Becoming a Controller - Mastering the Senses and Surrendering to God
The entire material world is a theater where conditioned souls compete for power and domination. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings cut through this illusion, revealing that the desire to become the supreme controller is the very disease keeping us bound to material suffering. True empowerment does not come from dominating others, but from conquering one's own senses and willfully surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Illusion of Supreme Supremacy
The driving force behind material civilization is the false ego. Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that individuals, nations, and pseudo-mystics are all attempting to assert themselves as the ultimate authority. This ambition is fundamentally flawed because the living entity is an infinitesimal spark, constitutionally incapable of becoming the supreme īśvara.
- Everyone in the material world is trying his best to become the supreme controller - individually, nationally, socially and in many other ways.
- Isvarah, controller. There are many controllers. "Might is right." But nobody is supreme controller. That is not possible. Nobody. Everyone is trying to become the supreme controller, but that is not being possible.
- Some rascals, they are trying to become controller, "By meditation I have become God." But if you are a God, then how you have become dog? This is going on.
- Either you agree to be controlled by Krsna or you agree to be controlled by maya, but you cannot become controller.
Mastering the Mind and Senses
While attempting to control the external world is a foolish endeavor, controlling one's internal world is the essence of human civilization. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes the need for an educational system that trains individuals to become brāhmaṇas and gosvāmīs—first-class men who are perfectly trained to be the controllers of their own minds and senses.
- Brahmanas, they are to be trained up how to become truthful, how to become controller of the senses, how to become simple, how to become tolerant.
- There should be educational department to create first-class men by all these qualities: how to become controller of the mind, how to become controller of the senses, how to become cleansed, bahyabhyantaram, inside clean and outside clean, saucam.
- Gosvami or svami, the same meaning: one who has been able to control the senses. Generally everyone is controlled by the senses. When one becomes controller of the senses, then he is gosvami.
- You have to be trained up how to become first-class brain. That is brahmana. You have to become truthful, you have to become controller of the senses, you have to become fully aware of things, of God, everything, full knowledge, then you become brain.
The Purifying Power of Devotion
True control over the senses cannot be achieved simply by artificial repression; it requires a higher engagement. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when a person takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they are purified by knowledge and intelligence. By engaging the senses fully in devotional service, one naturally becomes jitendriya or dhīraḥ—a peaceful controller of the senses.
- When one is purified by knowledge, he keeps himself in the mode of goodness. Thus one becomes the controller of the mind and is always in trance.
- If one engages in devotional service from the beginning of life, he easily attains vairagya-vidya, or asakti, detachment, and becomes jitendriya, the controller of his senses.
- A Krisna Conscious person being always situated in the transcendental loving service of God, automatically becomes the controller of the senses. His senses, being always engaged in the service of Krsna, have no chance of becoming otherwise engaged.
- Try to control. Become first-class controller, dhirah. That is called dhirah: not disturbed by any urges.
Surrendering to the Supreme
The ultimate perfection of life requires abandoning the rebellious attitude of false mastery. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that our natural, healthy position is to be controlled by Kṛṣṇa. Furthermore, the supreme reward of this surrender is that by completely dedicating oneself to the Lord's satisfaction, the devotee indirectly captures Kṛṣṇa's heart, thus becoming the controller of the Supreme.
- We are created as being controlled. So instead of aspiring to become controller, if we remain controlled, that is our natural position.
- So this Krsna consciousness movement means we are trying link up our connection with the supreme controller. We do not wish to become the controller. We want to be controlled - but by the supreme controller, not by others.
- Pious activities means to be controlled by Krsna, and impious activities means to be controlled by maya. We have to be controlled. Our position is such that we cannot become controller. That is not possible.
- It is certain that a devotee who helps in this endeavor to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes indirectly a controller of the Supreme Lord. Although the Supreme Lord is full in six opulences, He does not feel transcendental bliss without His devotees.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ambition to conquer the material world is a trap designed by illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda perfectly clarifies that the only true path to power and peace is to become a strict controller of one's own mind and senses through the authorized process of bhakti-yoga. By trading the foolish desire for material supremacy for the safety of being controlled by Kṛṣṇa, the living entity not only achieves liberation but is uniquely graced with the capacity to lovingly bind the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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 Becoming a Controller. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.