we are enjoying our senses. Materialistic life means sense gratification.
The Mind Is Controlled by Service to Kṛṣṇa
The mind cannot be conquered merely by force, especially in Kali-yuga. It becomes controlled when it is fully engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa and fixed on His lotus feet. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa helps when the mind is placed in His service, and then everything becomes controlled. Kṛṣṇa consciousness therefore gives a practical method beyond dry repression: higher engagement.
- Because he cannot fix up his mind, he cannot work properly. Therefore he is called madman. So our process is that we cannot control the mind. But if we engage the mind on the lotus feet of Krsna, then everything is controlled. Krsna will help.
- In this Kali-yuga, you cannot accept this tapasya; you cannot perform the celibacy, you cannot practice yoga, you cannot control your mind, you cannot control your senses. This is your position.
- We can quickly see that controlling the mind and body is not such an easy thing and that we cannot control them as easily as we can go to the store and purchase something. But Krsna indicates that these rules can be easily followed when we are in Krsna Consciousness.
- Yoga indriya-samyamah. Mind control. The same thing, mind control. So mind you cannot control unless your mind is fully engaged in the service of Krsna.
Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Ends Māyā's Control
Māyā controls the living being as long as one remains on the material platform, but she cannot control one who takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa. The solution is not to overpower māyā independently, but to leave her jurisdiction through devotional service. When one accepts Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the senses become engaged spiritually and the mind receives divine help. This is the positive freedom of the servant of Kṛṣṇa.
- I cannot control my senses if I am on the material plane. It is impossible. But I can control my senses, this is possible. It is not impossible fact.
- If anyone takes to Krsna consciousness, maya has to give him up. Maya cannot control anymore. That is not the jurisdiction of maya.
- People are being baffled in so many ways because they cannot control their senses. Their only possibility of rescue is Krsna. Therefore in this verse it is said: mayy ananyena bhavena bhaktim kurvanti ye drdham.
- Materialists who are overly attracted to the material body, who cannot control their material senses, are carried to the darkest regions of material existence. Such people cannot become Krsna conscious, either by themselves or by congregational effort.
Conclusion
The teachings in this category show that the conditioned soul is never the independent controller. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one is controlled by the senses, the mind, lust, social pressure, and māyā. Human life is meant for tapasya, but in this age real control becomes practical only through higher engagement in Kṛṣṇa's service. By chanting, honoring prasādam, regulating life, and fixing the mind on Kṛṣṇa, the living being stops trying to control māyā and begins living safely as Kṛṣṇa's servant.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Cannot Control. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.